To promote the release of his new album ‘I Am’, Scottish singer – songwriter Tom Walker visited PRYZM night club in Kingston on 18 October, performing his gripping songs to an approving audience eager to hear his latest music.
After selling over two million copies of his platinum debut album ‘What a Time to be Alive’, the release of his second album ‘I Am’ marked the start of Walker’s latest European tour.
Usually a popular night club, PRYZM is frequently taken over by local record store Banquet Records, who invite artists to come and launch their latest albums to a smaller crowd of around 1000 people, with most tickets available for under £20.
The excitement in the venue was palpable as the lights dimmed and the crowd hushed, eagerly awaiting the first song.
The band kicked off the evening’s proceedings with the intro to ‘Holy Ghost’, before Walker joined them, captivating the Kingstonian crowd with his impressive vocal range and powerful tone.
The evening featured standout performances of fan favourites from Walker’s first album, with ‘Just you and I’ captivating the crowd with its meaningful message of love and hope.
Next came the newest of Walker’s songs from latest album ‘I Am, including tracks like ‘SOS’, ‘Head Underwater’ and ‘Kissed by God’ which got everyone in attendance on their feet, singing and dancing along.
Perhaps Walker’s most emotional song from his new album was ‘Lifeline’, a song dedicated to one of his close friends who sadly took his own life.
In a heartfelt plea to the audience, Walker recommended a charity that helps those battling depression, called CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), in the hope that no – one would ever have to go through what his friend did.
One of the highlights of the night was titular track ‘I Am’, which began with a spoken word interlude before rolling into the sombre tune that has all the hallmarks of a Tom Walker classic.
Walker’s only collaboration on the new album was remixed song ‘Wait for You’ which was composed with German singer Zoe Wees after it was originally released as a one-off download in 2020.
Wees’s vocals elevate the track to new levels, telling the story of one of Walker’s childhood friends who experienced a life changing event during his teens.
The show concluded with the performance of propulsive ‘Burn’, which had everyone shouting along to its angry and intense lyrics, bringing an end to what had been an entertaining taste of Walker’s new album ‘I Am’.
After Walker had left the stage, calls for one more song were met with the performance of his most popular track ‘Leave a Light On’ – the song which had ignited his career back in 2017, reaching number 7 in the UK singles chart.
If you haven’t witnessed a live Tom Walker performance yet, you must do so, as his stage presence and stupendous vocals make for the perfect evening of music.
