Single Focus: Tom Stephens

Answered by: Tom Stephens 

Single title? Wake Me When The Day's Gone

What's the song about? Living in the city and feeling like you've got to join the hustle to survive. Sometimes it's all too much. 

How long did it take to write/record? My band and I recorded the song live in one take at Rancom St Studios in NSW. There were a few overdubs added afterwards... a bit of extra spice is always nice.    

Is this track from a forthcoming release/existing release? It's the first offering from a new batch of songs for me. I'm headed to Castlemaine in Victoria to record my second full-length in early July. We're recording at an all-analogue studio, straight onto tape.  

What was inspiring you during the song's writing and recording? Mental illness. Some people just don't want to do the whole city hustle thing or they're not cut out for it and that's ok. These people often find themselves on the fringes and get forgotten. 

We'll like this song if we like... Don't listen if you like dogs. There's a line in there about the time I saw one get hit.  

Do you play it differently live? We recorded the song live so I'd like to think it's pretty similar to the live experience. Gotta allow for some spontaneous one-off flourishes though... keeps things interesting.

When and where is your launch/next gigs? 1 Jul, Wesley Anne; 8 Jul, Oxford Art Factory. Joined by local songwriters Forever Son & Angie McMahon. 

Website link for more info? facebook.com/tomstephensofficial