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Tom Skinner (drummer)

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"Hello Skinny" redirects here. For the Residents song, see Duck Stab.

Tom Skinner
Skinner in 2022
Skinner in 2022
Background information
Also known asHello Skinny
Born (1980-01-26) 26 January 1980 (age 44)
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • producer
Instruments
  • Drums
  • percussion
Member ofThe Smile
Formerly ofSons of Kemet

Tom Skinner (born 26 January 1980) is an English drummer, percussionist and record producer. He co-founded the jazz band Sons of Kemet and the rock band the Smile. He has released two albums under the name Hello Skinny. His first album under his own name, Voices of Bishara, was released in November 2022.

Early life

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Tom Skinner was born 26 January 1980.[1] He began playing drums at the age of nine. He enjoyed 1990s grunge and metal bands such as Napalm Death, before discovering experimental jazz musicians such as John Zorn and Ornette Coleman.[2]

Career

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Jazz and Sons of Kemet

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NPR described Skinner as "the sort of drummer who always locates the pivot point between chaos and clarity".[3] He emerged in the London jazz scene, playing with musicians including Finn Peters, Cleveland Watkiss and Denys Baptiste,[4] and the electronic artist Matthew Herbert.[4] He was a member of the jazz trio Zed-U and the avant-garde soul group Elmore Judd.[4]

In 2011, Skinner cofounded the jazz band Sons of Kemet.[citation needed] They released four albums and announced their disbandment in 2022.[5] In December 2020, Skinner joined several British jazz musicians to record a Miles Davis tribute album, London Brew. It was released on 31 March 2023 by Concord Jazz.[6]

The Smile

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Main article: The Smile (band)
Skinner (right) performing with the Smile in 2024

Skinner first worked with the Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood when he performed on Greenwood's soundtrack for the 2012 film The Master.[2] In 2021, Skinner, Greenwood and the Radiohead singer, Thom Yorke, debuted a new band, the Smile.[7] They made their surprise debut in a performance streamed by Glastonbury Festival that May.[8][9]

In May 2022, the Smile released their debut album, A Light for Attracting Attention, and began an international tour.[10] The second Smile album, Wall of Eyes, was released in January 2024, with a European tour that year.[11] Their third album, Cutouts, was released in October.[12] Skinner contributed to Yorke's soundtrack for the 2024 film Confidenza.[13]

Solo work

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Skinner has released two albums under the name Hello Skinny.[14] He released the first album under his own name, Voices of Bishara, on 4 November 2022.[15] It features jazz musicians including Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Kareem Dayes and Tom Herbert. The first single, "Bishara", was released in September 2022.[15] Skinner released a live version of Voices of Bishara in May 2024.[16]

Personal life

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Skinner has two children and lives in North London.[2]

Discography

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As Hello Skinny

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  • Hello Skinny (2012)
  • Revolutions EP (2013)
  • Watermelon Sun (2017)

As Tom Skinner

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With Sons of Kemet

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With the Smile

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Main article: The Smile discography

With London Brew

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With Floating Points

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With Wildflower

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  • Wildflower (2017)
  • Love (2020)
  • Better Times (2021)

With Beth Orton

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With Alabaster DePlume

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  • Gold (2022)[19]
  • Come with Fierce Grace (2023)[20]

With Owiny Sigoma Band

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  • Owiny Sigoma Band (2011)[21]
  • Power Punch (2013)[21]
  • Nyanza (2015)[21]
  • The Lost Tapes (2021)[22]

With Melt Yourself Down

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References

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  1. ^ "Tom Skinner on Apple Music". Apple Music - Web Player. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Kalia, Ammar (8 November 2022). "Tom Skinner on the Smile, Sons of Kemet and going solo: 'It gives me a blank slate to explore'". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  3. ^ Chinen, Nate (7 September 2022). "Tom Skinner, "Bishara"". NPR Music. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Graham, Ben (16 November 2012). "Reviews | Hello Skinny". The Quietus. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  5. ^ Richards, Will (2 June 2022). "Sons of Kemet to break up after remaining 2022 live shows". NME. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings, Tom Skinner, and More Announce Miles Davis Tribute Album London Brew". Pitchfork. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood form new project, the Smile". The Guardian. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  8. ^ Hussey, Allison. "A Look at Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's Debut as the Smile at Glastonbury 2021 Livestream". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  9. ^ Petridis, Alexis (23 May 2021). "Live at Worthy Farm review – beautiful music marred by technical meltdown". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  10. ^ Lavin, Will (20 April 2022). "The Smile announce debut album A Light for Attracting Attention". NME. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  11. ^ Lindert, Hattie (13 November 2023). "The Smile Announce New Album Wall of Eyes, Share Video for New Song Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  12. ^ Vito, Jo (28 August 2024). "The Smile announce new album Cutouts, release two songs". Consequence. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  13. ^ Harrison, Scoop (22 April 2024). "Thom Yorke previews Confidenza film score with two tracks". Consequence. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  14. ^ "The Smile's Tom Skinner Announces New Album Voices of Bishara, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  15. ^ a b "The Smile's Tom Skinner Announces Solo Album Voices of Bishara, Shares New Song "Bishara"". Stereogum. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  16. ^ Strauss, Matthew (17 April 2024). "The Smile's Tom Skinner Announces New Live Album, Shares Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  17. ^ Strauss, Matthew (17 April 2024). "The Smile's Tom Skinner Announces New Live Album, Shares Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  18. ^ Blistein, Jon (31 May 2022). "Beth Orton Takes In a Gorgeous Day on Serene New Song Weather Alive". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  19. ^ Minsker, Evan (2 February 2022). "Alabaster dePlume Announces New Album Gold, Shares Video for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  20. ^ Rettig, James (31 July 2023). "Alabaster DePlume Shares Tom Skinner-Featuring Track "Greek Honey Slick"". Stereogum. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  21. ^ a b c "Owiny Sigoma Band". Bucks Music Group.
  22. ^ Glover, Kemi. "Owiny Sigoma Band's final instalment: The Lost Tapes". Brownswood Recordings. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
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