Tom Walker – I Am

It’s been a while since Tom Walker released a full-length project. Leave a Light On was an international success, the song’s raw vulnerability searing a spot in the music industry for him and leaving many wondering where his songwriting would go next. Half a decade later, I Am is released. The album weaves in between his personal highs and lows with familiar honesty and some unfamiliar genres.

Holy Ghost rushes straight in, his voice as satisfyingly gruff as ever, with a chorus of voices that lift him up. It’s an intense beginning, one made even more so by previous single Burn. Both tracks are led by a minor key, but the verses in Burn feel particularly gothic, a mood in which Walker’s voice thrives. The chorus is at odds with said verses, bouncing instead with garage beats. Further down in the record is Echoes, which boasts full-on club synths, strobe lights and all. These new styles are clearly something Walker had fun creating.

On I Am, Walker lays himself bare. Songs like Freaking Out dive into the intricacies of existing in public spaces, especially within the music industry. Stigma is a powerful anthem about male mental health and the importance of speaking to someone. He doesn’t hide behind metaphor or flowery language in his lyrics, but plainly and beautifully implores men to find a shoulder to lean on. In some excellent track ordering, the guitar-led SOS follows, and Walker takes his own advice and calls for help. It’s startlingly powerful. 

It’s Lifeline, though, that is the standout. It sits in the middle of the album, but it’s hard to move past. The song acts as a one-way conversation between Walker and a friend that he lost to suicide, and it is heartbreaking.

Throughout the record, Walker’s voice is as impressive as always. He doesn’t overly rely on his iconic growl, instead letting his head voice and higher register add layers to the music. It’s a shame, though, that only four tunes on the album are above three minutes, sometimes leaving the listener wanting more.

The different sounds may be jarring for some and thrilling for others, but they certainly hold their own as individual tracks; there will be a favourite for everyone in there somewhere. I Am is a solid album, with Tom Walker diving deeper into himself than ever before and experimenting with sound.

Talitha Stowell
Image: Ed Cooke

I Am is released on 20^th September 2024. For further information or to order the album visit Tom Walker’s website here.

Watch the video for the single I Am here: