Biography
Who is Tom Odell?
Early life and education
Thomas Peter Odell was born in Chichester, West Sussex, in the United Kingdom. He grew up with an older sister. During his childhood, he lived in Auckland, New Zealand, for a period of time. His education included attending Bishop Luffa School and Seaford College in West Sussex. He also recalls attending school while living in New Zealand.
During his school years, he played in a band. This group struggled to keep a consistent lead singer, which motivated him to take on the role himself. He wanted to ensure his vision for the songs he wrote was realized. At age eighteen, he planned to attend the University of York. He later changed his plans and attempted to join a music college in Liverpool. He eventually studied at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) in Brighton.
Starting a music career
After working as a barman, he moved back to Chichester. He used his grandmother's car to travel to London to play shows and distribute advertisements to music schools. He performed in a band called Tom & the Tides while in Brighton. After moving to London, he decided to pursue a solo career because he wanted independence in his creative process.
He signed with In the Name Of, a label imprint of Columbia Records. Lily Allen discovered him and noted his onstage energy. In 2012, he released his debut extended play, Songs from Another Love. His television debut occurred in November 2012 on the show Later... With Jools Holland. In 2013, he was named a nominee for the BBC Sound of 2013 poll. The BBC also used his single Another Love to promote their 2013 schedule.
Studio albums and awards
His first album, Long Way Down, arrived in June 2013 and reached the number one spot on the UK Official Chart. He received the BRITs Critics' Choice Award in 2013. He won the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year in 2014. He has released a consistent stream of records over the years, including Wrong Crowd in 2016 and Jubilee Road in 2018.
Tom Odell released Monsters in 2021, which explored electro-pop sounds. He transitioned to being an independent artist in 2022. That same year, he released the album Best Day of My Life. His record Black Friday arrived in 2024, and the title track became one of his most successful singles. In 2025, he released the album A Wonderful Life, written as a reaction to the current news cycle.
Music influences and usage
His musical style is influenced by artists like Elton John, David Bowie, Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen. He also cites Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and Tom Waits as inspirations. As a young listener, one of his first albums was Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
His music has appeared in many films, television shows, and advertisements. The track Can't Pretend was featured in The 100, The Blacklist, and the film The Fault In Our Stars. The song Heal was used in the films If I Stay and The Miracle Season, as well as the series NCIS and The Vampire Diaries. His cover of Real Love by The Beatles served as the audio for the 2014 John Lewis Christmas commercial.
Birthday and age
Tom Odell was born on November 24, 1990, which makes Tom 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Tom shares the date with 35 other famous people.
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