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Cadogan Hall
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Join us for a night of unforgettable music as Tom McRae takes the stage to celebrate the launch of his ninth studio album, Étrange Hiver, an album of duets with some of his favourite French artists.
McRae decided to collaborate on these 11 new songs with various artists to acknowledge his deep love of French music and deepen his relationship with mainland Europe following Britain’s disastrous decision to leave the EU.
Tom’s debut album went Gold in France in 2001, selling over 60,000 copies, and he has divided his time between Paris and Wiltshire since 2021.
Says Tom: ‘I grew up being intrigued by classic French songs. Before streaming services made all music readily available, only the huge crossover pop songs made it across the channel, but while my friends were listening to Vanessa Paradis, I was listening to Serge Gainsbourg. It seemed exotic, adventurous, and to be from another planet, let alone a country only 21 miles away from my own.’
During Covid, McRae released a single with his Belgian friend, Wannes Cappelle, a reworking of one of Tom’s songs in English and West Vlaams and an album of duets with a Welsh artist, Lowri Evans. Both projects sparked his interest in collaboration with other artists.
‘It’s not been a great time to be British since 2016,’ says McRae. ‘We’ve become politically, economically, and culturally isolated since Brexit – and I want to show that I feel more of a European than simply just an English person. But mostly this album, Étrange Hiver, is about beautiful songs, some in English, some in French, sung as duets with friends (some established artists and some new or undiscovered voices) and creating 11 little emotional moments in a crazy world. Some cinematic, some more intimate and personal, all of the songs addressing the important things in life: love, loss, political populism, impending climate collapse… written at a time when it feels as if the world may never escape from this long, strange winter.’
Artists duetting on this album with Tom include Keren Ann, Chien Noir, Clou, Alex Beaupain, Rose, Naya, Vanille, Helena Noguerra, Alma Forrer, Aïtone and Julien Brocal, and now more are lining up to sing with Tom on a Volume 2.
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About the venue
Cadogan Hall is a historic venue in the heart of Chelsea, London.
It presents a wide range of events, from classical music, jazz, and musical theatre to children's shows...
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Tom McRae Biography
Tom McRae (born Jeremy Thomas McRae Blackall) is a singer-songwriter from the United Kingdom. While growing up in Chelmsford, his parents were vicars in the Church of England and McRae sang in the choir. His mother played guitar and as a teen, he'd borrow it and began writing songs at 15. At 18 he moved to London to study politics at Guild Hall University, soon forming bands and writing songs. A chance meeting with sound engineer Roger Bechirian led him to a working relationship that shaped McRae's soft-spoken sound and later landed him a deal with Mercury's db records.
He released his first, self-titled album in 2001, during the height of the new acoustic movement, and gained Mercury Music Prize nomination. His second album, Just Like Blood, was released in February of 2003, which was produced by Ben Hillier, responsible for Elbow’s Asleep in the Back, with which McRae’s album shares a similar melancholy but uplifting atmosphere. In 2004, McRae moved to California where he wrote and recorded his next album, All Maps Welcome, which was released in May 2005. His fourth album, King Of Cards was released on 14th May 2007. A talented live performer, he supported Tori Amos on the UK leg of her Original Sinsuality tour. He is recognised as an intelligent and talented performer, influenced by, among others, Nick Drake, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Jeff Buckley.
Read MoreHe released his first, self-titled album in 2001, during the height of the new acoustic movement, and gained Mercury Music Prize nomination. His second album, Just Like Blood, was released in February of 2003, which was produced by Ben Hillier, responsible for Elbow’s Asleep in the Back, with which McRae’s album shares a similar melancholy but uplifting atmosphere. In 2004, McRae moved to California where he wrote and recorded his next album, All Maps Welcome, which was released in May 2005. His fourth album, King Of Cards was released on 14th May 2007. A talented live performer, he supported Tori Amos on the UK leg of her Original Sinsuality tour. He is recognised as an intelligent and talented performer, influenced by, among others, Nick Drake, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Jeff Buckley.
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