Meet Thomas Purves | Music Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Thomas Purves and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Thomas, how do you think about risk?
I believe risk to be a crucial ingredient to progress both in a personal and social context. Risk can be observed in a positive and negative perspective. We crave stability and security, but ultimately need risk to propel us forward. In a musical/cultural sense, risk has been the defining catalyst for timeless output. Be it Bob Dylan going electric for the first time at Newport Folk Festival, NWA releasing ‘F*** the Police’ as a single or Ray Davies of the Kinks cutting holes in his amplifier to create distortion, just to name but a few. Most of what we consume today and how we think can be traced back to a moment of risk. A moment where an idea would be strongly advised against yet would break the mould.

Among these success stories there are of course many failures, risks that have not paid off. It is here, however, that I believe we should tread carefully, particularly in the world of arts and culture. I believe risk should always be welcomed and encouraged, including those that do not succeed. An idea that ultimately falls flat should nevertheless be commended for being authentic and bold. We cannot tell which risks will be culture or career defining and which will be catastrophic, however we can tell when a risk is not being made and we are imprisoned by stability and repetition.

In my personal experience, I have made risks that have both worked and not worked. I took the risk to pursue a career in music, I also released my own DIY project out into the open with no real supervision or assistance. I put a stop to my solo career indefinitely following this release and its underwhelming commercial success, regretting my lack of technical expertise yet stubborn approach to recording, writing and releasing all by myself. What I must appreciate however is my willingness to take that risk considering I had never done such a thing before as to present my own music in such a public way. I have learned from this risk as I have learned from other, more successful, risks in my life.

What I must also admit is that I intend to take more risks in future, that I perhaps hide from decisions and their potential results when I should be believing in myself a little more. I intend to make bolder decisions at the risk of either causing disruptions or spawning success or, more likely, both.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am currently practicing to become a music producer. I work personally with artists, listening to their ideas and attempting to fill in the gaps and joining the dots that they perhaps cannot see. This style of production is essentially a means of facilitating and assisting an artist’s ambition to display their ideas in an authentic fashion regardless of their style. When we examine music in its purest sense, I believe that the only thing we can all objectively agree on is that it is simply communication with a given purpose. Be it an hour long concerto or just a drum track, there is always an intention to communicate with an audience and a purpose behind it. I wish to produce with artists by helping to bring their ideas to life as a piece of music and ensuring their purpose and personality resonates throughout that piece.

Prior to discovering what I enjoyed most about producing, I found myself eagerly learning multiple instruments in an attempt to master as many skills as can be. I can play guitar, bass, saxophone and have a reasonable knowledge of drums and piano. I found myself enjoying the excitement of creating something, of bringing songs into existence and claiming them as my creation. Over time, however, I discovered that I often wished to remain out of the limelight and preferred to create music for others rather than for myself. I much preferred using my skills to help others and produce works for them and through them, eliminating all responsibilities regarding performance, image and presentation.

I currently work with three singers, all varying in styles, creative processes and ambitions. I hope to keep working with them and to have something to show for from all of them. I also wish to expand my expertise to other styles and genres, artists of different ages and careers.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In London, I would certainly take them to the canals for walks (Little Venice or Coal Drops Yard), Primrose hill for the views and walking/eating in Notting Hill (Portobello). I would also take them to art galleries at V&A or Tate Modern. As for nightlife I suppose Soho would be the best best. I’d certainly avoid the typical tourist areas such as Westminster (unless they are yet to have seen Big Ben). A West End musical is also a must.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If I could choose several people who deserve credit, I would have to say my family and friends who have always encouraged me. Supervisors and Teachers in my education who have provided excellent guidance, as well as practitioners in my field who inspire me such as Rick Rubin, Brian Eno, Mark Ronson, Seth Godin (and his book: ‘This is Marketing’) and many others.

Website: Linktr.ee/Tom_Purves

Instagram: @tom_purves

Youtube: @tompurves9611