Following the January release of his single ‘Chalk Giants’, today acclaimed singer-songwriter Tom Hickox announces details of his new single ‘The Shoemaker’, out on Family Tree Records.
‘The Shoemaker’ was inspired by the maverick cobbler Jason Amesbury who died last year, and someone Tom had got to know in a small way. Written from his imagined perspective, it's the melancholic love song of someone full of complexity and a plea for belonging.
Its gentle piano, subtle guitar and mournful brass create a requiem to this real and, all at once, imagined life, as Tom sings the moving refrain, “turn the lights out on your way out.” It is another outstanding song from his forthcoming third album, The Orchestra of Stories.
The accompanying video, created by Wild Something Films, is a fantastical depiction of the quest for perfection. Tom takes on the role of the shoemaker endlessly trying to create the ideal pair of shoes, but discarding them all until they turn into a giant tower stretching into the sky, which he ultimately climbs.
Listen HERE Watch the video HERE
The Orchestra of Stories delivers what its title promises: a rich tapestry of human narratives, brought to life with grand ambition and intricate detail.
Throughout the album Tom elevates his celebrated storytelling with a cinematic sweep of songs brimming with drama and poignancy. From ‘Chalk Giants’ romantic and very British interpretation of the American road myth and search for meaning in life, through ‘The Clairvoyant’ - a mariachi-flavoured tale of a widower deceived by a fraudulent psychic - to ‘The Failed Assassination of Fidel Castro’, which recasts a doomed CIA mission turned love affair, Hickox’s gift for unearthing and reimagining stories from a wide range of sources blossoms here, each song revealing a universal truth that resonates long after the final note has rung out.
Aided by his own work as a composer and drawing inspiration from the sumptuous orchestrations of Scott Walker’s seminal run of self-titled albums, on The Orchestra of Stories, Hickox paints on a far grander scale than before, using the finer details of the score to fully realise the songs and bring them to life.
This spring Tom will appear in the documentary feature ‘The Sinking Of The Lisbon Maru’, which will be available at selected cinemas in the UK throughout 2025, discussing his fascination with this tragic event. His song ‘The Lisbon Maru’ appeared on his 2014 debut War, Peace and Diplomacy, in which he used the framework of the WW2 naval tragedy to tell the story of an old man forgotten by those around him. Tom performed the song on Later… with Jools Holland.
The Orchestra of Stories will be available on colour vinyl, CD and digitally. Pre-order link: https://tomhickox.lnk.to/theorchestraofstories