Global Following
With a global online following, young singer Tom Muldoon explains why he prefers entertaining live in front of an audience. Photography: Carlos Rania of Carlos Photography, Clitheroe
As a 14-year-old schoolboy, Tom Muldoon posted a recording of himself singing Stand By Me on Facebook – his captivating online performance got in excess of 10 million views.
Testament to his talent, Tom now 19, is a professional singer, who continues to have a global following. However, he says: “While it’s really exciting to get so many views, I am mindful that I don’t just want to be an online singer. There are some unbelievably talented people online, who deserve success and recognition, but I think it’s important to engage and interact with your audience – build up a rapport.”
Having honed his vocal talents with a school swing band, musicals and charity performances in his Lancashire homeland, Tom, grew up in a musical household which saw him taking piano lessons from the age of five, followed later by drum and vocal lessons.
“My parents are musical – in fact my dad could have played professionally. He can play pretty much any instrument and he plays by ear, and my mum performed as a professional actor in earlier life.”
“When I was very young I recall my dad creating a music CD for me. There were lots of different bands and singers including Michael Jackson. When I heard Black and White and Thriller I was amazed at the artistry and dynamism, even though I was only four or five years old. I idolised him – he was a legend.”
“I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t involved in music,” says Tom, who went to a local primary school before going on to study at St Augustine’s, Billington, where he was Head Boy.”
“I was very proud to be Head Boy there. It was like the culmination of everything that I had put into the school and my really happy time there.”
After sitting his GCSEs and coming to a crossroads in his life, Tom continued his studies at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School where he joined the school swing band: “I was studying for A levels but becoming involved in the music really emphasised how much I enjoyed it. Although I got satisfaction from achieving academically at school, deep down it didn’t fulfil me in the way that music has as my real passion”
While still at school, Tom performed at Holmes Mill with friends to raise money for Barnabus, a Manchester-based homeless charity, which he continues to support – especially as their work has been even more crucial of late during the lockdown – including donation links on his website.
“Until then I had never really considered music as a profession but the feeling that I was doing something that I enjoyed and that other people were also enjoying was amazing.”
The following year, by coincidence Tom got his first singing residency at popular local venue, the Wellsprings: “Our car had broken down on the way to school and it was snowing on Pendle Hill. A 4×4 pulled up and the driver asked if we wanted a lift. We got into conversation and as a ‘thank you’, I ended up offering to sing for free in their restaurant the following weekend.
I was booked to sing there every week after that.
“I began to develop more confidence as the more you sing the more you develop as a performer and you start engaging more with your audience.”
Despite gaining A levels in Economics, Maths and History, Tom made the decision not to go to university, as he explains: “Music had highlighted the fact that I didn’t want an academic life. I wanted something creative, something that I enjoyed. It was a great escape for me, music gave me consistent happiness.”
Having left CRGS in 2019 and having set his sights on becoming a singer songwriter, Tom began to make the transition turning what had been a hobby, into a professional opportunity.
Inspired by the likes of Michael Buble, Tom’s distinctive style of singing performing classics from the swing era, timeless ballads, contemporary chart hits and original material, has made him a popular choice at local venues.
While paying homage to a host of inspirational artists, Tom’s instinct is to refresh songs with his own personal style.
More recently he has joined forces with fellow St Augustine’s alumni Jamie Turner and Actual Music, a locally based record production and artist management company that uses the recording facilities at The Grand studio in Clitheroe.
“I get on really well with Jamie. Like me he is at the start of his journey so we have been recording a few songs and I’m pleased to say we have a growing social media following,” adds Tom.
With his eye on the future, Tom eventually hopes to do more recording and maybe get a residency in London, or possibly further afield: “Going forward I genuinely want to develop myself and expand my repertoire for a wider audience.”
“I am going to give it my best shot. I am 19, I want to dedicate my life to music and the pursuit of the happiness it brings.”
