Tom Skinner | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Also known as | Hello Skinny |
Born | [1] | January 26, 1980
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) |
|
Member of | The Smile |
Formerly of | Sons of Kemet |
Tom Skinner is an English drummer, percussionist and record producer. He co-founded the jazz band Sons of Kemet and the rock band the Smile. He has released two albums under the name Hello Skinny. His first album under his own name, Voices of Bishara, was released in November 2022.
Skinner began playing drums at the age of nine. He enjoyed 1990s grunge and metal bands such as Napalm Death, before discovering experimental jazz musicians such as John Zorn and Ornette Coleman.[2]
Skinner emerged in the London jazz scene, playing with musicians including Finn Peters, Cleveland Watkiss and Denys Baptiste,[3] and the electronic artist Matthew Herbert.[3] He was a member of the jazz trio Zed-U and the avant-garde soul group Elmore Judd.[3]
In 2011, Skinner cofounded the jazz band Sons of Kemet.[citation needed] They released four albums and announced their disbandment in 2022.[4]
In December 2020, Skinner joined several British jazz musicians to record a Miles Davis tribute album, London Brew. It was released on 31 March 2023 by Concord Jazz.[5]
Skinner first worked with the Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood when he performed on Greenwood's soundtrack for the 2012 film The Master.[2] In 2021, Skinner, Greenwood and the Radiohead singer, Thom Yorke, debuted a new band, the Smile.[6] They made their surprise debut in a performance streamed by Glastonbury Festival that May.[7][8]
In May 2022, the Smile released their debut album, A Light for Attracting Attention, and began an international tour.[9] The second Smile album, Wall of Eyes, was released in January 2024, with a European tour to follow in March.[10]
Skinner has released two albums under the name Hello Skinny.[11] The first album released under his own name, Voices of Bishara, was released on 4 November 2022.[12] It features jazz musicians including Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Kareem Dayes and Tom Herbert. The first single, "Bishara", was released in September 2022.[12] NPR described Skinner as "the sort of drummer who always locates the pivot point between chaos and clarity".[13]
Skinner has two children and lives in North London.[2]
Main article: The Smile discography |