Tom McRae

Tom McRae

Tom McRae is a British singer-songwriter from Chelmsford, born in 1969. He grows up in Suffolk and begins writing songs at the age of 15. His father is an Anglican vicar, and his mother plays guitar; as a teenager, he borrows her instrument. He sings in a choir as a child.

Early life and move to London

At 18, McRae moves to London to study politics at London Guildhall University. While there, he starts forming bands and continuing to write songs. He is born Jeremy Thomas McRae Blackall and later shortens his name to Tom McRae.

Recording career

A meeting with sound engineer Roger Bechirian leads to a working relationship that helps shape McRae’s soft-spoken sound and later brings him a deal with DB Records. He releases his self-titled debut album in 2001, during the period associated with the new acoustic movement, and it receives a Mercury Music Prize nomination. His second album, Just Like Blood, follows in 2003 and is produced by Ben Hillier. In 2004, he moves to California to write and record All Maps Welcome, which is released in 2005. His fourth album, King of Cards, follows in 2007.

Performance and influences

McRae is known as a live performer and supports Tori Amos on the UK leg of the Original Sinsuality tour, as well as Paul Weller, Dido, World Party and The Waterboys. His influences include Nick Drake, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Jeff Buckley.