THE highly anticipated new Tom Bonner album ‘Emotional Kaleidoscope’ was released on Friday.
The Ballybofey singer-songwriter, who uses the stage name StrawMan, succinctly describes it as rockout and upbeat combined with a few slower more melancholic tracks so that the listener can both catch their breath and contemplate.
‘Emotional Kaleidoscope’ is the eagerly anticipated follow up to 2020’s acclaimed ‘Fearless’ which was described by a stalwart of the music scene as ‘the best album from a Donegal artist in years’.
Tom has assured his fans that it is more than a worthy successor.
Tom’s influences include REM, The Verve/Richard Ashcroft, The War on Drugs, Frightened Rabbit, The Slow Show, Bruce Springsteen, Regina Spector and Biffy Clyro to name but a few.
So far, he has amassed over 300,000 streams on Spotify and N1M and sees this as a solid launch pad for the release of his latest offering.
Tom first started penning songs while at university in Galway in the mid-90s.
He moved to Hungary in 2003 to work as an English tutor.
While there, he wrote and recorded his debut album ‘Some Belated Truths’ under the moniker ‘Urban Hermits’.
This was released to a solid reception in 2007.
Later that year, the band played the world-famous Cavern Club in Liverpool.
Due to family commitments, Tom took a long break from music from 2008.
‘Fearless’ (2020) was his second full release.
In April 2021 he was commissioned by Donegal Education Training Board to compose a song for Roddy Doyle’s novel Brilliant.
The end of the year saw two new releases including a Christmas single.
He belatedly launched ‘Fearless’ in the Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey on December 10 that year with an excellent new band and received an amazing reception.
As with ‘Fearless’, this latest offering was recorded at Valley Music Studio in Ballybofey and produced by the much respected and innovative Terry McGinty of Valley Music Studio, Ballybofey.
Terry and Tommy completed the final mix in early October and at this stage, they were both drained emotionally.
Despite this, Tommy says there are so many reasons why he loves this album.
“I love the fact that my voice isn’t the first you hear on it.
“I think how this record opens is so artistically brave and original. I’m also very proud of the fact that musically and lyrically, ‘Emotional Kaleidoscope’ is much more expansive and outward-looking compared to ‘Fearless’, which was more personal.
“I didn’t want to make the same record and we definitely haven’t.
“’Emotional Kaleidoscope’ is definitely different and therefore, a natural successor to ‘Fearless’,” he said. Giving a special mention to Terry McGinty, Tom described him as being a “brave” and “innovative” producer.
“Combine that with his incredible musicianship and technical proficiency and it’s quite a thing to behold.
“Finally, he is my dear friend, a great dad and a good man, which is most important of all,” he said.
The album is out on digital release (Spotify, etc) since last Friday, November 3. It is out on CD release on November 10.
He has organised two album launches: Friday, November 10 The Alley Theatre, Strabane (+ Brian Hassan) and on Saturday, December 16
The Balor Arts Centre Ballybofey (+ Michael Gillespie)
Find our more about Tom at www.strawman.ie/
www.facebook.com/StrawManArtist/
ww.instagram.com/strawmanartist /www.linkedin.com/in/tom-bonner-1b2ba732/
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)