Tommy Blue is an introspective London musician who also happens to appear in Vivienne Westwood campaigns and Vogue editorials. From Bon Iver to Slick Rick, concept albums to toaster waffles, Tommy’s got range.
Who are you, where are you from, and what do you do?
I’m Tommy Blue and I’m born and raised in London. I am a musician, I mostly produce and I also model.
How did your career get started?
Well, I started making music with a bunch of indoor kids like me. We became best friends and we ended up calling ourselves KRU Tribe. In terms of the modelling, I was scouted on a random evening while supporting my friend at a gig.
What unique quality do you think you bring to the table?
My perception, my point of view. I sometimes find myself being the observer and notice things many won’t because my head is always in the clouds.
What is the biggest misconception people have about you?
I have no clue what people think about me.
Who was the first artist [in fashion/art/film/music] to make a big impression on you?
Well when I was younger (not sure what age) my dad always used to play the Motown 50 Album and when I got my first MP3 player it was the only album on there, so I’d drain my ears with the dozens of Motown 50 artists for 2 years straight
Who was the last artist to make a big impression on you?
I’ve just recently gotten into Bon Iver again, I had an obsession a while ago and then I started searching for other music stemmed from him.
What has been the biggest surprise or learning curve in the industry so far?
Consistency is important. There’s a fine line between it being fun and it being work. I doubt that I really understood that a while ago.
What motivates you?
Love – for the people around me.
What keeps you up at night?
Album release dates
Netflix
And thinking about what tomorrow has in store.
What/who is under-appreciated?
Mothers
Toaster waffles
Fredo Santana (RIP)
Name three artists you wouldn’t mind being compared to:
Rick James, Slick Rick, and Kanye
What’s the best experience you’ve had in fashion?
Building relationship with people through creativity
What project are you working on now/next?
I’m writing a book. A short novel based on an album by our group, KRU Tribe. It’s a fictional adventure with illustration done by our very own Keiron Caynes.
You can listen to Tommy Blue & KRU Tribe here.
Photography – Juan Ortiz-Arenas for MODELS.com
Styling – Angelica Diazgranados
Model – Tommy Blue @ One Management (New York)