Former West Sussex schoolteacher turned Britain's Got Talent and America’s Got Talent superstar Tom Ball is loving his new life.
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00:00 Good afternoon, my name is Phil Hewitt, Group Arts Editor at Sussex Newspapers, and what
00:06 a pleasure, what a privilege to be speaking to Tom Ball, West Sussex's very own Britain's
00:11 Got Talent star. Now, Tom, so much is happening at the moment, isn't it? Three things, you've
00:16 got the Christmas single, you've got the album next year, and you've got the tour next year.
00:20 Now the Christmas single is particularly special, isn't it? Go on, what's the name? Who's the
00:25 co-writer?
00:26 I'm really excited. I'm really excited by the Christmas single. It's called Winter Song,
00:30 and it's a co-written song by Gary Barlow and Elliot Kennedy. Obviously, I'm so excited
00:38 for this song to release. It's a beautifully written kind of song for the season that I
00:48 adore singing.
00:49 And you're saying it encapsulates everything you love about the season.
00:54 Everything I love about the season of winter, Christmas and New Year, and just the feeling
00:59 of being around loved ones. I'm currently on tour with The Overtones with 27 dates up
01:06 and down the country. And every single night I have the ability to sing this song live
01:12 on stage and the reaction from the public has been amazing. And it is one of my favourite
01:19 songs to sing.
01:20 It sounds like the perfect way to lead you through to the release of the debut album.
01:25 Absolutely. And it's not long. On the 8th of December it releases.
01:30 How long has the debut album been in the coming, do you think? How long have you been pondering
01:34 it?
01:35 I mean, I've always wanted to release an album. Ever since I was a young boy, I've wanted
01:41 to create a product like that, that I can be proud of. So in that case, years. But since
01:50 starting with Westway probably about eight months ago, it was when we first started having
01:56 conversations with Westway. Obviously Westway is an incredible label, home to West End and
02:03 Broadway legends. People like Samantha Bach and Ramin and Kerrie Ellis.
02:10 And it sounds like you are really pleased with the overall sound. Now, what is that
02:14 overall sound?
02:16 That sound for me is like stage and screen, big kind of production orchestra. For anyone
02:23 that's already listened to I Who Have Nothing, which obviously was my first single release
02:27 for the album. If you listen to that, you'll get an understanding of where the album is
02:32 going.
02:33 And to coincide with the album, the guitar?
02:37 Absolutely. The album is called Curtain Call and the tour is called Curtain Call Tour.
02:43 That's 14 dates up and down the country from March, April and May. And within Sussex, obviously
02:50 I'm going to Horsham, the capital.
02:53 Close to home.
02:54 Very close to home. It's only 20 minutes down the road from me, which will be lovely to
02:59 be there.
03:00 And with all this happening, it's not surprising that you are no longer teaching.
03:04 No, I mean, I love teaching and I'll always classify myself as an educator. It's something
03:10 I'm very passionate about, but I don't have time to be in a school. I'm incredibly lucky
03:18 to be touring all around the world and I'm absolutely loving every second I get.
03:26 Well, that comes across. But goodness, to think of the way that your life has transformed
03:30 so much in relatively short a time.
03:33 How do you cope with that? Apart from pinching yourself?
03:38 Apart from pinching myself, yeah. With the incredible support network I've got around
03:44 me from my family to my management. You know, if you surround yourself by amazing people,
03:52 which I'm very fortunate I have, you are kept grounded, you are kept realistic, but also
03:58 you have an incredible time.
04:00 But also you're saying so interestingly that the stage is your safe space as well.
04:05 Where I'm happiest, because I get lost in the music, I always have done. I get lost
04:11 in the emotions of the songs and the connecting with the audience. When I'm on stage, I can
04:21 just exist and enjoy it.
04:24 Fantastic. We're really lucky to speak to you again. You're coming to a really exciting
04:28 time, aren't you, with the Christmas single, the album, the tour. Good luck with everything.
04:33 Thank you ever so much.
04:34 Thank you.
04:35 Thanks a lot.
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