THOMAS Heppell is still in the wake of his first full-length album release, but has been heard around the globe.
His music combines all sorts of influences, growing from venues around Berkshire to international airplay.
His transformation into a celebrated musician did not have especially auspicious beginnings, however.
“I used to live in Reading,” he explains: “about four years ago when I moved up for my old job.
“I lived on the Oxford Road and I was a full-time police officer at the time.”
He hadn’t intended to be a musician at all: “I was just doing open mic gigs here and there to entertain myself – I felt like I was going to be a copper for the rest of my life.
“But it was the best decision I ever made– I was in that position because I felt like I had to be, and people tell you that’s the way it has to be.
“I didn’t have anyone close who was a musician, so all of my family knew public services as a normal working lifestyle.”
But his job, especially as he was still working during lockdowns, wasn’t calling to him as much as other pursuits.
“I felt a bit like I was lying to myself– and then during lockdown, I was still working but all the venues had shut, so I didn’t have that outlet.
“I went a bit mad and started buying instruments: guitars, bass, drums, an upright piano, just playing and learning everything.
“It was my outlet, so I started sharing it online, and soon I had people saying to me that I should be a musician… then when everything started up again, people started booking me in for gigs.”
He says that it started to become a battle: “My job was getting in the way, so I started resenting it, and then a different role came up.
“I applied for a position teaching kids who wanted to be in rock bands and was offered the job straight away.
“You have to have a meeting with the inspector about why you’re leaving, and there was nothing they can do.
“There was no struggle, it just came naturally– more and more gigs came in and it went from there.”
After leaving, Thomas went from strength to strength and began recording and releasing his music.
In November last year, he released his debut, self-titled album, exploring his experiences with heartache and personal challenges through different chapters in his life.
It mixes blues, jazz, country, and folk, combining many of his influences.
“One of my first tracks was played on Planet Rock, Underdog, and then our second single, hey Victoria, was picked up by BBC Introducing.
“And it feels pretty cool when you get your first BBC radio play, it was kind of a bucket list thing, and we also got played on Jazz FM.
“It’s just cool to send your music out to different places and hear it being played in America, Brazil, places like that, and one single ended up hitting the top 40 in the blues category.”
While he was proud of it, he says it hasn’t really sunk in: “it doesn’t quite feel real yet.
“We’ll do a gig in London or something and it will turn out that someone has come from Swanage just to see is.
“Stuff like that is there to remind you that it is going well and you’re making an impact.”
Despite the joys of stage performance, he admits he’s more of a writer.
“I’ve always been writing, since I first picked up a guitar– there’s something about that connection with people.
“So I like to write something more personal, and the writing is more of an outlet than the performance for me.”
Thomas explains that it is quite an unconscious process for him.
“I don’t sit down and decide to do it, it comes more naturally– I can be driving and chatting to someone about something.
“For Hey Victoria I was speaking to someone and they said to me ‘you can still love someone willingly despite not being with them.’
“It went round and round my head until a melody occurred to me, and then I spent only about twenty minutes putting it all together at home.
“It’s like an out of body experience, very organic– it’s a lovely process, and very healing.”
While his musical output is distinctive in its personal expression, he admits that his appearance when on stage is slightly more considered.
“You can’t go up on stage in your work clothes, but I don’t really want to show off too much either.
“I want to have a style of my own; blues musicians dress in a classy way, but I wanted to make it more my own.
“So I like to wear a nice hat with a feather, maybe a sharp jacket with a turtle neck and some really out there shoes– I go for smart but loud.”
Thomas’ own journey into music after leaving policing is something he think people have increasingly emulated.
“After the pandemic I think people really took a look at their lifestyles and themselves in a more critical way.
“And many of them will have thought ‘is this what I really want to do,’ and they realised that there’s more to life than working all day, coming home, and watching the telly.
“I found a new fire in me– it’s been up and up, and I want to push it as far as I can.
“I want to take it worldwide and get it out there with the band, who are great guys who share the same vision.
“So I’ll keep writing, and we’re looking at some exciting things this year.”
Thomas Heppell’s self-titled album is available to stream on all platforms now.
He is also performing Reading Blues Club, The Butler, on Friday, February 16, at PentaHotel on Tuesday, February 20, from 7pm.
Full details of upcoming gigs and music are available via: thomasheppell.com
