Tom Walker (singer)

Thomas Alexander Walker (born 17 December 1991) is a British singer-songwriter from Kilsyth, Scotland.^[1] He rose to fame after the release of his single "Leave a Light On", which peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart in June 2018.^[2]

Tom Walker
Walker in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Alexander Walker
Born	(1991-12-17) 17 December 1991 (age 33) Kilsyth, Scotland, United Kingdom
Genres	folk rock pop-rock
Occupations	Musician singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2015–present
Labels	Relentless
Website	iamtomwalker.com

Early life and education

Walker was born in Kilsyth. Despite relocating with his family to Chelford, England when he was three, Walker claims his upbringing was still 'Glaswegian', due to his Scottish background.^[3][4] He speaks with a Glasgow accent when with family or in Scotland.^[5][6] His favourite artists while growing up included Ray Charles, Muddy Waters and Paolo Nutini.^[5] In 2014, prior to fame, Walker graduated from London College of Creative Media.^[7][8]

Career

2017–2019: What a Time to Be Alive and collaborations

In 2017, Walker released "Just You and I", which was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month appearing on NBC's Today show with Kathie Lee Gifford where he performed the song.^[9] His follow-up single was "Blessings", the title track from his debut EP Blessings.^[10] On 13 June 2017, Walker released the single "Heartland", which was co-written and produced by Naughty Boy. On 22 August 2017, the single was added to the BBC Radio 1 playlist.^[11] Later in 2017, Walker was named as one of the new additions to the BBC Radio 1 Brit List.^[12] Walker has played support slots for artists such as George Ezra, Gallant and Jake Bugg.^[13] On 28 September, Walker began his US tour, in Connecticut, supporting The Script.^[11]

On 13 October 2017, Walker released his single "Leave a Light On" on Relentless Records. The single was co-written and produced by Steve Mac.^[14] The music video for "Leave a Light On" was produced by Charles Mehling, and filmed in Croatia.^[14][15] It impacted numerous international charts and was included in his debut studio album What a Time to Be Alive. In 2019, Walker won the Best Breakthrough Act at the 2019 Brit Awards.^[16] His song "Leave a Light On" was also nominated for "Best British Single".

2020–present: I Am

In November 2019, Walker confirmed he had begun working on his second studio album.^[17] Following this, in early 2020, What a Time to Be Alive achieved platinum accreditation by the British Phonographic Industry for sales of over 300,000 units in the UK.^[18]

As part of "Royal Carols: Together at Christmas" in December 2021, Tom Walker performed "For Those Who Can't Be Here" with Catherine, Princess of Wales (at the time styled the Duchess of Cambridge) playing piano.^[19]

Walker's single "Head Underwater" was released on 2 February 2024. It peaked at number 95 on the UK Singles Chart on 15 April 2024. His album I Am was released on 20th September 2024 and was preceded by the singles "Head Underwater", "Lifeline", "Holy Ghost", and "I Am". ^[20]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with release date, label, selected chart positions and certifications shown

Title	Details	Peak chart positions								Certifications
		UK [21]	AUS [22]	AUT [23]	FRA [24]	GER [25]	IRE [26]	NZ [27]	SWI [28]
What a Time to Be Alive	Released: 1 March 2019 Label: Relentless Format: CD, digital download, streaming	1	18	34	35	19	14	32	8	BPI: Platinum[29]
I Am	Released: 20 September 2024 Label: Relentless Format: CD, digital download, streaming	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Extended plays

List of EPs, with release date and label shown

Title	Details	Notes
Blessings	Released: 19 May 2017 Label: Relentless Format: Digital download, streaming[30]	No. Title Length 1. "Blessings" (EP Version) 3:17 2. "Karma" 3:03 3. "Rapture" 3:06 4. "Play Dead" (The 4AM Mix) 3:54 5. "Just You and I" (Acoustic) 3:16

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions, certifications, and album name shown

Title	Year	Peak chart positions												Certifications	Album
		UK [21]	UK Down. [31]	UK SS [31]	AUS [22]	AUT [23]	BEL (FL) [32]	FRA [33]	GER [25]	IRE [34]	ITA [35]	NL [36]	SWI [28]
"Sun Goes Down" (featuring Kojey Radical)[37]	2016	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album single
"Fly Away with Me"[A][38]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		What a Time to Be Alive
"Play Dead"[39]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Blessings[B]
"Just You and I" (acoustic release)	2017	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Blessings"[40]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Rapture"[40]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Heartland"[41]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album single
"Leave a Light On"		7	1	1	20	2	2	12	8	10	8	8	3	BPI: 4× Platinum[29] ARIA: Platinum[42] BEA: Gold BVMI: 3× Gold[43] FIMI: 2× Platinum IFPI AUT: Gold SNEP: Platinum	What a Time to Be Alive[A]
"My Way"[45]	2018	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Angels"[46]		—	87	87	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	BPI: Silver[29]
"Just You and I" (2019 re-release)[C]	2019	3	3	3	97	64	51	164	93	7 [47]	54 [48]	—	58	BPI: 3× Platinum[29] ARIA: Gold[49] BVMI: Gold[43]
"All That Matters" (acoustic release)[50]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Not Giving In"[51]		—	50	50	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Now You're Gone" (featuring Zara Larsson)		79	50	50	—	—	—	—	—	77	—	—	—	BPI: Silver[29]
"Better Half of Me"		30	6	6	—	—	—	—	—	55	—	—	—	BPI: Platinum[29]
"Heartbeats"[52]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Wait for You"	2020	47	16	16	—	—	—	—	—	71	—	—	—	BPI: Silver[29]	I Am
"Wait for You" (featuring Zoe Wees)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Something Beautiful" (featuring Masked Wolf)[53]	2021	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album singles
"For Those Who Can't Be Here"		—	6	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Serotonin"[54]	2022	—	75	84	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Number 10"[55]		—	8	9	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Sun Will Shine" (with Robin Schulz)[56]		79	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Pink
"The Best Is Yet to Come"[57]		—	23	23	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		I Am
"Castles" (with Hybrid Minds)[58]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Tides
"Burn"[59]	2023	—	44	46	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		I Am
"Freaking Out"[60]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Head Underwater"	2024	—	95	83	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Lifeline"[61]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Holy Ghost"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.

As featured artist

List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions, certifications, and album name shown

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Certifications	Album
		UK [21]	IRE [34]
"Human" (DODIE featuring Tom Walker)[62]	2018	—	—		Human
"Walk Alone" (Rudimental featuring Tom Walker)		80	92	BPI: Silver[29]	Toast to Our Differences and What a Time to Be Alive
"Leave a Light On" (Red Hot Chilli Pipers featuring Tom Walker)[63]	2019	7[D]	10	BPI: 4× Platinum[29]	Fresh Air
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.

Guest appearances

List of guest appearances, with year released, artist(s), and album name shown

Title	Year	Artist(s)	Album
"Where the Heart Is"[64]	2017	The HeavyTrackerz and Mikill Pane	Odyssey "a Musical Journey"
"Tant que rien ne m'arrête"[65]	2018	Claudio Capéo	Tant que rien ne m'arrête
"Hola (I Say)"[66]	2019	Marco Mengoni	Atlantico

Songwriting credits

List of songwriting credits, with year released, artist(s), co-writer(s), and album name shown

Title	Year	Artist(s)	Co-writer(s)	Album
"Faithless Love"[67]	2019	Will Young	Dan McDougall	Lexicon

Notes

1. "Fly Away with Me", "All That Matters" (acoustic release), "Better Half of Me", and "Heartbeats" only appear on the deluxe edition of What a Time to Be Alive.^[44]
2. "Just You and I" (acoustic release) and "Blessings" also feature on Tom Walker's debut studio album What a Time to Be Alive.
3. The 2019 version of "Just You and I" appears on some digital versions, as well as the deluxe version, of What a Time to Be Alive.^[44]
4. Sales of this version were combined with the original by the Official Charts Company.