INTERVIEW W/ Tom Grennan: "I decided I wanted to give being a popstar a go!"

Following on from the success of his 2025 album which bagged him yet another UK number one, Indie Pop superstar Tom Grennan is heading to Haydock Park Racecourse on June 20th for a huge headline show! We caught up with him to chat about the new album and the enormity of the upcoming show.

Q. Having been through the album release process four times now, how do you find those final few weeks building up to the release of a new record? 

A. “ It's probably the most anxious I get throughout the year when I know that I've got a record coming out. I think because I've always sat on them for so long and this record is probably the album I’ve been sitting on the longest before releasing. I finished it a year and a bit ago and I really took a risk with it in a sense so the build up to releasing can be nervy!”.

Q. In what way do you feel you took a risk with this album? 

A. “It’'s a different sound for me. I had to flip a coin and I was like do I just stick to my roots or do I give being a popstar a go? In the end I thought let's just try being a popstar. I actually haven't had any huge hits on this record, like there's been no singles that have taken off in the way some of my previous singles have but I believe it's a really good album people might not have been expecting this kind of sound”. 

Q. Do you feel more comfortable in the album releasing process now than when you first started? 

A. “Yeah. I think it's natural to feel a little pushed at times when you’re starting out. I’m not putting blame on anybody because we’re a team, we’re a collective, but this time I've made the record I wanted to make. I had to flip the coin and I decided I wanted to give being a popstar a go. So that's all my decision. No labels, no managers, just my decision and people have backed it. But going forward I do wanna go back to my roots and I do want to show the other side of me maybe, what I showed in the first record, the music I fucking love”.

Q. Do you also feel the state of the industry has changed since you released your first album? 

A. “100%! I think music in general is in a bit of a weird spot right now. It's like everything is determined by the algorithm online and even if your songs are great, if you're not in in the algorithm then you're fucked. So music's in a weird place. I'm always anxious about my album coming out, but it's a good thing, like I've got a really solid fan base and I think everybody's getting behind". 

Q. After this new record you went straight into a huge arena tour. What was it like performing those new songs live for the first time? Were there any surprise crowd favourites?

A. "I think for me, the ones I didn’t expect were the album tracks. The album hadn’t even been out that long, and people already knew them. That was the thing that surprised me the most".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPR6W6tpQ2I

Q. How much preparation goes into a live show like Haydock Park Nights?

A. "Quite a bit. I haven’t even started properly because I’m in the studio, but there’s a lot of rehearsals, figuring out what songs to do, what suits the crowd best, all that kind of stuff. You can’t just rock up - there’s definitely a bit of thought that goes into it".

Q. What do you enjoy most about outdoor summer shows?

A. "It just feels like a festival. If the sun shines, even better. It’s just such a nice experience for me and for everyone else - being in a field, singing songs, and having a good time. I think especially at these racecourse shows - some people might know me, some people might not. Everyone’s there to win money or lose money, and then they get a show after, so everyone’s just up for a good time more than anything. It’s just fun to stand outside, dance, and sing - it feels different, especially in the summertime".

Q. I think we can agree that tracks like “Lionheart” and “Full Attention” would make great racehorse names. If you had to name a racehorse after one of your songs, what would you pick?

A. "Probably Little Bit of Love. Imagine seeing that on the race card - I’d put my money straight on that".

Q. What can fans expect from your Haydock Park Nights headline?

A. "Just high energy, lots of singing, and it’s a place where anyone can be themselves. Just a lot of fun, really. If you haven’t booked a ticket yet and you want a good time - singing songs you might know or might not know - then come to the show. Honestly, I feel like I’m the best you’ll ever see, so why not?".