‘Our Generation’, the debut album for multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, Tokio Myers, is out today on Syco Music. The winner of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, it comes ahead of Myers’ UK tour next April.
Thirteen tracks in all, ‘Our Generation’ includes re-workings of hit songs, such as ‘Bloodstream’, a cover of the track by Rudimental and Ed Sheeran, ‘Angel’, from The Weeknd, and ‘Children’, by the late Robert Miles. Also on the album are original tracks such as the beautiful and hypnotic, ‘Baltimore’, and ‘To Be Loved’.
Backed by piano and electronic instrumentation, and breathy, almost choral vocals, ‘Bloodstream’ is barely recognisable as the same track from Sheeran’s ‘X’ album, with Myers rendering it as a near classical track. ‘Angel’ is also given the Myers treatment and stripped back to its very bare bones, with the end result being a gorgeous track which would work well as a live arena performance.
Standout track is the beautiful original composition ‘To Be Loved’, but having said that, the entire album is gorgeous. His talent is outstanding, and it’s something of a surprise he’s taken this long to release an album of his own, having previously been a member of Mr Hudson and the Library, supporting the likes of Kanye West, The Police, and Amy Winehouse. Special mention must go to his re-interpretation of Robert Miles’ ‘Children’, to which he’s added background vocals and changed the rhythms somewhat. The track has been reduced to half the length of the original as well, making it more “radio friendly”.
Myers cites his musical influences as ranging from classical and cinematic to hip-hop, dance and 90s soul, and all of these are evident in his original tracks and arrangements.
Tokio Myers will be performing 5 dates across the UK in April next year:
Weds 4th Gateshead, Sage
Thurs 5th Manchester, Albert Hall
Sat 7th Edinburgh, The Queens Hall
Sun 8th Birmingham, 02 Institute
Tues 10th London, Printworks
Tickets are on sale now from Gigs and Tours. Tokio will be performing at the Royal Variety Show, airing on December 17.
‘Our Generation’ is available from Tokio Myers’ website store.
You can Tokio Myers online on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and his official website.
