Tom Chaplin

Thomas Oliver Chaplin (Hastings, East Sussex, March 8, 1979) is a British singer, musician and composer, known for being the vocalist of Keane.

Biography

Tom Chaplin, son of David Chaplin and Sally Taylor, begins his studies at Vinehall School (Robert Sbridge, East Sussex) and continues them at the British boarding school Tonbridge School (Tonbridge, Kent). Upon completion, in 1997, he—at the age of 18—traveled to South Africa for a year. Upon his return she joins Keane permanently. After his first performance, before leaving for London to dedicate himself to his musical career, he began studying for a degree in Art History at the University of Edinburgh.

He defines himself as a born worker, one of his traits is shyness, however, his artistic training made him express himself and have fluidity through the songs that pianist Tim Rice-Oxley composes for the band.

Although the band has been classified in the alternative pop genre, Tom is convinced that the rhythm and lyrics are unique to alternative rock and therefore they are an Alternative rock music band. Some of his musical references are The Beatles, Queen and The Smiths.

He likes to help those most in need, making community visits in order to help others.

Rehabilitation

In August 2006, Tom entered a rehabilitation clinic for his drug and alcohol addiction. On October 6 of the same year he left said clinic and fully recovered from his addiction. Keane, for this reason, had one of the most critical moments as a band, when Chaplin recovered from his addiction, Keane continued with the "Under The Iron Sea Tour", which had been stopped and some dates canceled.. Tom returned to the stage with new energy, short hair and very grateful to the fans for all the support they gave him when he was going through those difficult moments of recovery.

Some songs from Under the Iron Sea refer to this dark period of Chaplin's: Hamburg song and Broken Toy written by Tim Rice-Oxley or Maybe I can change, written by Tom himself.

In 2015, Tom enters rehabilitation again for his addiction to cocaine and alcohol. He himself states in an interview that he went 4 days without sleep and that he was on the verge of dying: "It was a disaster, I was on the verge of dying from the drugs," and that his addiction noticeably deteriorated his relationship with his wife Natalie Dive and with his little daughter. He promised himself that if he survived that episode, he would quit drugs permanently. So it was. [1]

On October 14, 2016 he released his first solo album: The Wave (album). Inside the album, you can see a photo of him with his young daughter, and Tom states the following: "The album really tells a story, a journey from darkness to light, and I wanted each song to be reflected in a picture. I worked with a very senior photographer, who did it. In the case of my daughter, I wanted to tell her my vision of life, that there are brilliant moments, but also shitty ones. I didn't want to tell him that reality is just sugar, like many parents do, I wanted him to know that hangovers also exist. But there is something more in that song. In the first year of his life I really wasn't there. I was not a good father to her, I was out of touch with her and with my addiction. Now I am better and I have made him a promise: “I will always be there if you need me.” Today she can trust me completely. For me it is very important to be able to say something like that.

Voice

Thomas Chaplin's voice is considered one of the best male voices of recent decades. His vocal range ranges from a G2 (She has no time) to a C# 5 (Dirtylicious), reaching A5 in falsetto (Under pressure ). That is, 3 octaves and a register note.

There has been a great evolution in Tom Chaplin's voice from the 2004 Hopes and Fears era to the last songs on Keane's new album Cause and Effect released in 2019. Tom used to sing the choruses of Hopes and Fears in a A4 (Somewhere only we know, This is the last time, Bend and Break, We might as well be strangers...). But we find his highest notes in his latest works, and so we get used to finding more Bb4 in the choruses (Put it behind you, Perfect Symmetry, Spiralling , Playing along...), B4s (Love is the end, My shadow) and even a C5 (Better than this).

Chaplin feels more comfortable in his higher register, which is why in some live songs like We might as well be strangers, Tim Rice-Oxley raises the melody a semitone. In concerts, he has complete ease in speaking and singing from a C4 to a G4, so his high notes would be, A4, Bb4, B4 and C5. His voice has been compared multiple times to that of Freddie Mercury, this similarity being very noticeable in the Queen covers (Another one bites the dust, Under pressure and It&# 39;s a hard life).

Personal life

He is married to Natalie Dive. The two tied the knot in June 2011. On September 27, 2013, Tom confirmed to Chris Evans on "BBC Radio 2" who were expecting his first daughter, born in March 2014.

On March 22, 2014, he announced the birth of his daughter, being March 20 of the current year in the morning. He did not elaborate, adding how proud he was to have become a father.

Chaplin decided to do a solo project while the Keane group took a temporary break.

Chaplin is agnostic and has made it known through his social networks.

Discography

Solo

• The Wave (2016)
• Twelve such of christmas (2017)
• Midpoint (2022)

With Keane

Albums of study

• Hopes and Fears (2004)
• Under the Iron Sea (2006)
• Perfect Symmetry (2008)
• Strangeland (2012)
• ’’Cause and Effect (Keane album)’(2019)

Compositions

Some of the songs that Tom Chaplin has written are:

• " The Silence Of An Alien
• " Call Me What You Like
• " Closer Now // Pattern Of My Life (Annie Lennox song)
• " A bad dream (along with Tim Rice-Oxley).
• " Maybe I Can Change
• " It's over
• " Playing along
• Emily