Tom Rowley is – he tells us on ‘Vegas in the Snow’ – the wolf man, a Xena warrior princess, the Loch Ness monster, and the Holy Ghost. 

The Sheffield musician has been playing with Arctic Monkeys since 2013’s ‘AM’. Before that, he was guitarist for Sheffield’s indie darlings Milburn, who played second fiddle to Arctic Monkeys on a number of bills. 

But now Tom’s striking out on his own, with his debut solo album ‘Moses and the Drones’. It’s slick and built to be played after midnight, with much of the suave lounge bar energy of A’M’s and ‘The Car’s lyrics. 

Released a matter of days ago, the album’s name was borne from a semi-fictional band that slinks through the storyline. Next for Rowley is a support slot with Inhaler and a festival-packed summer. He hopes for a new album release soon, too. It seems he likes to keep moving. 

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How did you first get involved with the Arctic Monkeys? 

We grew up together. I was in a band called Milburn, and there was Arctic Monkeys, and there was Reverend and The Makers. We were all just mates. And then when they did ‘AM’, they needed a keyboard player, so they asked me to play. And I did. 

What were you finding inspiring at the time you were creating ‘Moses and the Drones’? You were on tour with Arctic Monkeys? 

Yeah. A lot of the songs I wrote on tour and in various studios, so I suppose it depended on where we were on what influenced the song. It’s quite a unique way to do it, I suppose. 

What was the process around making it? 

I wrote it on the road around various countries. I feel like all the songs are quite different. But we recorded it in LA and New York and Sheffield, with Loren Humphrey as the producer. 

What about making ‘Something Strange’? Did it feel quite natural to be making a song that was then produced by Alex Turner?

We actually recorded a version of ‘Something Strange’ and then he wanted to get involved after. He just wanted to stick his nose in, which he did! And then we ended up using that version. 

What’s the track you’re most looking forward to people hearing? 

I like ‘The Night’ which is Track 10. It’s got a bit of everything in: quite a bit of piano on there, but it also gets a bit heavier. It showcases it all. 

As a musician and as a writer, are you quite prolific? 

I am constantly writing songs. I think it was just the timing of this one. It got to the end of the last Arctic Monkeys run and I had a bunch of songs, and it just felt right. ‘Why not record them now?’ But it’s been a while since then, so I’ve been writing since then too. 

How has your style or sound changed since then? Since you were writing most of this album while you were on tour for ‘The Car’.

I feel like it’s constantly changing. But that naturally happens. I think wherever you are or whatever you are listening to affects the way you write. At the minute I’m not on tour – I’m between Sheffield and London – so it affects the way you write. 

Where did the title ‘Moses and The Drones’ come from? 

It’s just a bit of a pisstake to be honest, but it stuck. If you were in a silly band, what would it be called? Moses and the Drones. 

It ended up in a song but it was never intended to be the name of the album. 

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‘Moses And The Drones’ is out now. Stay in touch with Tom Rowley on social media.

Words: Kate Jeffrie

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