Tom Odell says touring with Billie Eilish gave him a new sense of appreciation for both fame and dogs.
The 34-year-old British singer joined Billie, 23, as a supporting act on her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour earlier this year. It was the first time Tom had opened for another artist since 2012, after more than a decade of headlining his own shows.
The two connected backstage before their performances, often sharing quiet moments away from the crowd.
Tom told the Daily Star about their bond: “They do this thing sometimes where they bring rescue dogs into a pen backstage, all these puppies.
“Billie and I were sitting there amongst eight dogs just chatting, dogs jumping all over us. That was really sweet. She’s so lovely, and it was a joy to do the tour.”
He explained that the experience also gave him a break from the intense demands of leading a significant show. He said, “It’s nice to be the support act. There’s something so unnatural about walking into a venue and seeing your name in giant letters on the front that I don’t think I ever feel completely comfortable with it. And so to be on a tour where Billie’s doing all the heavy lifting takes the pressure off.”
Since his debut album, Tom has often been positioned as a mainstream pop figure, though he has chosen to keep a distance from celebrity culture.
Reflecting on that decision, he said, “I fear that. I fear I would be a bag of nerves were I to get any more face recognition than I have.
“In the first six or seven years of my career, you just wanted to keep the party going. Which is fine for a bit, but it’s better to come down. I do quite a lot of meditation and similar practices. I’m like a monk.”
Even with his preference for a quieter life, Tom has achieved international success, with his songs streamed more than 14 billion times worldwide.
His latest record, A Wonderful Life, is due out this year and is already being described as a significant step forward in his career.
He added, “I started writing the album on tour, and a lot of the words were written on planes in a notebook.
“The album is unpolished, and it’s much more live. I always like to feel slightly uncomfortable with sharing the songs. Not in a strange way, but it has to reveal something.
“I want my music to be an invitation for others to feel. To not be afraid to feel anything, to feel sadness, to feel joy, anxiety at times, pain, and fear. More and more, I feel like my duty is that.”
