“There are personal songs in there that are really, really close to me, and those are the ones fans seem to connect with.
“I think they further what it’s doing as a record,” he says. Alongside alternate versions and fan favorites, it contains new songs that expand on the intimacy of his songwriting. This deluxe version is intended as, he says, “a last hurrah” before disappearing for at least a year to write the follow-up. “That’s what’s music’s about-losing yourself in it and hopefully feeling a bit better about whatever situation you’re in.” Drawing on highly personal experiences and a rich musical brew that takes in folk, trap, and reggae, What a Time to Be Alive upholds that philosophy. “I think a lot of my songs are a little bit depressing with an underlying kernel of hope,” he tells Apple Music. It was an honor that recognized his gift for soul-baring songs-such as all-conquering singles “Leave a Light On” and “Just You and I”-that resonate with universal emotion and flashes of optimism. Just days before releasing his debut album, Tom Walker picked up the 2019 BRIT Award for British Breakthrough Act.
