Sam Tompkins’ single ‘Not So Grey’ offers a much-needed respite from the winter blues; his acoustic arrangement, the fast-paced verses and the genuine, heartfelt lyrics about mental health bring home a message of solace and hope.

Through the power of music, Tompkins admits to himself on how he wishes to change his life, the uplifting melody of the acoustic guitar powering through Tompkins’ steady vocals. The genre of hip-hop has notably been a conduit for many individuals to tackle significant, ground-breaking and oftentimes troubling themes, and Tompkins follows suit with a brutally honest rumination on pain, loneliness and mental stability. 

The most distinguishing aspect of this track is the use of the acoustic guitar in the background, its breezy effect reminiscent of sun-soaked beaches and sweater weather. This carefree environment, evidenced by Tompkins’ low-pitched arrangement, makes for a more feasible expression of the meanings, its more intense, heavier lyrics being emitted out through digestible forms. The line ‘I don’t want to hate myself anymore’ could hit close to home for many listeners but it is also an opportunity for the young twenty-two-year-old to let his fans know that he does not shy away from the heavy-hitting issues. 

So far, British singer-songwriter Sam Tompkins has been making quite a name for himself in his native country, primarily known for this R&B/Hip-hop records. He has been fairly busy this year, marking the year with the release of his EP My Sleeve to the World, which he promoted through a tour of the UK and Ireland in November. He has already gotten up to a few collaborations, with artists such as MNEK and Krept and Konan. Speaking on what the new album means to him, he says:

From My Sleeve to the World’ is basically a play on the old saying “wearing my heart on my sleeve”. I have always loved that term and connected with it, so I wanted to include it. I have always thought my music is a really good representation of how I am feeling and when I am sharing it, I am pretty much giving people a piece of my heart. So that’s where it all comes together.

 R&B    Soul