A BTEC student from Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM), a franchise of City College Brighton and Hove, is at number ten in the UK chart with his debut single and played on BBC’s Top of the Pops this week.
| Tom Swann, 21, has just completed his BTEC Higher National Diploma in Modern Music (Bass Guitar) at the unique music college in the city and is now set to top the charts with his band Speedway’s double A-side single, a rocky cover of Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" and an original track, "Save Yourself". |
Tom said: “I auditioned in London during the week of my exams and the next week we were playing in front of thousands of people at this year’s V Festival! Since then we have shot the video for the single and appeared on several TV shows like SMTV, CD:UK and The Saturday Show.” Damian Keyes of BIMM - who has played bass professionally with Eric Clapton, David Bowie and Alanis Morrissette, said: “Tom is a really gifted guitarist. He has a fantastic attitude and will work hard in his career. He has already achieved so much but I am sure we will continue to see great things from him and I look forward to hearing the band’s debut album." Speedway was formed by Scots duo, singer/guitarist Jill Jackson and drummer Jim Duguid. Guitarist Dan Sells completes the line-up. Tom was born in Worcester and picked up his first guitar at 11. After his 13th birthday, he used his savings to buy a bass guitar and formed his first band. Joining the course at BIMM helped him realise he was good enough to have a career in the music industry. Tom, who appeared on Top of the Pops last Friday [5 September], said: “I learnt so much from my time at BIMM and really benefited from the tutors - one of my teachers was Carleen Anderson from the Young Disciples and Brand New Heavies. My BTEC course has set me up for what I hope will be a long-term career now. “I can’t even say that appearing on Top of the Pops is a ‘dream come true’ - I never even dared to dream it before this! It is the most amazing thing and hearing your single on the radio is an unbeatable buzz.” Tom will break from his current busy schedule to attend his BIMM graduation on 9 September. Speedway will release their next single and a debut album later in the year. | |
