London singer-songwriter Tom McQ has built his career in much the same way as the troubadours who inspired him: writing relentlessly, playing wherever people will listen and allowing music to create spontaneous connections between strangers. From regular busking spots around Covent Garden to performances at Glastonbury, that old-school approach has helped make the so-called “Mod Dylan” an increasingly distinctive presence within London’s grassroots music culture.
His new album ‘Lonely Revolution’ takes that wandering singer-songwriter spirit and gives it considerably greater scale. Acoustic foundations and sharply observed lyricism expand through bass, drums, electric guitars, keyboards and orchestral strings, creating a cinematic collision of indie-folk and rock ‘n’ roll without sacrificing the immediacy of McQ’s songwriting.
With more than 200 original songs already behind him, we caught up with Tom McQ to discuss making ‘Lonely Revolution’, his life as a London troubadour, unexpectedly going viral and why the communal spirit of ’60s songwriting feels relevant to a new generation.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
Music… music… music. If music be the food of love, play on.
Music has always been around me growing up. It was everywhere — coming out of all rooms, inside and outside the house. When I went over to Ireland, where I’m from, there was a strong tradition of singing. It was just in my spirit, my soul, and my blood.
I only had one guitar lesson, and that’s what I needed. It was the one thing I was passionate about — I kept playing, kept playing, kept enjoying it. You know, that’s what I do.
Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?
I love music. I’m a fan of music, full stop. I don’t categorise it, but I listen to, obviously, the greats, and I’m open to everything.
I go through ebbs and flows, but obviously people like the Beatles. I think they were the Bible of emotion, and they’re the top of the mountain, really.
But I listen to all types of music, all different types of people, different types of cultures, and I just love music. I just think it’s great. Folk, punk, rock, rock ’n’ roll, soul, Motown — all of that, you know?
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
No, because I don’t see it as a pursuit. I don’t… I just — it’s something I do.
It’s like breathing. You wouldn’t say to someone, “Would you be thinking about continuing to breathe?” It’s what I do. It’s like birds sing in the sky. They don’t sing for accolades. It’s something they do, and that’s what I do.
I’m a musician. Old school.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
I don’t have one.
I’m open. And if I want to say something, and it feels right, and it’s true, then it sticks. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
I never write my songs down. They’re always… they come to me. I’m open. I’m privileged to be able to connect to something, and it’s how I express myself.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
Life.
It’s life. Life will always give you a new sunset, or you’ll step in something, and it will make you feel all those colours on the palette.
Life will put you through it.
But I don’t go looking for it. It comes to me, as life does.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Love, love, love.
And to be unashamedly human, as best we can, and realise that we’re all going through a maze.
And a maze can be scary, but when you have people, when you strengthen your friendships, a maze becomes amazing, and life can be amazing.
Sometimes we lose the understanding, and once we come back to that, music brings us back to it — that as much as life can be bad, music understands us.
It kind of relates to that place no one gets to. It sees you. It understands you. And I think that’s really a universal thing.
Music is the ointment for the soul, and I think it’s not there by chance. It’s there to help us get through life.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
I think because music is a kind, essentially kind, thing. You’re giving yourself away, because you give yourself away, a lot of people may take, you know?
It’s not easy to quantify it, or to put a number on it. And so a lot of musicians give more than they get, really.
They work… They put it out into the universe because giving is receiving, I think. And they know that, but in doing that sometimes it doesn’t pay the bills.
You can’t pay your landlord with hugs, although I’ve tried.
But it’s worth it because it’s like a divine exchange, and in the moment you give is the moment you get. And I think musicians know that, but in this world it doesn’t sort of equate.
So that’s what makes the hardship, I think, because it should not be that way.
I think musicians are needed. They’re there at births, marriages, and deaths, and they’re essential. They’re not something that’s a bonus or an add-on. It’s literally the bread of life.
And if music was recognised more like that, I think the world would know a lot more happiness.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
I don’t know. I just think when someone says it helped them through, or, you know, “I felt a certain way.”
You know, I wrote a song once where someone proposed to the words of the song. It was talking about a place, and they went to that place and proposed. And I actually played at their wedding.
It was beautiful to be part of some magic, you know, that happens through music and pure connection.
I don’t know. I love music, man. It does it for me.
Music makes me want to climb mountains, or swim in oceans. It makes me feel like anything’s possible, and it makes me dare to dream.
And I think it’s a ticket to… a ticket to making the unthinkable a reality, in a good way.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
Try to be organised, try to have discipline, try to deliver. But above all, ask yourself why you’re doing it, and always come from a place that’s good.
You know — goodness, organisation, discipline, and delivery.
Because there’s no point being organised and disciplined and delivering, but doing it for the wrong reason, and ending up maybe with everything that you might have thought you wanted, but being miserable.
I’d rather have nothing and be happy.
Happy are the peacekeepers.
Trying to just lighten people’s load, or make sense of this crazy world, is a noble art, I think.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Are there any upcoming projects or tours?
I’m so excited for everyone to hear my debut full studio album coming out this Wednesday, 2nd September 2026. I want us to get our kicks in ‘26’. Now is the time. The album is called ‘Lonely Revolution Part One’ and ‘Part Two’ should be with you towards the end of the year, November/December time. It’s been a beautiful labour of love and I can’t wait for the world to hear it.
With regards to the future; I’m just going to not think about the future. I think I’m just going to be in the now.
And I’m a massive ambassador for the now, because I think the future can destroy the present.
You have the present, and that’s what’s beautiful.
And I think why people love musicians is because they see musicians fully immersed in the moment, and they can’t reach the moment because they’re too busy worried about the future or the past.
So live in the moment.
I’m only as good as I can be at this moment. I don’t know what tomorrow brings. I’ll try and be my best, and just keep on moving in the positive.
Enjoy the journey. Don’t worry about the destination.
Try to help people as best I can, encourage young artists and old artists, and people who believe they can be artists, to actually give it a go. Actually dare to dream, and don’t overthink it.
Because one of the worst questions is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
When do we grow up? And what does it mean? Like, aren’t you something already?
I think musicians are always musicians. They just remember at some stage.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
Well, hopefully by putting my music out there, people can access it all over the world more easily.
What do I hope comes from that?
We’ve put a lot of work into it, and hopefully it’ll bring opportunities with it, because I’m on a mission. I’ve written a lot of songs, and I want to give them to the world.
I want people to be able to access them, so yeah, I’ll just keep on trying to get it out there and try and live the life that I want to live;
Which is to not just talk about rivers and never be near a river, or talk about rainbows and never see a rainbow.
I want to see rainbows.
And I want to read more good books and travel more — inwardly and outwardly — and laugh a bit more and, you know, enjoy life.
Because as they say:
“If you love the life you live, then you live the life you love.”
Or
“If you live the life you love, then you love the life you live.”
Whichever one. Both work.
So yeah, just let music be the ticket for the journey, you know?
Because it is a ticket to express yourself, and I think it’s a great ticket because music… it’s a great invite into people’s minds and hearts and into their towns and their cities. It helps you travel, and I think it’s good.
It’s very good.
So I can’t wait to travel more and have more people hear it, and hopefully have good discussions and, you know, more laughter, more smiles and more happiness and more peace.
It’s been great vibing on these questions. Thank you for having me. I can’t wait for everyone to hear the album! Thank you to my bro in particular for getting behind me a thousand percent and being so incredible! And a big shout of love and appreciation to everyone who got behind me and helped in so many ways! Big love to you all!
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Listen to Tom McQ’s new album ‘Lonely Revolution’ below.
