If Misch seems surprised, it’s because his fanbase has developed naturally. He never set out with any grand plan when he began making beats, and uploading roughly three tracks a week to Soundcloud at 16. “ I prefer a more organic approach to making music, but also to building a fanbase,” he reflects. “I don’t want a big push on my music as I don’t want to be as big as possible.” And yet, he’s rapidly become one of the U.K.’s most exciting emerging new artists, gaining 1.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify and playing a sold-out tour of the U.K., U.S. and Europe in 2016. Collaborating with a clutch of fellow trailblazers like Novelist, Loyle Carner, and Zak Abel, he’s accumulated a total of 75 million streams across all platforms to date — and it all started in his bedroom.
Misch’s earliest introduction to music came via his artistic family, including his psychiatrist father, a passionate violinist, who would take him to concerts and the opera as a child. He sang in a choir at school, and picked up the violin himself at the age of four. When one of his older sisters took up guitar and later abandoned it, nine-year-old Misch inherited the instrument, and taught himself to play Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Nirvana songs. Today, he also plays bass, banjo, and a smattering of keys.
It was one of his sister’s boyfriends who introduced him to the music of J Dilla at 15, and from then on, Misch was hooked. He took up Music Technology at school the following year, and began learning how to create his own “really chilled out, boom-bap kind of ‘90s hip-hop” on Logic Pro. “When I wasn’t at school, I’d be making beats,” he says. “It was just what I did.” As he began sharing his tunes on Soundcloud, he found the response was overwhelming. “You put songs out and you build a fanbase — it’s kind of addictive.”
A collaboration with his sister Laura, on the jazz-inflected “Follow,” was a major turning point for both siblings after it was uploaded to influencer YouTube channel Majestic Casual. The track features Laura on sax and Tom on beats and vocals, intertwined to mesmeric effect. “That was the point where I was like, okay, maybe I could do this as a career,” Misch reflects. “Suddenly it had 100,000 plays.” Shortly afterward, Soulection co-founder Joe Kay commented on one of Misch’s productions on Soundcloud, asking the teenage prodigy to guest on his radio show.
Soon afterward, in 2014, Misch contributed to Soulection’s White Label series, weaving together obscure jazz samples, guitar, and vocals to create the perfect summer listen (including the dreamy fan favourite “The Journey”). His Beat Tape series collected the best of his hip-hop instrumentals, the 5 Day Mischon project featured collaborations with grime MC Novelist and singer-songwriter Zak Abel, and his 2016 Reverie EP brought the official release of Misch’s most sophisticated songs to date. As well as soulful singers Carmody and Jordan Rakei, he struck up a collaborative relationship with fellow south Londoner Loyle Carner, whose mellow bars flow over Misch’s productions like a breeze on a hot day. Both artists form part of the much-hyped scene of singer-songwriters emerging from south east London, including King Krule and Cosmo Pyke. Each has a DIY mindset and a brooding, poetic approach to lyricism that weaves them loosely together. “There’s definitely a certain sound,” reflects Misch. “Everyone’s music in south London is really chilled. It reflects the vibe of this part of London — it’s laid back.”
Misch has lived in south London all his life, and he loves it so much that his new single, “South of the River,” is dedicated to it. “I much prefer the general vibe of south London,” he says. “I love this area, Peckham, Dulwich, Forest Hill. Singing that line — You should come south of the river — it just felt really good.” With its string arrangements mirroring disco synth stabs and a funky bassline, it’s an irresistible bop that nods clearly to Misch’s danceable new direction.
One of the biggest influences on Misch’s sound has long been jazz. With a degree in jazz guitar, Misch is an avid listener of Robert Glasper, Roy Hargrove, Cory Henry, and jazz-influenced songwriters like D’Angelo and Erykah Badu. “It’s kind of a warm feeling, when you hear a certain chord progression,” he explains.
In the making of his debut album, he’s also been drawing on inspiration from disco, house, and techno, discovered through the portal of producers like Kaytranada and Motor City Drum Ensemble. The euphoric feel of 1970s and ‘80s disco (think Earth Wind and Fire or Gwen McCrae), and the thump of nightclubs like Fabric or Corsica, inspired him to bring more movement into his songs. “I want people to dance at my live shows, I want to bring more energy,” he says. “When you’re in a club and you can feel the bass...I want people to have that experience.”
Misch’s sound is true to its roots — he still makes his tracks in the same bedroom studio in his parents’ house, and his mum produces his artwork. (“ Her work is very DIY, just like my music, and feels homespun,” he explains.) But he’s never afraid to explore new territory. “I think it’s really important to make music that hasn’t been made before,” he says. “I’m trying to work out what my sound is, and pursuing that.” Fans might think they know his style, but Misch is a restless experimentalist, keen to spend endless hours honing his craft. One of his favorite new songs is a “Brazilian-sounding” jam that reflects how deeply he feels about his work. As he puts it: “It’s about how you can’t take away my love for music. I’ll always have that.”
Beautiful Escape
Tom Misch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the blood's rushing through my legs
Waiting for a chance to prove that my soul
It belongs to you
I just wanna go there,
I just want a beautiful escape
I just wanna move ya
Show you that this love is yours to tear
Fears that makes us feel like we're not enough
Yeah, we're flying up, closer
Dancing on the edge of the world above
I was scared I couldn't show ya
All this lovin' that I hold inside
But now I feel your power
I am here, and I don't wanna hide no more
No more
Now I'm feeling like you're with me
As my heart's pouring on my sleeve
I don't want this rush to go
Oh I'm trying to let you know
I just wanna go there
I just want a beautiful escape
I just wanna move ya
I just wanna take you to that place
And now we're driving over,
Fears that makes us feel like we're not enough
Yeah, we're flying up, closer
Dancing on the edge of the world above
I was scared I couldn't show ya
All this lovin' that I hold inside
But now I feel your power
I am here, and I don't wanna hide no more
No more
No more
No more
"Beautiful Escape" by Tom Misch featuring Zak Abel is a song about pure and uninhibited love, and the unrelenting desire to escape and express these feelings. The lyrics convey a sense of longing, as if the singer is yearning for a deeper connection with someone they care about, but are unsure of how to express their emotions. The opening lines, "I feel you breathing down my neck / As the blood's rushing through my legs" suggest a heightened sense of awareness of the other person's presence, and a racing heart in anticipation of being able to share something meaningful with them.
The chorus of the song echoes this sentiment of wanting to escape to a place where love can be fully expressed, with lines like "I just wanna go there / I just want a beautiful escape / I just wanna move ya / Show you that this love is yours to tear." The lyrics paint a picture of two people driving towards a place where they can be themselves, and where they don't have to hide their feelings anymore. The repeated phrase "no more" at the end of the song emphasizes this desire to break free from the constraints of fear and insecurity, and to finally embrace the power of love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Beautiful Escape" are uplifting and optimistic, and paint a picture of a couple who are deeply in love and ready to take on the world together. The song is a reminder that when you find the person who makes you feel alive, it's worth fighting through any fears or doubts in order to fully express your love.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel you breathing down my neck
I sense your presence so close to me that it feels like you're almost breathing down my neck
As the blood's rushing through my legs
I'm feeling exhilarated and full of energy as if my blood is rushing through my legs with excitement
Waiting for a chance to prove that my soul
There's a deep desire within me to show you that my soul truly belongs to you, and I'm eagerly waiting for the opportunity to prove it
It belongs to you
I believe my soul is rightfully yours, and I want to give it to you completely
I just wanna go there,
All I want is to be with you, to experience something that takes me away from reality
I just want a beautiful escape
I desire a peaceful, relaxing escape from my daily life, and I hope it can be with you
I just wanna move ya
I want to touch your soul and make you feel the love that I have for you
Show you that this love is yours to tear
I want to demonstrate that my love for you is so strong that you could tear it apart if you wanted to but I hope you won't
And now we're driving over,
We're moving forward, leaving fears behind us in the distance as we journey together
Fears that makes us feel like we're not enough
There are fears that hold us back from feeling good enough, but we're rising above them together
Yeah, we're flying up, closer
We're rising higher and growing ever closer to each other
Dancing on the edge of the world above
We're living life to the fullest, taking risks, and enjoying the thrill of the moment
I was scared I couldn't show ya
I used to be afraid of expressing my feelings to you, but now I'm more confident in myself and the love I have for you
All this lovin' that I hold inside
I have so much love inside me for you, and I want to express it all to you
But now I feel your power
Your love and presence in my life gives me the strength and confidence to be vulnerable with you
I am here, and I don't wanna hide no more
I'm fully present with you and I'm ready to be open and honest about my feelings without hiding anything anymore
Now I'm feeling like you're with me
I feel like you're right beside me, supporting and encouraging me every step of the way
As my heart's pouring on my sleeve
My heart is overflowing with love for you and I'm not afraid to show it to the world
I don't want this rush to go
I don't want this feeling of love and excitement to end
Oh I'm trying to let you know
I want to express my love to you and make sure that you understand how much you mean to me
I just wanna take you to that place
I want to take you away to a beautiful, peaceful place where we can be together and escape reality
No more
I'm done hiding my feelings and holding back my love, it's time to be honest and open with you
Contributed by Grace A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DeLaVeGaGR
I feel you breathing down my neck
As the blood's rushing through my legs
Waiting for a chance to prove that my soul
It belongs to you
I just wanna go there,
I just want a beautiful escape
I just wanna move ya
Show you that this love is yours to tear
And now we're driving over,
Thrills that makes us feel like we're not enough
Yeah, we're flying up, closer
Dancing on the edge of the world above
I was scared I couldn't show ya
All this lovin' that I hold inside
But now I feel your power
I am here, and I don't wanna hide no more
No more
Now I'm feeling like you're with me
As my heart's pouring on my sleeve
I don't want this rush to go
Oh I'm trying to let you know
I just wanna go there
I just want a beautiful escape
I just wanna move ya
I just wanna take you to that place
And now we're driving over,
Thrills that makes us feel like we're not enough
Yeah, we're flying up, closer
Dancing on the edge of the world above
I was scared I couldn't show ya
All this lovin' that I hold inside
But now I feel your power
I am here, and I don't wanna hide no more
No more
No more
No more
@princessmakaba8717
This song just summoned me to a road trip with my siblings. My A-Team. A bunch of awesome people I happen to share blood with. Man, I’d donate my already failing kidneys for these assholes. Sadly it won’t be the same anymore because we just lost our eldest brother. The designated driver. A guardian. A protector. I honestly don’t think I will ever get over loosing him. It cuts deep. The people who killed him robbed him off so many dreams. They took away his chance to see his children graduate. To see them fall off a bicycle. To sign their homework. To be a present father. That’s all he lived for. It would have been nice to share one last road trip with this song on repeat just as home town glory - Adele. If we ever or never cross paths again; it was an honour to share memories with you. To run by your side on this life marathon. All the best and worst days with you were worth it ngoaneso ❤️ Rest Your Soul Child.
Again, the road trips will never be the same without you. Helek I hope you were celebrated upon your reunion with dad and the rest of our ancestral elders. Break bread, drink and laugh out loud and massacre the meat oena Koena. Valhalla kind of shit bro 😉
Personally, I lost you at the peak of our reconnection. Bloody academics. Was is necessary for the universe to be this ruthless? Damn! I could really use a lot of you these upcoming days, years, milestones. If it’s true the devil grants favours, il be at his door step first thing in the morning. I’m not a morning person. Look, just let me know when I got room to run to you..
The fanatic five will be creative about your inclusion, it’s given. However, for the millionth time; it will never be the same without your physical presence you fat fuck! 😩😭😅❤️
Your children will know who you are. The good and the bad too 🤷🏽♀️😂 (yip! This is what you get for leaving is without a warning) How you died a hero. How reliable you were. How my snacks never saw daylight because of your entitled co- ownership. More of a tyranny now that I deeply think about it 🥴😆 What democracy? Lol.🤷🏽♀️ Also how you had the baddest collection of sweaters only for people you call “family” to steal from you. All of us might never see you again because we are going straight to hell for that.😭 We were never worthy of you. Your bomb cooking definitely. Your kind heart. Forever humble, this is literally the guy who would treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO 🙌🏾💯
Oh let’s not forget how the Gods always favoured you 🙄 this is guy who would always win something each time he placed a bet for lottery. Geez! What a show off! Not even once have I won. Where I come from we define that as greed sir! 😏😩
Well, all of that amongst a countless of your greatness brother.
Ps: I too don’t know how this escalated into an overshare yet here we are...🤭
This is a fresh wound, it tends to bleed out every now and then. I’m hoping the healing process will begin after his burial. I hope to heal. As of now I’m allowing myself to “feel” 🥺❤️
@gazosborne5343
2024 anyone?
@carlitos2095
This masterpiece has no time
@calvin8115
Most definitely
Damn Right
@uknomejoona
This song 🎶 will be played in year 4220 and beyond
@feliskeviticus
Spot on
@randerthesamaita
2024❤
@nicomartinez3880
2022 someone ?? amazing song !
@hrt-gaming4920
Me
@urielbendezusalazar2198
Me too
@haroldsoriano313
Always