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.”
Watch Me Dance
Tom Misch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is that I am king that I feel brand new
‘Cause you're in my soul, can't let you go, fighting for you
And in my dreams I'll make you my pair
As we move close, and I grove with you
Blue and green rays they shine through
Feel the energy, you don't have to try
You can see it in our bodies, you can see it in our eyes
Just as real, just as half for me
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights that came to glow for me
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as half for me
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights that came for my love amazing
In the mist of the crowded room, we might have float
But all I see is you, and you alone
‘Cause you're in my soul, can't let you go, fighting for you
And in my dreams I'll make you my pair
As we move close, and I grove with you
Blue and green rays they shine through
Feel the energy, you don't have to try
You can see it in our bodies, you can see it in our eyes
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as half for me
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights that came to glow for me
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as half for me
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights that came for my love amazing
The lyrics of Tom Misch's song Watch Me Dance seem to be about a memorable experience he had with someone special. He remembers every move they made together as if it were still happening, feeling like he's king and brand new. Even though this person is no longer with him, he won't let go of the memory and is fighting to keep it alive. He dreams of dancing with them again, seeing blue and green rays of light shining through as they move close and groove together. Tom can feel the energy between them, and it's something that can be seen in their bodies and eyes. In his mind, he's reliving this experience and wants others to see him dance with this memory, to see the lights that came to glow just for him.
The lyrics describe the power of memories and how they can make you feel alive even when the person or moment is long gone. Tom seems to have immortalized this experience through this song, dancing with this memory and reveling in the lights that shine for him. The blue and green rays of light could also be a reference to the chakra system, representing communication and love. Overall, the song's meaning is all about treasuring the memories that make us feel alive and using those moments to inspire us to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember every move you make as if it was still true
Recall every action done in the past as if they are still real
Is that I am king that I feel brand new
Feeling renewed and empowered like a king
‘Cause you're in my soul, can't let you go, fighting for you
Having deep, unbreakable connection and fighting for the one you love
And in my dreams I'll make you my pair
Visualizing the perfect match and soulmate in dreams
As we move close, and I grove with you
Dancing in sync and harmony with the one you love
Blue and green rays they shine through
Vibrant colors radiating positive energy
Feel the energy, you don't have to try
Sensing strong energy and connection effortlessly
You can see it in our bodies, you can see it in our eyes
The intense energy is visible through body language and eye contact
Watch me dance with this memory
Witness me dancing with the memory of this love
Just as real, just as half for me
The memory feels just as vivid and significant as the real experience
The lights that came to glow for me
The memories are illuminated with shining lights of joy
In the mist of the crowded room, we might have float
Amidst the chaos, it feels like only the two of you exist
But all I see is you, and you alone
The focus is solely on the one you love
The lights that came for my love amazing
The love that you experienced was so incredible that it was lit up by shining lights
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Danhi
Remember every move you made as if it was still true
It's there I am king, there I feel brand new
‘Cause you’re in my soul, can’t let you go, fighting for you
And in my dreams, I’ll make you appear, oh oh oh
As we move closer and I groove with you
Blue and green rays, they shine through, hey
Feel the energy, you don’t have to try
You can see it in our bodies, you can see it in our eyes
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as heavenly
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights decay but the love remains
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as heavenly
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights decay but my love remains
In the mist of the crowded room, you might have flown
But all I see is you and you alone
‘Cause you’re in my soul, can’t let you go, fighting for you
And in my dreams, I’ll make you appear
As we move closer and I grove with you
Blue and green rays, they shine through
Feel the energy, you don’t have to try
You can see it in our bodies, you can see it in our eyes
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as heavenly
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights decay but the love remains
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as heavenly
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights decay but my love remains
It remains
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey....
Putri Salehah
Watch Me Dance
Tom Misch
Remember every move you make as if it was still true
Is that I am king that I feel brand new
‘Cause you're in my soul, can't let you go, fighting for you
And in my dreams I'll make you my pair
As we move close, and I grove with you
Blue and green rays they shine through
Feel the energy, you don't have to try
You can see it in our bodies, you can see it in our eyes
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as half for me
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights that came to glow for me
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as half for me
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights that came for my love amazing
In the mist of the crowded room, we might have float
But all I see is you, and you alone
‘Cause you're in my soul, can't let you go, fighting for you
And in my dreams I'll make you my pair
As we move close, and I grove with you
Blue and green rays they shine through
Feel the energy, you don't have to try
You can see it in our bodies, you can see it in our eyes
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as half for me
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights that came to glow for me
Watch me dance with this memory
Just as real, just as half for me
Watch me dance in my reverie
The lights that came for my love amazing
Tom Misch
New album "What Kinda Music" dropping April 24th ☄️ https://whatkindamusic.lnk.to/album
Majestic Casual
mad love for the video tom! ❤
Bearded
Majestic Casual ayyy majestic.
Nero
Majestic Casual please share his song he makes great stuff like you ❤
•cam.
I dont understand why people don't get the concept of music promotion channels
Ian Moore
@•cam. most people are consumers, usually consumers don't think about the same aspects of the industry that listeners/musicians do
Teresa Robinson
I lost my daughter Maria Madia 12/03/21. I dedicate this song to her. She is one of the many we have lost to overdoses. Her spirit was so big. Whenever I hear this song I can just hear her say”Mom watch me dance”. The love remains!!
Macy Cunard
I’m so sorry I can’t imagine how hard that must have been 💔
Michele Moscatelli
💖💖💖
kianna m. s.
Aww that's sweet ❤ wishing you a happy Mother’s Day ✨📈💓