Tom West Releases Stripped Back Version of “Easy, Love” Ahead of SXSW Showcase

While folk singer-songwriter Tom West has already found success with his song “Easy, Love” off of his 2015 album Oncoming Clouds he explains that there was more to revisit from this “benchmark” track after letting it “float around” for a few years. West wasn’t wrong, as this new live acoustic version of “Easy, Love” allows listeners the pleasure of savouring every word he sings. With its slower and stripped-back approach, West showcases his feathery vocals, giving them the opportunity to shine atop wistful instrumentation.

Derailing slightly from the original, West introduces a female voice to the mix, which adds to the story of longing after love. With this addition, the last half of the song includes both parties pleading together in harmonious unison and heartbreaking desperation to “go easy on me, love.”

West explains that as he’s grown as a songwriter over the years, he always found himself referring back to the original “Easy, Love” as a “template for how to combine a relatable, catchy chorus with surrounding context that sets the scene.” Adding, “it was definitely one of the first songs I wrote where I think the imagery and music clicked in a nice and approachable way.” Reimagining the track allowed for his “mellower interpretation” to strike listeners with a heavier sense of reflection and introspection than his “more excitable original.” The song is meant to explore what it feels like when an intimate relationship comes to an end.

West shares that the song “reflects the moment when a relationship loses the thrill and ease of its early days.” Consequently, the character at hand is faced with a decision: “do I want to work on this, or let it go?” With the question at hand, West skillfully brings about an added layer to the original which resembles something of tender and nostalgic poignance.

Cover art for “Easy Love” by Tom West

West also recently announced his debut performance at the 2022 SXSW Showcase at Stephen F’s Bar on March 16th. Having been praised by the likes of Rolling Stone Australia, American Songwriter, Scenester, and several others, West maintains a distinctive vocal style and propensity to write catchy, tender folk songs often embellished with ambitious arrangements and cinematic flair. With millions of Spotify streams and placements on several of Spotify’s top folk playlists, West is eager to be returning to live music (after a forced hiatus due to COVID) with a spring US tour and new releases on the way.

In addition to the official SXSW showcase, West is also slated to make several other performances at the various venues below through March 19th:

March 16 – Lucille’s / Australia House – 3:50pm
March 16 – Stephen F’s Bar – Official SXSW showcase – 10 PM
March 17 – Balanced Breakfast Showcase at The Jackalope – 12pm
March 19 – Icenhauer’s – 12pm
March 19 – Hotel Indigo – 5pm