If You Like: Kid Bloom, Havelock, Hers
Tommy Newport (real name, Oliver Milmine) is most of the unique musical acts thus far. The singer-songwriter sounds like something out of a 90s indie romantic comedy set in Paris. His songs are upbeat, catchy, and nothing short of light-hearted fun. Tommy’s music has been seen throughout the entertainment industry from HBO shows to appearing in big-name commercials like Apple’s latest iPad campaign. At the age of 18, Tommy Newport is building himself quite the rap sheet in the industry.
Since his early days, Tommy Newport has been able to capture the sounds of the early 2010s alternative scene and add such flair. In 2018, Tommy Newport released his debut album, Just To Be Ironic, which began the journey of Tommy’s signature synth 90s sound. Throughout the album, Tommy was able to fuse the past and present with accurate production and far-reaching vocals. Songs like “On Top” and “Gold” showcased the amount of talent Tommy Newport has at such a young age. It’s deep within the underground layers of the song “My Woman” that you see how Tommy plays into the strength of his voice. Using that to his advantage, the young singer-songwriter makes himself at home in the space of new wave alternative.
Towards later in his early career, Tommy Newport still uses the technique, but elevates it to another level. On “Warp Speed Suzie,” Tommy’s voice, now slowed to a deeper sound, throws back to the era of 80s pop dance. It’s a callback to your mother’s favorite workout VHS, but with a modern mature twist.
In 2019, Tommy Newport released his EP, Tommy Gun. It’s a shot (excuse the pun) of pure rock-backed tracks with hints of soul and funk. It’s songs like “Holy Water” and “Sunshine” that really speak to the level of talent Tommy Newport has. Earlier this year, Tommy teamed up with rap/R&B duo EarthGang for “Stargazer.” It’s a song that really shouldn’t work but does with Tommy’s cool voice on the chorus and EarthGang’s alternative rap lyrics. Nevertheless, Tommy Newport shows he has to chops to become the next major star.
