Musician Tourist shares UK Garage song ‘Avalanche’

Image credit: Roger Rich

London-based producer Tourist – AKA William Phillips – shares his latest single ‘Avalanche’, taken from his fourth album ‘Inside Out’. The single is out now, with the full LP to drop May 20 alongside a very special Rough Trade East live plus signing on the day of release. The record will be rolled out alongside an exclusive LANDMRK campaign*.

With support across the spectrum of the media for the first single ‘Your Love’ – including Magnetic Magazine, This Song Is Sick, BBC Radio One, NME and Kiss FM to name a few – ‘Avalanche’ marks a strong follow-up with its lofty vocals over chopped up shuffling beats creating a euphoric sonic odyssey. “I started writing Avalanche on the Isle of Skye whilst on a trip with my wife. Initially – it was a very glacial ambient piece, just synth arpeggios and pads. I was looking out over the sea whilst working on it, it was a deeply moving place to write music. I found an acapella of Ellie Goulding’s on my laptop and I heard this phrase which sounded like “Hold Me”, I loved how haunting that was. My instinct on previous albums might have been to leave it ethereal, but with this record – I wanted to push it to a more dance floor place. In the end it became quite a cinematic piece of UK Garage. Also, who doesn’t love an out of context dulcimer. I played it to Ellie and she loved it, thankfully. ”

A poignant record written in response to the sudden loss of a close friend during the pandemic of 2020, Inside Out was a difficult yet cathartic experience for the artist. “It was never a record I had imagined I would write, nor one I would want to again – but the process of creating these tracks was my attempt to make music that comforted me and explored the gamut of emotions one experiences after losing someone. Being unable to see others in the aftermath meant that writing music was a healthy way to occupy myself, and as soon as I felt like the record was in tribute to this person – the album really just wrote itself.” With the state of his mind and the state of the world at the time of writing, the themes he explores lean towards the existential: loss, friendship, the ephemerality of everything, becoming a father, longing for the connection of other human beings. “Amongst all of this, it was still important to me that if someone listened to the music with no understanding of what the record is about – it might speak to them purely on a sonic and musical level. My aim wasn’t to write a murky, heavy album to express these themes, but one that felt both euphoric, celebratory and melancholic all at once.”

After three EP’s and three albums, the record marks ten years of releasing music as Tourist. “Building this story has been the most enjoyable work of my life, and Inside Out is the culmination of all the lessons I’ve learnt over the last decade.” Remaining active as a remixer for artists like Chistine and The Queens, Wolf Alice, Deftones, CHVRCHES, Sophia Koutesis, Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd. He has recently sold out two nights at Village Underground in October 2021, previously played Coachella, supported Bonobo on tour, as well as scooping a Grammy for song of the year for his co-written track ‘Stay With Me’ by Sam Smith. A perennial source of purpose, inspiration and happiness since childhood, the artist was always destined to have a career influenced by music. “It brings me unending joy, as a listener and as an artist, it sparks my curiosity about our relationship with sounds, self expression and each other. When I view music as language, it strikes me as one of the most necessary and effective forms of communication humans have developed.” As he readies himself for a Rough Trade East show on May 20 as well as Field Day in the Summer, 2022 is the year Tourist traverses back onto the global stage.

There will be two playbacks in London on May 18th, the premiere will take place in L-Acoustics Creations sound space in Highgate. L-Acoustics Creations is part of L-Acoustics, the leader in premium sound systems and immersive technologies for live events and music venues. The listening room is equipped with a 360° ultra-high resolution sound system in 18.1.12 to fully immerse listeners in a 3D audio experience. Sign up here.

TOURING DATES

May 20th – London – Rough Trade East

July 8th-10th – Ireland – Otherside Music & Arts Festival

July 16th – Portugal – Super Bock Super Rock

Aug 20th – Victoria Park – Field Day