Brooklyn-based British rocker Tom Wardle returns with a bang on new power-pop track Secret, following on from his critically acclaimed single Jacqueline, which Rolling Stone named one of their Songs You Need To Know of 2019.
Secret – an anthem bursting with defiant, hopeful energy, featuring rich, layered guitars and a heartfelt chorus chant coupled with Wardle’s earnest, raspy vocals echoes the swagger of classic rock artists such as Thin Lizzy and The Faces. The single sees Tom team up again with members of the Brian Wilson band in Hollywood, whom he worked with previously on 2019’s Jacqueline EP.
Written about a fight back after a fall from grace, the song speaks of personal determination and the longing to be heard again – a theme that was picked up on by English football’s legendary underdogs and former European Champions Nottingham Forest, of whom Wardle is a lifelong fan. To his delight, the club are using the song as their adopted anthem to galvanize fans on social media when the current season restarts in mid-June, as the club anticipates a return to the English top flight after a 20 year absence.
Wardle said “Forest’s worldwide fanbase are unique in that they feel like a family, and I wanted to honour those fans with the song. The video montage which it accompanies really makes you swell with pride to be associated with such a city and a club.”
In addition, Wardle also has partnered with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor’s latest investment – audio tech startup IRIS – to become the first artist ever to incorporate their active listening technology into the mix of a track, using a proprietary algorithm to equalise existing music from streaming services giving the effect of higher definition recordings.
IRIS’s Founder and CEO Jacob Anstruther says, “It is a great moment for me and for the scientists behind our technology to see young emerging talent like Tom Wardle breaking musical boundaries and using IRIS unique listening tech in such a creative way across Secret.”
Secret has already found radio play on both sides of the Atlantic with NPR’s WPPB in New York playlisting the track, and BBC Introducing in the UK championing its release with airplay. Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones) has praised Wardle’s music on social media, while Ivor Novello-winning lyricist Chris Difford (Squeeze) co-produced tracks on the Jacqueline EP.
