Tom Aspaul

Thomas Paul Frederick Dutton (born 16 September 1986), known professionally as Tom Aspaul, is a British singer and songwriter from Wolverhampton. He released his debut album, Black Country Disco in 2020 to critical acclaim. His songwriting credits include Kylie Minogue, Snakehips, Celeste, and Becky Hill, among many others.

Early life He grew up on a council estate in the Black Country descent. Writing songs from an early age, he would play ideas to family and friends, but was not involved in the local music scene. followed by a master's at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.

Music career Songwriting Aspaul's career in music began in earnest while still studying at University in London. Encountering several A&Rs and music managers during his shifts working in an East London pub, Aspaul was eventually drafted to help write new material for the newly reformed Sugababes (then known as Mutya Keisha Siobhan) in 2012. In October 2013, after uploading a demo to SoundCloud, his song "Indiana" was signed to Little Boots' label, On Repeat Records. Produced by MNEK, the single attracted support from Popjustice and Pitchfork. The song was covered and renamed as "Feels So Good" by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. Minogue included it on her twelfth studio album, Kiss Me Once, with Aspaul contributing backing vocals. Aspaul signed his first publishing deal soon after.

In September 2015, Aspaul co-wrote and featured on XYconstant's single, "Do It Well", released on FFRR Records/Parlophone in September 2015. The track was featured on several 'Best of 2015' lists, eventually being nominated for the 2016 Popjustice £20 Music Prize, an annual prize awarded by music website Popjustice, recognising the "best British pop single of the previous year". During this time, often in five songwriting sessions a week, Aspaul's other credits include writing singles for AlunaGeorge, LIZ, The X Factor thirteenth series winner Matt Terry (and the runner-up Saara Aalto), Snakehips and Celeste, among others.

2014–2019: Revelation, LEFT and collaborations

After the initial success of "Indiana", on 10 December 2014 Aspaul premiered "Good Together", his second official single and the first from his debut mixtape. The song, produced by GRADES, received support from Huw Stephens and was named by former BBC Radio 1 DJ, Zane Lowe as his "Next Hype". Revelation, the mixtape, was self-released via YouTube 19 May 2015, receiving acclaim from billboard. Also in 2015, he released his collaboration with Aeble (alias of producer Starsmith), "Better By Your Side", which went on to eventually amass over 20 million streams.

Aspaul released his first full EP, LEFT on BLK&WHT records on 4 November 2016, featuring work with frequent collaborators MNEK and GRADES. 2017 saw more collaborations, with Aspaul's vocals featuring on several EDM/dance and house tracks, including songs by Viceroy, Bronze Whale and Sleepy Tom, the latter of which became one of BBC Radio 1's "Dance Anthems".

2019–2021: Black Country Disco and Black Country Discothèque

On 14 September 2019, Aspaul announced the beginning of a new project, Black Country Disco - a concept album named for the area in which he grew up and inspired by disco from the late 1970s and early 1980s. named "easily one of the best albums of the year". The record was supported by a short-film titled Black Country Disco: The Movie, shot in and around Wolverhampton.

Aspaul was awarded the PPL Momentum Fund in October 2020, sponsored by PRS, Spotify and Arts Council England to help fund a second studio album. He also performed the entirety of his debut album at Birmingham Symphony Hall. In April 2021, Aspaul released Black Country Discothèque, a remix album re-imagining each song on his debut LP, including collaborations with MNEK, Kim Wilde, Brendan Maclean and Bright Light Bright Light. Later that month, Aspaul announced Black Country Disco: The Book, published by Polari Press, documenting the conception, creation and release of the album. He embarked on his first sold-out UK headline tour in July 2021, The Revenge Body Tour.

To mark its fifth anniversary, Black Country Disco was reissued on vinyl in 2026.

2021–2024: Life in Plastic

On 31 December 2021 Aspaul released the first single, "Let Them (It's All Love)", from his second album, Life in Plastic.

Released on 30 May 2022, and named after a lyric taken from the song "Barbie Girl" by Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua, the album saw Aspaul team up with long-time collaborators, Gil Lewis and MNEK. The record was inspired by late 90s and early 00s Europop, trance and Eurodance music, noted for referencing artists such as "La Bouche, Ace of Base, Steps, Whigfield, ATC" and the band who inspired its name, Aqua - as well as Romanian pop music, Balkan pop music and the Eurovision Song Contest.

Described as a "monster pop record" and a "party from start to finish", Life in Plastic received acclaim for its consistency and "Y2K aesthetic", as well its eclectic influences. For The Independent, Isobel Lewis wrote "Life in Plastic is a pure bubblegum pop record – but not without substance". In Line of Best Fit, Aspaul was praised as a "shining example of an independent artist making the music they want to make".

In support of the album's release, Aspaul performed across the UK, North America and Europe, including Mighty Hoopla, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, held in Birmingham and his second headline tour, the Planet Fantastic Tour which opened in Paris on 19 April 2023.

2024–present: Cabin Fever and Moustache In November 2024, Aspaul released the first single from his third album, "Cabin Fever". The album, also titled Cabin Fever, was independently released on 19 May 2025 via digital and limited vinyl formats. The record, inspired by an unsettling LSD‑fueled Midsommar weekend in a remote cabin on the Stockholm archipelago, marked a shift toward introspective psychedelic pop with deeply personal and emotionally candid lyrics. Critics praised its mature tone and refined production, highlighting tracks like "That Girl" and "Drama" for their emotional depth and authenticity. Following the album's release, Aspaul embarked on a string of summer dates, including a stint supporting Kesha on the UK leg of her House of Kesha Tour.

In 2026, Aspaul released Moustache , his fourth studio album and the first instalment of a planned three-part project. Released on 24 July 2026, the Italo disco inspired album consists of eight tracks and was preceded by the singles "You Can Try Me" and "New Position".

Artistry Aspaul is a pop singer and songwriter, though his music has straddled pop, R&B and electronic/dance. Aspaul is noted for using vocal harmonies extensively and his songs often feature his own voice layered several times. His vocals have been described as having an "unapologetic queerness" as well as being "unique", "soulful", "smooth", "versatile" and "effortless". He frequently cites Rodney Jerkins, Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez among his favourite musicians, although more recently, the likes of La Roux, Empire of the Sun and Daft Punk have influenced his work stylistically - as well as Chic, Grace Jones and ELO.

Other work He launched a music and pop culture podcast, Bottle Pop with Tom Aspaul in 2017. He is the host, with fellow singer-songwriter guests including MNEK, Becky Hill, Siobhan Donaghy, Anita Blay and Clare Maguire; as well as music journalist guests such as Popjustice. Since 2018 Aspaul has been sporadically presenting on the internet only radio station, FUBAR Radio. In 2021, Aspaul was part of United Kingdom's jury in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. On 31 December 2025, he launched his OnlyFans account.

Personal life Aspaul is gay.

Discography Studio albums Title Album details Black Country Disco Released: 14 September 2020 Formats: CD, digital download, LP, cassette Life in Plastic Released: 30 May 2022 Formats: CD, digital download, LP, cassette Cabin Fever Released: 19 May 2025 Formats: CD, digital download, LP Moustache Released: 24 July 2026 Formats: digital download, LP

Remix albums Title Album details Black Country Discothèque Released: 16 April 2021 Formats: Digital download, LP

EPs Title EP details LEFT Released: 4 November 2016 Label: BLK&WHT Records Format: Digital download Cabin Fever Dream Released: 26 September 2025 Format: CD, Digital download

Mixtapes Title Mixtape details Revelation Released: 19 May 2015 Format: Digital download Lamentations Released: 11 December 2018 Format: Digital download

Songwriting credits indicates a background vocal contribution

indicates an un-credited lead vocal contribution

indicates a credited vocal/featured artist contribution

Year Artist Album Song Co-written with 2014 Kylie Minogue Kiss Me Once "Feels So Good" 2015 Karen Harding Say Something EP "Those Girls" Karen Harding, Daniel Traynor Little Boots Working Girl "Working Girl" Viktoria Hesketh, Daniel Traynor Hannah Lucia "Don't Hold Out" Hannah Lucia, Thomas AD Fuller Alo Lee Videos EP "Videos" Alo Lee, Liam Howe, Exmoor Emperor 2016 Alex Newell Power EP "Shame" Karen Harding, George Tizzard, Richard Parkhouse AlunaGeorge I Remember "Mediator" Aluna Francis, George Reid Liz Cross Your Heart "Want U to Hate Me" Elizabeth Abrams, Shane Tremlin, Thomas Foley Aanysa "Burn Break Crash" Caroline Furoyen, Daniel Traynor 2017 Celeste The Milk & the Honey EP "Chocolate" Celeste Waite, James Edward Jacob Joe Hertz "Simple" Joseph Hertz Charlotte OC Careless People "In Paris" Charlotte O'Connor, Martin Sjølie GotSome "I Don't Know" Adam Gorsky, Alexander Holmes, Ian Griffiths, Thomas Griffiths, Rebecca Hill, Jimmy Hogarth, Lisa Kekaula Matt Terry Trouble "Try" Matthew Terry, Daniel Shah, Skylar Adams 2018 Saara Aalto Wild Wild Wonderland "Queens" Saara Aalto, Farley Arvidsson, Charlie Walshe Olivier Dion Exposed "Curious" Sabina Ddumba, Daniel Traynor MOKS "Do So Much" Rijad Rahmouni, Carlos Vroljik, Aaron Gill, Daniel McDougall Mae Muller Frankly EP "Maybe" Holly Muller, Anthony Esterly 2020 Louise Heavy Love "Villain" Louise Redknapp, Hannah Robinson, Josef Page Jay Pryor "Aside" Jay Pryor, James Bairian, Jesse Thomas, Louis Castle 2021 Tia Kofi Part 1: The Damage EP "Outside In" Victoria Hesketh, Gil Lewis Dionne Bromfield "Silly Love" Dionne Bromfield, Lewis Dransfield Becky Hill Only Honest on the Weekend "Waiting Not Looking" Rebecca Hill, Oscar Hill 2022 Suki Waterhouse I Can't Let Go "Melrose Meltdown" Lux Pyramid, Suki Waterhouse 2024 Andy C, Becky Hill Believe Me Now? "Indestructible" Rebecca Hill, Andrew Michael Clarke, Ryan Ashley

Tours Supporting act Louise Heavy Love Tour (UK, 2020) Self Esteem I Tour This All The Time (UK, 2023) Dagny (UK, 2023) Kesha, House of Kesha (UK, 2025)

Headline The Revenge Body Tour (UK, 2021) Planet Fantastic Tour (UK, Europe, North America, Australia, 2023-4) Cabin Fever Live (UK, Europe, North America, 2025)

Awards and nominations Year Nominee/Work Award Result 2016 "Do It Well" Popjustice £20 Music Prize 2020 Tom Aspaul PPL Momentum