DANIEL TOMPKINS RELEASES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO FOR “LIMITLESS” TAKEN FROM HIS FORTHCOMING DEBUT SOLO ALBUM CASTLES
Ahead of the release of Castles, the debut solo album from talented musician & songwriter Daniel Tompkins on 31st May, Daniel has released the new single and video for the song “Limitless”.
The song, he explains “explores the theme of loneliness and desperation. In our romantic relationships we can all make mistakes at some point or another, often we’re able to navigate difficult times but sometimes we can cause irreparable damage. Limitless is experienced through the eyes of a person having lost such a relationship, aimlessly wandering and constantly reaching dead ends. Sometimes it’s better to simply reset, move on and start again without the baggage of the past. That being said, the outcome of the decisions we make will shape the people we become and while memories fade, they’re never truly erased.”
Tompkins travelled to the US to shoot the “Limitless” clip with directors Steven Cleavland (@steven.cleavland) & Kyle Kadow (@kylekadow); having worked with them previously on ZETA and TesseracT projects, “they created such an incredible visuals for those projects and have great working relationships with local actors. Interestingly, both the male lead actors seen in the Causeway video were also featured in TesseracT’s King video, as we thought that would be a nice link, plus they are incredible actors. The elder male lead, Timothy Barnes, also features in “Limitless.”
He continues “When it comes to music videos, I have only ever filmed in the UK on single day shoots, which has mostly been down to budget and busy schedules but with ‘Limitless’ I travelled to Milwaukee to work with Kyle, Steven and a small team for a whole week, filming in several different locations. The scenes in limitless were filmed in a Motel 6 hotel room, a small restaurant called ‘Soup Otzies’, a laundrette called ‘Candy’s’, the Plymouth Church, a local bar and various car scenes around the local forests and countryside. However, the star of the show has to be the car that I had the pleasure of driving around on the last days shoot – a silver 1988 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo Silver that was kept in stunning condition. Driving it was like stepping back in time and was a real nostalgia kick.
It’s so gratifying to have pushed myself as far as I did to create this video, not just in travelling overseas or because of how difficult it was to shoot for hours on end each day, but because I actually had to act out a narrative and if it wasn’t for the team surrounding me, I would not have been able to pull this off. The whole idea behind the video surrounds a theme of loneliness and desperation and some scenes, like the ones shot at Plymouth Church, were very moving. Acting is not my forte but I wanted to challenge myself. Kyle and Steven shot and directed the video so well that the end product ties together perfectly in what I view as one of my highest achievements so far.”
Castles, was written & engineered by Tompkins alongside US producer Eddie Head (Haji’s Kitchen) and recorded at both the UK’s Celestial Sound Studio (Vocals) & The Color And The Sound Studios (Music) in the US, with mastering by Acle Kahney at 4D Sounds; together they created the dynamic realisation of Tompkins’ expansive ability and taste: pulsating synths, beautiful keyboard lines, powerful electric guitars, heavy crash cymbals, and both skittering and forceful beats. The space created by the production allows Daniel’s voice to switch skilfully from tender and introspective to soaring emotion in a blend of pop-rock-electronic sounds that engages his eclectic audience. The result is a masterclass in tension and release.
This 13-track album features six alternative versions, which feature special guests Acle Kahney (TesseracT), Grammy-nominated Randy Slaugh (Periphery, Architects, Devin Townsend), Paul Ortiz (Zeta, Chimpspanner) and producer Dmitry Stepanov. With the stunning artwork created by Ani Artworks (www.aniartworks.org ).
A diverse vocalist, Tompkins has established himself as a highly respected artist with a dedicated worldwide fanbase garnered from his work with the global progressive metal sensations TesseracT and Skyharbor, the experimental pop oriented White Moth Black Butterfly, which recently included a collaboration with percussive guitarist Jon Gomm, and the rise of his more accessible solo material.
Castles will be released on CD, LP (180g black vinyl) and digital (pre-orders receive “Saved feat. Acle Kahney” & “Limitless” as instant downloads) PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE HERE
