Drawing inspiration from the golden age of the 70s, “Love Train” offers a smooth and irresistibly groovy sound, highlighting Tommy’s signature deep crooning vocals. The track blends the intensity of disco-soul in the style of Tom Jones, the melodic elegance of Fleetwood Mac, and the lyrical depth of vintage country à la Conway Twitty and Ronnie Milsap, creating a boldly vintage atmosphere.
Tommy, you recently released your new single “Love Train” on February 28th. Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind this track?
Nothing like a good ole soulful song ! Man, I just felt it that day. I was grooving to something and I needed to put it down on paper. I realized, a few minutes later, that what I had was kind of disco, kind of country ?! I really liked it and I kept it. The rest is history.
“Love Train” has been described as blending the intensity of disco-soul, the elegance of Fleetwood Mac, and vintage country. How would you describe the sound of the song in your own words?
I’m not sure about genres and putting music into boxes. I mean sure, we have some broad categories, but there are a lot of artists out there who had whole careers just blurring the lines. I’m thinking about Roy Orbison, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Lionel Richie. How do you classify those artists ? My song has the Tommy Charles sound, and I hope that people enjoy it as much as I do.
You’ve mentioned the influence of artists like Tom Jones, Conway Twitty, and Ronnie Milsap. How do their styles influence your own music and vocal delivery?
Those guys are singers with big voices whose music really emphasizes and makes room for vocal delivery. The way they sing their songs is what makes them who they are. It’s central. Most people remember them for their voice, their signature vocals. I think I pride myself in really caring about how I’m delivering my music through my vocals as well. So, in that sense, those artists really have an influence on me. I’m from their school, so to say.
You were nominated for the Horizon Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year at the 2025 Country Music Alberta Awards. How does it feel to be recognized in these categories, and what do these nominations mean to you?
It’s awesome ! This Albertan community is really special and has been very welcoming to me since I moved here 3 years ago. All over that room, at the awards show, I could see the faces of people who gave me my first shot at a show, bandmates, co-writers, and a ton of individuals who trusted me at some point along the way. It was meaningful for me to be there, playing for them.
As a performer, you’re known for your deep crooning vocals. Can you talk about your vocal style and how you’ve developed it over the years?
My mom wanted me to sing Sinatra, Elvis, Buble, Bennett and Kenny Rogers when I was a teenager. Somehow, she knew that I could do it. She had the ear for it because it turned out to be really intuitive for me. That style of music worked out for this young QC kid, and you know: you just get better at what you like doing, I guess ! I took some classical singing lessons for a few years during the pandemic, hoping I could audition to get into Montreal’s Classical Music Conservatory, but I ended up moving out west to pursue my career.
With your background in music competitions like La Voix in 2019, how did that experience shape your career and your approach to music?
It has made me understand the importance of delivering a good, well-rounded performance to an audience. My philosophy is that people come to see a show and they want to be entertained. I make it a point to entertain them and to build a show that will take them on an emotional roller coaster. Humor is important for me too, and I think shows like La Voix are really big on creating these little dramatic moments.
Your debut album Southern Accent earned a lot of attention. What was the journey like in creating that album, and how does it differ from your upcoming work, including “Love Train”?
It was a first for me. I kind of went along with the people who were behind the album and trusted their expertise, and I am happy it worked. Now, for the new music, I’m behind the steering wheel and it’s all 100% me.
You’re known for singing in multiple languages such as Spanish, French, Portuguese, and English. How do these languages influence your music and the connection you have with your audience?
It’s a gift to know a few languages ! I feel at home all over the Americas and I have some memories that I share with fans and audiences from Canada all the way down to Uruguay and Brazil. Isn’t that a dream, a blessing to have those connections in our life ?
Your live performances are highly praised. What’s the most important element for you when connecting with an audience during a live show?
Like I said earlier, I see myself as a performer first, so it is important for me to give the audience a ‘’wow’’ and something to take home. Not that every show has to be over top in terms of production, but I need to feel like I have given my fans the best of myself in terms of my presence, my voice and my songs choice.
Finally, you’ve toured across Canada and Texas. What’s the experience been like touring in both these places, and how does the music scene in each location differ from one another?
Canada is wide and the population is sparse. There’s a lot of small towns separated by a lot of mileage. It’s a whole world on its own and always an adventure. Texas is big, yes, but there’s people everywhere and they love their live music. The songwriting culture there is vibrant and people really appreciate original music. They are similar in a sense that country music is alive and well in both markets, but Texas’ fan/square mile makes it easier for you if you are a songwriting artist to find a niche where you belong. I have the best of memories in both places and it’s hard to hang my hat either here or there. I miss Texas now.
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Twitter: @tommycharles_
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