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Draft:Daniel Tompkins

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Daniel Tompkins
Born (1983-04-25) 25 April 1983 (age 41)
OriginNottinghamshire, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • vocal coach
Instruments
  • vocals
  • guitar
Years active2008–present
Member of
Formerly of
Websitewww.danieltompkinsvocalist.com

Daniel Tompkins (born 25 April 1983) is an English singer from Nottinghamshire.[1] He most known as the lead singer of the progressive metal/djent band Tesseract, and as the former lead singer of the international progressive metal band Skyharbor. In addition to his work with Tesseract, Tompkins currently releases music with projects White Moth Black Butterfly and ZETA, as well as a solo artist.[2] Tompkins also provides online vocal coaching service.[3][4]

Career

[edit]

Early years

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From 2007 to 2009, Tompkins fronted First Signs of Frost, a post-hardcore/progressive rock band from London. With the band, Tompkins released Atlantic LP (2009).[5]

In 2008, Tompkins joined a progressive rock band Piano, with whom he released The Valediction of Verse EP. In 2014, Piano released an album Salvage Architecture via Zestone Records.[6]

Tesseract

[edit]

In 2009, Tompkins joined the British progressive metal band Tesseract, which he left in 2011, and subsequently rejoined in 2014.[7] As of 2024, Tompkins has released 4 studio albums, 2 EP and 2 live albums with Tesseract, and is most known for the work with this band.

Skyharbor

[edit]

Skyharbor was initially a studio project of guitarist Keshav Dhar, before Tompkins contacted him in October 2010 with an interest in collaborating.[8] In 2011, Daniel Tompkins was featured on a Skyharbor song "Catharsis", alongside Marty Friedman.[9] Tompkins went on to become a full-time frontman for Skyharbor, having toured internationally, and released two studio albums with the band, Blinding White Noise: Illusion and Chaos (2012) and Guiding Lights (2014) to critical acclaim.[10][11] In 2014, Tompkins left the band to avoid conflicting schedules with Tesseract.[12]

White Moth Black Butterfly

[edit]

After leaving Tesseract in 2011, Tompkins asked guitarist and producer Keshav Dhar to help produce and mix the solo tracks he had been working on, having asked Jordan Bethany to guest on a few songs. With the help of Dhar, Bethany and others including Acle Kahney from Tesseract contributing production as well, Tompkins self-released White Moth Black Butterfly's debut album One Thousand Wings (2013).

ZETA

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In September 2015, it was announced that Tompkins formed a synthwave project ZETA, in collaboration with Paul Ortiz and Katie Jackson, and released its debut single, "Silent Waves".[13][14] ZETA's debut self-titled album was released on June 16, 2017.[15] The album was supported by music videos for "Silent Waves", "The Distance" and "Causeway".[16]

In 2023, "Chrome Junkie" and "Busy Human", two new ZETA singles were released.[17]

Solo work

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On May 31, 2019, Tompkins released his debut solo album, Castles, via Kscope. The album was produced by Eddie Head, and contains collaborations with Acle Kahney, Randy Slaugh, Paul Ortiz, and Dmitry Stepanov. Castles was supported with singles "Saved", "Limitless", "Black the Sun", and "Black the Sun (feat. Bruce Soord)".[18]

On December 11, 2020, Topkins released his second solo album, Ruins, via Kscope. Produced by Paul Ortiz, the album is a compilation of darker and more aggressive versions of songs from Castles, along with one new song, "The Gift". Ruins features guest input from Plini and Trivium frontman Matt Heafy.[19][20]

In January, 2022, Tompkins toured UK in support of Ruins. For the tour, Tompkins recruited Amos Williams (Tesseract) on bass guitar, Mike Malyan (Monuments) on drums, Paul Ortiz on lead guitar and Pete Skipper (In Colour) on guitar.[21] In November 2022, this lineup held a live streaming event, similar to Tesseract's PORTALS. In 2023, the record was released as a live album, Ruins: Live Experience.[22]

Other projects

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In February 2011, Tompkins joined an American alternative metal band Haji's Kitchen as a "full-time guest vocalist". With the band, Tompkins released a studio album Twenty Twelve (2012), and a music video for "Define The Lie".[23][24]

In 2012, Tompkins and a British record producer ang guitarist Dan Weller (Sikth) formed a pop project, In Colour. They released a music video for a song "Listen for the Rain", with a couple of songs later uploaded on their SoundCloud.

Also in 2012, Tompkins joined Absent Hearts, an atmospheric rock project of an Australian multi-instrumentalist Scott Kay. On August 23, 2012, they released August Earth LP.[25]

Musical style and influences

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Tompkins was described as "a performer rightly lauded for his supreme technical skills" by Clash. Calum Slingerland of Exclaim! wrote, "TesseracT received praise for the captivating work of lead vocalist Daniel Tompkins, who was lauded for his impressive range and power, which complemented the band's polyrhythm-focused prog metal perfectly".[26]

Tompkins stated that he was influenced by A Perfect Circle, Sevendust, Enigma, Active Child, Linkin Park, Deftones, Extol, Sikth, System Of A Down, Tool, Anohni, David Bowie and Michael Jackson.[27] Tompkins credits attending A Perfect Circle gig at the age of 16 for making him want to be a singer, and has numerously cited Maynard James Keenan as one of his biggest inspirations.[28]

Personal life

[edit]

Before pursuing a full-time career as a musician, Tompkins has worked as a butcher and a warehouse manager, and has been working in the police for 8 years, since he was 18 years old.[29][30] Tompkins is married and has two children.[31]

Discography

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Tesseract

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Skyharbor

[edit]

White Moth Black Butterfly

[edit]

ZETA

[edit]
  • 2017 – ZETA[32]
  • 2018 – ZETA - Instrumentals
  • 2023 – "Busy Human" (Single)
  • 2023 – "Chrome Junkie" (Single)

In Colour

[edit]
  • 2012 - "Listen for the Rain"[33]
  • 2012 - "All That I've Been Waiting For"[34]
  • 2014 - "The Mess We're In"[35]

Piano

[edit]
  • 2008 – The Valediction of Verse
  • 2014 – Salvage Architecture

First Signs of Frost

[edit]
  • 2009 – Atlantic

Haji's Kitchen

[edit]
  • 2012 – Twenty Twelve

Absent Hearts

[edit]
  • 2012 – August Earth

Solo artist

[edit]
  • 2019 – Castles[36]
  • 2020 – Ruins[37]
  • 2023 – Ruins: Live Experience[38]
Singles
Year Title Album
2019 "Saved (feat. Acle Kahney)" Castles
"Limitless (feat. Dmitry Stepanenko)"
"Black the Sun"
"Black the Sun (feat. Bruce Soord)"
2020 "The Gift" (feat. Matt Heafy) Ruins
"Ruins"
2022 "The Abyss" non-album singles
"Frenzy"[39]
2023 "Soulslinger (End Credits)" (feat. Acle Kahney)[40] Soulslinger: Envoy of Death (Original Game Soundtrack)
Music videos
List of music videos, showing year released and director
Year Title Director(s)
2019 "Saved" George Laycock
"Limitless" Steven Cleavland and Kyle Kadow
2020 "Ruins"
2023 "Ruins : Live Experience" Richard Oakes and Daniel Tompkins

Guest appearances

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  • 2010 – Cyclamen - "What Are You Waiting For?" (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[41]
  • 2011 – Voyager – "The Pensive Disarray" (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[42]
  • 2012 – Star Monarchy – "Ashes" (feat. Dan Tompkins)[43]
  • 2012 – Terranaut – Time Runs Out (feat. Dan Tompkins)[44]
  • 2013 – Omertah – "Oceans" (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[45]
  • 2013 – Jon Gomm – "Ain't Nobody" (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[46]
  • 2015 – Dzyen – "Digital Senseless" (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[47]
  • 2015 – Earthside – "A Dream in Static" (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[48]
  • 2015 – Marty Friedman – "Jasmine Cyanide" (feat. Danko Jones, Keshav Dhar, Daniel Tompkins)[49]
  • 2016 – Whitefall – Casuality (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[50]
  • 2018 – Slay Duggee – "Walking in the Air" (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[51]
  • 2019 – SE – "N" (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[52]
  • 2022 – Crown Compass – "Send Your Words" (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[53]
  • 2022 – Chimp Spanner – "Fractured" (feat. Daniel Tompkins)[54]
  • 2023 – Earthside – "Let the Truth Speak" (feat. Daniel Tompkins and Gennady Tkachenko-Papizh)[55]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ BIO – DANIEL TOMPKINS – Official Website
  2. ^ TesseracT's Daniel Tompkins Constructs an Alluring and Distinctive Solo Debut with 'Castles' | PopMatters
  3. ^ Ultimate Vocal Freedom! - Daniel Tompkins Vocal Coaching - YouTube
  4. ^ Daniel Tompkins Vocal Coaching
  5. ^ first signs of frost | Alaskan Records via Zestone Records.
  6. ^ Piano stream first full album Salvage Architecture | Louder
  7. ^ Meet TesseracT’s new singer, TesseracT’s old singer | Metal Insider
  8. ^ "Skyharbor: Indian Metal's Poster Act – Rolling Stone India". Rolling Stone India. November 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  9. ^ Skyharbor releases 'Catharsis' feat Marty Friedman and Daniel Tompkins
  10. ^ Best (And Worst) of 2012
  11. ^ Skyharbor Shine On ‘Guiding Lights’
  12. ^ Dan Tompkins Quits Skyharbor
  13. ^ TesseracT's Daniel Tompkins Forms Synthwave Side Project Zeta, Stream "Silent Waves" - Theprp.com
  14. ^ Tesseract man Tompkins unveils Zeta track | Louder
  15. ^ TESSERACT & CHIMP SPANNER Members Team Up For ZETA
  16. ^ ZETA (Chimp Spanner + TesseracT’s Daniel Tompkins) “Causeway” Music Video Released | The Circle Pit
  17. ^ Music | ZETA
  18. ^ INTERVIEW: Daniel Tompkins - Distorted Sound Magazine
  19. ^ Daniel Tompkins releases new music video for 'Ruins' - Distorted Sound Magazine
  20. ^ Album Review: DANIEL TOMPKINS Ruins
  21. ^ Daniel Tompkins Announces First Ever Solo Tour for January 2022 - Kscope
  22. ^ Daniel Tompkins announces release of Ruins: Live Experience | Louder
  23. ^ [Eddie Head,Brett Stine: Haji's Kitchen Twenty Twelve mini review Eddie Head,Brett Stine: Haji's Kitchen Twenty Twelve mini review]
  24. ^ Haji's Kitchen - 2012 - Define The Lie - Official - Featuring Daniel Tompkins - YouTube
  25. ^ Album Review: Absent Hearts - August Earth
  26. ^ TesseracT │ Exclaim!
  27. ^ TesseracT's Dan Tompkins On His Vocal Inspirations | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews
  28. ^ "That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a singer" – Tesseract's Daniel Tompkins on the 10 albums that changed his life | MusicRadar
  29. ^ "I'd like to duet with Simon Le Bon." Tesseract's Dan Tompkins answers reader questions | Louder
  30. ^ “I had to grind cow lung to make dog food”: 13 Questions… | Kerrang!
  31. ^ TesseracT | Daniel Tompkins
  32. ^ ZETA – ZETA – Heavy Blog Is Heavy | Heavy Blog is Heavy
  33. ^ In Colour - Listen For The Rain - YouTube
  34. ^ In Colour - All That I've Been Waiting For - YouTube
  35. ^ Stream In Colour Music music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud
  36. ^ Album Review: Daniel Tompkins, "Castles" – Proglodytes
  37. ^ Daniel Tompkins announces new album 'Ruins'; shares new single "Gift" – The Prog Report
  38. ^ Daniel Tompkins announces release of Ruins: Live Experience | Louder
  39. ^ TESSERACT's DANIEL TOMPKINS Streams Industrial Metal Solo Track "Frenzy"
  40. ^ Soulslinger: Envoy of Death | Official Music Video | ft. Daniel Tompkins & Acle Kahney - YouTube
  41. ^ Cyclamen [JPN [Progressive] - 2010 - Senjyu [Full Album] - YouTube]
  42. ^ [https://www.discogs.com/ru/release/5823778-Voyager-The-Meaning-Of-I Voyager – The Meaning Of I (2011, CD) – Discogs]
  43. ^ [‎https://music.apple.com/us/album/volume-1/541952235 Volume 1 - Album by Star Monarchy - Apple Music]
  44. ^ [‎https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O_rYT5A66g&ab_channel=terranautdnb Terranaut feat. Daniel Tompkins - Time Runs Out [FREE DOWNLOAD] - YouTube]
  45. ^ Omertah — Oceans (feat. Daniel Tompkins) - YouTube
  46. ^ Jon Gomm Feat. Daniel Tompkins - Ain't Nobody (Chaka Khan) - YouTube
  47. ^ Dzyen Ft Daniel Tompkins - Digital Senseless - YouTube
  48. ^ Earthside – A Dream In Static feat. Daniel Tompkins (Official Video) - YouTube
  49. ^ Premiere: MARTY FRIEDMAN's Lyric Video For 'Jasmine Cyanide' - BLABBERMOUTH.NET
  50. ^ Whitefall Causality ft. Dan Tompkins of TesseracT (Official Music Video) - YouTube
  51. ^ "Slay Duggee Team Up With Tesseract For Brutal Cover Of Walking In The Air". Kerrang!. 7 December 2018.
  52. ^ SE and Daniel Tompkins - N - YouTube
  53. ^ Send Your Words (feat. Daniel Tompkins) - Single | Crown Compass
  54. ^ ‎Fractured (feat. Daniel Tompkins) - Single - Album by Chimp Spanner - Apple Music
  55. ^ EARTHSIDE Recruits TESSERACT's Vocalist For New Single "Let The Truth Speak"