Tom Odell in the KROQ Sound Space Kevan Kenney Dot Radio Podcast

Award-winning British singer and songwriter Tom Odell linked up with Audacy host Kevan Kenney this week, joined by some lucky fans in the KROQ Sound Space in Los Angeles, to perform and talk through some of the emotional weight that comes along with his incredible music.

While Odell released his fifth studio album back in October of last year, featuring the title track "Best Day of My Life," "Sad Anymore," "Flying," and "Smiling All the Way Back Home," as singles, his now timeless hit "Another Love" has seen a resurgence on social media over the last couple of years.

"I guess because it's such a large part of what outwardly defines me, it's difficult to summarize, but I think it's a good song," Tom says humbly. "People have connected with it over the years in varying degrees of intensity... as a songwriter, you get a few moments where you just manage to say it clearly and simply, and that was one of those moments with that song. I think I was feeling pretty sad and I managed to get it in a song, and I'm fortunate that people connected with it."

The song's recent resurgence on TikTok certainly helped strengthen that connection, landing the sorrowful single into the 1 billion streams category, which as it turns out is another tough concept for Tom to grasp. "Over a certain amount... It's difficult to imagine that amount of people," he admits.

"It's been a journey," Tom says. "I guess I've got this weird thing where I look back -- I'm 32 now -- and I look back on my 20s and I've got all these songs that document my adult life and my teenage years... I've got all these little souvenirs from different parts of my life, I guess like photographs or something. I think the job I've always felt I have to do is just to be as authentic as I can in that moment and however I'm feeling. And it is quite difficult to be honest."

One exercise that stuck with Odell was writer Ernest Hemingway's idea in A Moveable Feast to attempt to write one true sentence a day. "I've tried it for years, it's really quite difficult to say something true," he says. "What is truth? It's interesting... But I love songs, and that's how I got into it as a songwriter; I was obsessed with songwriting since I can really remember. I think songs are such an amazingly potent and powerful form of art because they're accessible by so many people and they transcend language and countries. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have traveled so far and wide with my songs and music."

Be sure to check out the full conversation with Tom Odell above, and stay tuned for more from your favorite stars and artists right here on Audacy.

Words by Joe Cingrana Interview by Kevan Kenney