Croaker: America's Greatest U.K. Rockstar

The best part of uncovering criminally underrated artists is the exploration of it all: finding out exactly what they have to offer their listeners. Few up-and-coming musicians hold a candle to the artist most commonly known as Croaker. With Spotify listeners clocking in at just a thousand a month, his fan base is considerably smaller than he deserves. His sound is simultaneously unique and familiar, offering fans an easy understanding of his influences, spliced with his own individuality.
My interview with Croaker took place many months ago and unfortunately, due to the stress that comes with having recently graduated, I haven’t been able to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) in quite some time. I feel bad about this, truly, because I genuinely believe that Croaker will be big in indie rock communities. He has a star quality to him; not just in his music, but in his personality as well. My tardiness in writing this article will slightly date it, as when I interviewed him he had only released one single. Now Croaker boasts four released songs which have been compiled into an album called “Hello Monday”. When I spoke with him, he told me he planned on releasing all of the songs he had been working on, and going “Surprise! It’s an album,” so watching this project come to fruition has been incredible for me to witness. This mirrors the release strategies of many indie artists as of late– Beach House and The Garden to name a few– and it’s a strategy that upcoming artists hope to succeed with as well.
Croaker, or Tom, as his friends know him, has been making music for quite a while. He’s bounced around the West Coast, dipping his toes in a variety of genres and styles, absorbing these stylistic mutations from his influences. He seems to me to be very moved by music and wants to carry that passion into what he produces for himself. For example, his previous project was called Mothclub: Tom performed as an indie-country-inspired character based on a dream he’d had (also citing Neil Young as a heavy influence). The EP he released under that moniker was titled Desert Girl Diner, another reference to that dream. After listening to that EP, it became clear to me that Tom is an artist that transcends genres. He can pick up a guitar, or a bass, or a pair of drumsticks, and master the style and emotion he’s aiming for.
His current project, Croaker, is a sharp left turn from Mothclub. With inspirations like Radiohead and Fontaines DC, it radiates more of a U.K. rock vibe. He says that this music is closer to his roots, having grown up with an Irish father who introduced him to the bands that are Croaker’s biggest inspirations. One of the best things about Croaker and “Hello Monday,” is the audible influence of the artists he loves, without the music feeling like a cheap copy. I’ve spoken with artists in the past that fall too far down the inspiration rabbit hole, and produce music a bit too close to their favorite bands. One thing that contributes to this perfect balance of influence vs. individuality is the character Tom puts on during this project. He mentions specifically playing into the melodrama and ego found in artists from the U.K., “that’s just not as common in the U.S.”, and “that can be considered corny.” His adopted personality, coupled with the synth and rhythmic drum and bass, make Croaker stand out amongst a crowd of wannabe indie-rock stars.
Croaker doesn’t just deserve to be supported for his musical talent; he’s also an incredibly kind and down-to-earth person. Throughout our interview, he spoke to me organically, not as if he was trying to portray a particular image. He was also extremely understanding of my lack of punctuality with this article. My articles do not embellish a person’s talent or personality– I speak directly from my personal experience with an artist and their music– and I can say for sure that Tom has a talent rivaled by few that spans genres, but speaks from his heart in every genre he picks up. Throughout our interview, he made sure to emphasize the fact that he makes music for people to hear, rather than just for himself to play. He enjoys the sense of community that stems from live music and earnestly wants people to feel an honesty in each of his songs. Tom, or Mothclub, or Croaker, or whatever form he may take in the future, is a genuine person with a strong and sincere passion for what he does. That passion serves as the defining touchstone for what makes him such an awe-inspiring artist. If you are a fan of U.K. rock or alternative music, check Croaker out– and be sure to keep an eye out for any stylistic direction he may go in– as this is some talent that you don’t want to miss.