Nostalgia and New Beginnings: Inside Thomas Dutton’s Only Twin
Only Twin by Samantha Dutton
As a long-time admirer of Thomas Dutton, the creative force behind some of my most cherished songs and a producer whose name frequently appears behind the tracks of other beloved artists, the opportunity to chat with him was not something I expected to be on my 2024 bucket list. My love for his music runs so deep that I named my dog after a character from one of his cult-favorite albums.
Thomas Dutton, the visionary behind Only Twin, has carved a unique niche in the music industry by blending evocative storytelling with compelling visuals. In this candid interview, Dutton opens up about his creative process, personal journey, and the thematic elements that define his music.
Thomas Dutton’s music has always featured profound narratives that resonate deeply with a fanbase that’s been growing for over 20 years. From the conceptual brilliance of albums like Wonderland and Razia’s Shadow to the recent personal intensity of Rare Works, his storytelling through music has consistently garnered attention.
Deeply influenced by his love of movies, especially Disney films, Dutton’s imaginative storytelling style seamlessly blends cinematic elements with his musical creations. "I kind of am always picturing this big movie version of anything that I'm creating," he explains. “Razias and Wonderland have that very intentional storyline, but it’s not something I necessarily set out to do; it’s just kind of how my mind works. It was really Disney movies that actually got me into wanting to perform and into music. I literally have a Little Mermaid tattoo on my arm. I feel like movies have weirdly had this bigger impact; I've been very influenced by the storytelling and the world creating that happens.”
This cinematic approach has always featured in Dutton's work, extending to the visuals accompanying his music. Describing his music videos as "living mood boards" that enhance the emotional resonance of his songs, he creates a cohesive visual experience that aligns with the nostalgic and emotive tones of his music. "It's hard for me to not want to make visuals for every song," he shares.
However, the changing landscape of music consumption in the TikTok era has altered how fans engage with music videos. "Music videos are so interesting now. I love music videos, but even I rarely go and sit and watch an entire music video front to back," Dutton admits. The prevalence of platforms like TikTok has led to a culture of snippets and quick clips, posing a new challenge for many artists, on top of the very real time and resources challenges that already go into creating full-length videos.
Despite this, Dutton remains dedicated to his visual storytelling. "For Rare Works, I made a video for every song, which was a massive undertaking. It was a lot of work, but it was so fun for me. The visuals I've been sharing for 'Pool Day' are clips I've taken from movies and shows. I didn't create them, but they perfectly capture the mood I'm going for.”
Dutton's music with Only Twin marks a significant departure from his previous projects. Known for seamlessly shifting between genres, he has embraced various musical styles throughout his career. “You can see in my career that I've kind of bounced around with sounds and styles a lot because it's genuinely looked interesting and fun. Whether it’s the indie rock thing, a synth-pop thing, I just love it all. But with Only Twin, I’ve tried to be very intentional with this next album feeling like a natural step.” While his earlier work often featured grandiose concept albums, Only Twin is deeply personal and autobiographical. "It's been my entirely personal journey."
It’s this honesty that features prominently in this new phase of Dutton's work, combining a palpable authenticity with his storytelling expertise, culminating in both sound and lyrics that feel taken directly from a diary. "With Forgive Durden, it was the stories I created that I related to elements of, but they weren't a literal look into my life," he explains. It wasn't until Only Twin that he began writing songs that were directly about his life. "It was exciting because I'd always hidden behind these more fantastical worlds. But with Only Twin, it's literally my life."
One of the most compelling aspects of Dutton's music is how he explores love and anxiety. Writing happy songs, he admits, is a challenge because he finds it more interesting to delve into moments of tension and uncertainty. "I don't really enjoy happy songs; it's not usually very interesting to hear someone just talking about how happy they are," he explains. By focusing on nuanced moments of emotional struggle, Dutton creates music that is both relatable and profound. "Rather than writing about the moment when I knew I had found my now-wife, I was writing about the moment right before that—when we met, but like, is it the right person? Is she into me? I'm not quite sure," he elaborates.
His recent single "Pool Day," a collaboration with Emilia Ali, captures the tension between excitement and self-doubt, balancing new romantic feelings. "I'm someone who can get really shy and in my head, especially in a group setting where I don't know that many people," he admits. This vulnerability is a recurring theme in his work, resonating deeply with fans who relate to the emotional complexity he portrays.
Adding to that deeply personal connection, Dutton pulls in nostalgic sounds from the 80s and 90s, combining synths and drums from that era with modern production elements. "Even just a little synth line that feels 80s can, for me, immediately hark back to that sort of adolescent feeling," he explains.
The themes of nostalgia and rebirth will continue to feature in Only Twin releases and be a central part of Dutton's new album, coming out later this summer. Reflecting on his past relationship, which was also with his bandmate in his previous band, he describes it as a significant chapter of his life that he had to transition out of. "Rebirth is a really perfect word to describe it. There's even a song on the album called 'Born Again,' which talks about the metaphorical end of that chapter and coming out of it reborn into a new phase."
Meeting his now-wife Sam in 2020, right at the beginning of COVID, marked a transformative period for Dutton. "While the world was going through this crazy thing, I was falling in love. Now we have a four-month-old baby boy. This album is really about our journey of meeting each other and finding love," he shares.
When asked if this is the most honest he's been in his music, Dutton agrees. "Rare Works was the most honest I'd been about that big relationship and breakup. This new album is about coming through that on the other side."
As for what he hopes listeners will take away from his new music, Dutton reflects on an article he read about Gen Z feeling nostalgic for a time they before constant digital connectivity. "I want people to feel nostalgic for this time they didn't even experience—a time when people were just face to face and present with reality. Hopefully, it relates to their own experiences or at least makes them feel weirdly nostalgic for my adolescence," he says.
In Thomas Dutton, we find an artist who navigates the complexities of personal evolution and nostalgic longing with remarkable grace and authenticity. His journey, from the fantastical worlds of his earlier projects to the deeply personal reflections in Only Twin, exemplifies the power of embracing diverse experiences to create something profoundly genuine. As he continues to explore and express these themes, we eagerly anticipate the new sounds and emotional depths he will undoubtedly share with the world.
