Tommy Newport is emblematic of all things Wichita. He’s funky, playful, and likes vintage clothes. He cares for his hometown and it cares for him. He packed out the historic Crown Uptown theater in Wichita just a week away from his milestone Lollapalooza debut. This will add another accomplishment to a big 2024 for Tommy as he was recently featured on 21 Savage’s latest album american dream. But how does a kid from Wichita get here? We Write About Music sat down with him to do an interview and admire his Ozzy Osbourne-esqe hair.

Now an up and coming artist in LA, Tommy got his start in the sleepy Wichita, KS suburb of Andover. It was here that at 14 years old, he picked up a guitar for the first time. He admits that jealousy of his friend’s skills on guitar is what initially enticed him. Once he learned to play the song “Pumped Up Kicks”, he was hooked. For the next two years, guitar was all Tommy could think about.

His friend’s guitar wasn’t the only music tool young Tommy found. After those years of practice, he thought it was time to find a way to record something. Learning from his online friend John, he started to do just that. Using his family’s Mac computer, Tommy began experimenting with recording with GarageBand. It was through this tinkering that he found his footing. Tommy talks about the connection he had with friends at Andover High School over the music he made while fumbling around with GarageBand. Around this time, his band coalesced around him and the rest is history. Nearly ten years later, the band consists of Tommy’s fellow midwesterners Geoff Winningham on bass, Aaron Plummer on guitar, Wyatt Cobb on keys, and Kyle Kimbrough.

Since reluctantly moving to LA two years ago, his career has started to gain traction. The marquee accomplishment is a slot on the Lollapalooza lineup this year. Tommy will be performing at the festival’s famed BMI stage that aims to showcase acts that BMI (Broadcast Music Inc) see as having potential to be the next big thing. He talks about fond memories of attending the Chicago festival in the past, and sees the recognition by the festival and BMI as a major honor.

You can’t accuse Tommy of having too big of a head on his shoulders. He’s down to earth and doesn’t forget where he came from. That authenticity is what has made him attractive to the likes of 21 Savage, who featured Tommy on the song Red Sky earlier this year. Tommy describes this experience with an air of disbelief even over six months after its release. He says 21 was looking for an ABBA-esqe sound, which led him to Tommy. He fits the neo-70s sound that fit the bill for what 21 was looking for. We can look forward to hearing more of that sound on his new album Mr. Domino out August 7th.

From being a curious 14 year old plucking a guitar, to Lollapalooza, Tommy is demonstrating what’s possible for someone from Wichita to achieve. The crux of this achievement was the early support of his friends and family with whom he was comfortable sharing his early music with. He wasn’t met with judgment or resistance, he was bolstered with encouragement. Sharing art with others takes a tremendous amount of vulnerability, and if Tommy had gotten negativity from those around him when he was 16-17 years old sharing his music, he may not have believed in his own vision for himself. Positivity and encouragement were the key to his early success and built him to what he is today. If Wichita and places like it can foster a culture of positivity in art, who knows how many more Tommy Newports can be minted from this strange flat place. One thing is for sure though, Tommy’s talent proves that the Ozzy hairstyle chooses only the dopest people among us, and he wears it well.

Interview by: Mitchel Arias-Elmore

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An up and comer currently on the rise: Tommy Newport