"Through that evolution, her songs remain the honest and empowering work of a resolute confessionalist." - Buzzbands LA
"Laden with rhythm guitar and melancholy vocals amplified with reverb over soft drumming, and representing for the queer community, TOMI’s vocals are reminiscent of Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde. “If You Tried” gives coffeehouse rock vibes with lyrics railing against a genderless, deadbeat lover whose lack of effort is the cause of a relationship’s demise. “ - Riff Magazine
"While the subject matter is painfully relatable to any type of relationship, TOMI and her partner Haile Lidow have brought the concept to comical “life” through the allegory of a mannequin romance." - The Indie Review (on the Video)
"On her new song “If You Tried,” TOMI channels New York punk fury with the seething resentment of LA’s sunny valleys into a country-inflected kiss-off song." - Rainbow Rodeo
"With the steady strums of guitar and flowing yearning vocals, ‘If You Tried’ exudes a dreamy nostalgia that comes with reflections on time." - Loud Women
"There is genuine passion, but also vulnerability to the performance. Dynamically, the vocal varies from sections of quiet reflection over the verses, to top-of-your-lungs passion over the chorus sections." - Up to Hear
NUN”: LISTEN // WATCH
Los Angeles artist TOMI has released the single and incredible accompanying video for her song “NUN” out today on all digital platforms. The song is the final single from her forthcoming album Late Bloomer out on October 13th.
Producer songwriter and musician Pam Autuori who writes and records as TOMI grew up in the Catholic Church attending church every Sunday and going to Catholic School during the week. When she came out as a lesbian she carried a lot of shame and guilt. She was living in New York at the time and was feeling the chaos of dating and heartbreak exacerbated by partying. She started to fall in love with a woman and her emotions went wild. Writing “NUN” was her gateway to coping with those feelings. The song is a daydream about giving up love, music, and chaos to live a stoic life as a “NUN.”
The video was shot in one shot, with TOMI playing the role of the “NUN” working to “pray the gay away.” The video directed by Julie Pacino, is purposely playful and campy, bringing the audience into a psychedelic lesbian-run dreamscape that references both The Birth of Venus and But I’m a Cheerleader.
TOMI’s style is characterized by ferocious guitar and rich vocals. This unfettered, urgent, and emotionally supercharged sound was forged from a ruthless determination to sing, play, and do things her own way, even in the face of life’s obstacles. For Autuori, music has been a sanctuary since coming out at twelve in suburban Connecticut. A few short years later she moved straight to New York City as soon as she found a car and a drummer. She started a band in Brooklyn and played anywhere that would let her wail on guitar, scream into a microphone, and serve an underage band. After years of hustling and being underwhelmed, she decided to take hold of the creative reins of her career and created TOMI, named after her pet lizard “Tommy” (RIP). TOMI has now come full circle, back to being independent in an effort to retain creative control.
For Autuori Late Bloomer was a labor of love. She produced and oversaw every aspect of the recording and production, down to the velocity at which every hi-hat was hit. Thematically the songs center on the ups and downs of relationships, but for Autuori the writing process is more about walking through every experience, good and bad with both eyes and heart wide open. Following the album release TOMI will be out on the road supporting The Crane Wives through the fall.
KEEP UP WITH TOMI
TOUR DATES
11/1 Constellation Room Santa Ana, CA, US
11/2 Constellation Room Santa Ana, CA **
11/3 Voodoo Room, House of Blues San Diego, CA **
11/4 The Venice West Venice, CA **
11/5 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, CA, US **
11/7 Felton Music Hall Felton, CA **
11/8 Goldfield Trading Post Sacramento, CA **
11/9 Volcanic Theatre Pub Bend, OR **
11/11 Star Theater Portland, OR **
11/12 The Vera Project Seattle, WA **
** w/ Crane Wives