After a five-year mystery away period, self-taught multi-instrumentalist Tom Vek is back. On the week of his second album release, AnOther talks to the artist about his trademark for the new era – a pair of Anglo-American glasses.
"One of my favourite bands in the nineties was New York-based alternative rock band Soul Coughing. I really liked the pair of semi-thick, plastic rimmed glasses the lead singer Mike Doughty used to wear; no doubt a pair of standard prescription frames. I was really irritated in the nineties that you couldn't get a nice classic glasses design; everything was over designed. Actually, a lot of them still are. I noticed I needed glasses when I started driving – I'm short-sighted in one eye, long-sighted in the other. I found a pair of prescription glasses which were pretty close to the classic design I'd been looking for, save for their transparent blue back. A couple of years ago, I decided it was time to find a pair I was completely happy with – all black with an exposed hinge. I did some research and came across Anglo-American, a London-based optical company founded in 1882. It was actually around the same time that I discovered the new studio. All Anglo-American glasses begin as a handmade frame and are clean from embellishments and logos. That's the problem with a lot of modern glasses designs – you either opt for the opticians' own-brand which tend to be designed for estate agents or zany office workers trying to show a bit of personality. Or you go for the designer options, which can be too wide and make one look like they have tiny eyes and are over embellished. As much as I love branding, it's not my style to parade someone's agenda. I went to Anglo-American to try a few styles and had a few frames made up. After wearing them for a short time they didn't feel completely comfortable, as the bridge was too wide. Anglo-American were very helpful and arranged for their handmade department to adjust them. I ended up settling on their 259 model – they are perfect. I keep meaning to get some more actually; I always like to have a back-up. I also have the Wayfarer-inspired frames for sunglasses. I always wondered whether the Blues Brothers were wearing original Ray Ban Wayfarers as they didn't have a logo on the lenses or arms and I discovered recently that the original style was free from embellishment. The 259 frames are part of my morning routine: I towel dry my hair, clean the glass with the same towel and then polish them with my white T-shirt."
After a five-year mystery away period, self-taught multi-instrumentalist Tom Vek is back. Following an unexpected announcement in April, this week saw the release of his second album, Leisure Seizure. After creating the first album whilst completing a graphic design degree at Central Saint Martins, Vek felt it was important to put a proper framework in place – move into a suitable self-contained studio in London, procure appropriate equipment and learn new music and production skills. An artist with a unique and singular vision, Vek has a systematic way of working. The second album's creation was two-fold: a set-up period followed by a stretch of musical output, a phase he describes as "unashamed creativity". With the new album and a new sound (which Vek has coined beat rock), there is a new look. Gone is the floppy hair, in its place, a slick Brylcreemed quiff and a pair of striking black glasses.
Tom Vek's album Leisure Seizure, on Island Records, is on sale now. Vek is playing a series of live shows starting June 13.
Text by Laura Bradley
