“'Tenderly' is a song whose message is that we need love just as we need air and water. I play Weissenborn on this track, and it has a deep, earthy groove, and a reggae-style bassline.” – Thomas Oliver

Thomas Oliver is the guitar-laden, New Zealand singer songwriter that has been wooing crowds over since he smashed onto the music scene with his critically acclaimed and history-making album Beneath The Weissenborn back in 2013. With a massive fan base following in its wake, Thomas Oliver released his first vocalised album Floating In The Darkness in April, with hit singles ‘If I Move To Mars’, ‘Losin’ and now ‘Tenderly’ with an incredibly stunning video accompaniment to boot.

Having filmed the video in the stunning Australian Outback, ‘Tenderly’ boasts sweeping panoramic shots of a lone Oliver and guitar, dwarfed amongst the unrelenting dessert of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. The vast undulating terrain of the scorching Australian Outback makes for the perfect backdrop to his cooing pleas of the relentless necessity of tender love, that builds to an increasingly intense guitar and bass jam. Complete with smooth vocal harmonies, soft, layered percussion and of course a Weissenborn and lap steel showcase like no other, ‘Tenderly’ is a stand out track on an already impressive album.

Of filming the video, Thomas says: “Because the arrangement has such an earthy feel, I just knew we had to shoot the music video in the Outback of Australia. The redness, the dryness, and the heat - it's perfect. We did most of the shooting at a place called Wilpena Pound, which is about six hours' drive from Adelaide. It was an amazing experience. It's archetypal Australia at its most beautiful, and it marries the music absolutely perfectly.”

After a successful first run of NZ tour dates, including two sold out Auckland and Wellington shows, Thomas is taking to the road on a solo trek around the South Island for a set of intimate shows in Takaka, Queenstown, Invercargill and Dunedin. Make sure to catch him in your town before he heads off for his Australian and European tours!

Since it’s release on April 28, Floating In The Darkness has taken the #1 spot on the New Zealand iTunes singer-songwriter chart, and the #5 spot on the Australian iTunes singer-songwriter chart, as well as debuting at #3 on the NZ Album Charts overall. ‘Tenderly’ also made Spotify’s New Music Friday and Viral Hits Australia and New Zealand playlists.

Thomas Oliver 

Weds 24 May - Mussell Inn, Takaka
Fri 26 May - The Sherwood, Queenstown
Sat 27 May - Repertory House, Invercargill
Sun 28 May - Pequeno Lounge Bar, Dunedin

Tickets via thomasoliver.co.nz