Tom Misch on Returning from Burnout: “If I’m Not Enjoying It, There’s No Point”

A Necessary Step Back

Tom Misch, the acclaimed singer-songwriter and producer who defined the mid-2010s with his signature blend of jazz, electronica, and hip-hop, has returned to the spotlight. Following the massive success of his 2018 debut Geography and the 2020 collaborative project What Kinda Music with Yussef Dayes, Misch found himself at a crossroads. In 2022, on the eve of an Australian tour, the intensity of the industry treadmill finally caught up with him, forcing a necessary, albeit difficult, decision to step away.

“I needed to give it space and take the pressure off,” Misch explains. “A lot of space opens up a lot of questions and evaluation about who you are or what kind of life you want to live. That’s really scary and can be quite uncomfortable. There’s a lot of value if you can do that, but we’re often just so busy in some sort of rat race or building something that we don’t have time to stop.”

Recovery and Rediscovery

During his four-year hiatus, Misch traded the studio for the simplicity of everyday life, taking on jobs as a barista and a gardener. This period of grounding is reflected in his new album, Full Circle, released on March 27. The track ‘Echo From The Flames’ serves as a poignant centerpiece for his recovery, capturing the raw vulnerability of his burnout.

“I was back at my parents’ house and I was basically a vegetable. I was just fully out of it and really just not there. I was in quite a bad place. I was just sitting by the fire every night, and I’d just be looking into the fire and I just found it very calming.”

Redefining Success

Returning to the stage has been a deliberate, low-pressure process for the artist. By playing intimate, anonymous shows in venues like Brighton and Kingston, Misch was able to reconnect with the joy of performing without the weight of expectation. He emphasizes that his approach to his career has fundamentally shifted.

“I want to enjoy my career. If I’m not enjoying it then there’s no point. I really don’t want success without enjoyment and feeling calm. It’s not worth it otherwise,” he notes. This new philosophy extends to his creative process; he no longer views music as a rigid job, but rather as a natural byproduct of living a balanced life.

Advice for the Overwhelmed

For those currently navigating the pressures of the modern world or the music industry, Misch offers a simple but vital piece of advice: listen to yourself. He warns against the trap of chasing momentum at the expense of one’s mental health.

“Take time to listen to yourself and really check in. There were a lot of times where in hindsight I was really not OK. I was continuing to do things because I was getting praise for it and I didn’t want to let down other people involved. It’s OK to stop. You’ll make your best art when you’re healthy.”

With Full Circle now out and a series of intimate shows at London’s KOKO, Misch is moving forward on his own terms—prioritizing his well-being and the music that truly matters to him.