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Nigel Thomas (Sc./Ch. 1996-98) is a London based singer/songwriter and actor. As the lead singer and songwriter for the indie-rock band The Foxes, Nigel enjoyed several UK Indie Chart top ten hits, toured the world and recorded and released an acclaimed album mixed by John Cornfield (of Supergrass, Razorlight and Muse fame).
Nigel reminisces about hair-bleaching and drama in The Hordern Room.
- When you were at Brighton College, what did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?
I always knew I wanted to earn a living being creative in some form and enjoyed doing as much acting and music as I could cram into my two years at the college. - Tell us about yourself now you've grown up.
I’m an actor, musician and writer. - What is your best memory of school?
I’ve so many great memories of Brighton College, and many I probably shouldn’t tell you as I know Ken Grocott (my housemaster and…ahem…favourite teacher) will be reading this. I’ve many fond memories of plays in The Hordern Room and performing at Romanaid. - What advice would you give to your school-age self?
To stop bleaching my hair and not to worry about the little things. - What do you do as a career?
I divide my time between music (writing and performing) and acting (film, TV, theatre, adverts, voiceovers) and have recently started writing a sitcom and a novel. - What does your job involve?
I’m lucky that every day is different – I might be writing and recording, learning lines, going to auditions, playing gigs across the country and the world (not so much lately of course). - What are the most challenging parts of your job?
Sometimes the hardest thing when you’re self-employed is to give yourself some time off, but I think you really have to avoid burning out. Being lucky and being in the right place at the right time is also a challenge, but you can certainly make your own luck to some extent by hard work and networking. - What would you say is your biggest achievement to date?
Artistically, I think I’m proudest of my last solo album ‘Well Well’. It sounds like how I heard it in my head, and I still enjoy listening to it. - What is the single thing that would most improve the quality of your life?
At the moment, like so many people, I miss seeing friends and family, so it’s good to remember that the pandemic isn’t going to last forever in this form. - What are the three objects you would take with you to a desert island?
I’d have to have music, so some kind of music player (complete with solar panels), as many books as you’ll allow me and a hammock to avoid being bitten/eaten in my sleep. - How would you like to be remembered?
For producing a body of creative work that people enjoy.
