What Makes Tommy Alive?

On Exeter's streets, spontaneous conversations with creative locals often reveal a deep appreciation for culture, music, and artistic innovation. In this feature, we speak with Tommy about what brings vitality and inspiration to his daily life.

For Tommy, feeling alive is driven by music, great film, and the warmth of the sun:

"Listening to music, experiencing good art. I like a good movie... Being in the sunshine, feeling the sun, that's pretty damn great as well."

Elaborating on what makes artistic expression so powerful, Tommy shares his admiration for those who push boundaries:

"I like creativity, kind of the showcase of the human spirit... I appreciate a great artist, someone who's innovating, someone who's doing something really new... Pushing the boundaries, & if that's political or cultural, doing something fresh, that kind of makes me feel very invigorated."

Opening up about personal hurdles, Tommy reflects on finding his confidence after a difficult time during his school years:

"I had a pretty crap time at secondary school & that really kind of pushed me back a little bit, not my confidence... kind of had to build that back up again. Really helped going to a good college, going to a good university, meeting some really, really solid people, & that definitely helps build back up that self-esteem."

Closing our conversation, Tommy shares an encouraging and uplifting message for the world:

"Express yourself, keep being creative, do what makes you happy."