Photographer Bex Aston
Fashion Director Nathan Henry
Groomer Richard Wynne-Ellis using Woolf Kings X x Kevin Murphy and Lab Series
Writer Taylor Maguire
Photographer Assistant Nick Radley
Fashion Assistants Rachel Allison and Tanusha Te Sha Low
“We are all very emotional young men who openly discuss our feelings. While it’s my voice, it’s a soundtrack for all of us. It's fourteen tracks of who we are as people, not just as a band.”
Lead vocalist of Only The Poets, Tommy Longhurst, wears his heart on his sleeve, on and off stage, channelling heartbreak, nostalgia, and growth into songs that feel like diary entries set to melody. When we meet over Zoom, he’s calling from Toronto mid-tour, and despite the chaos of life on the road, he remains warm and open as he traces the threads between music, love, and the art of feeling everything deeply. Tommy unpacks the stories behind their most personal tracks, from the ache of first heartbreak to the quiet power of healing. He also reflects on what it means to stay present while time rushes past us all like a departing train.
As our conversation winds down, it’s clear that for Tommy, music isn’t just about sound; it is a time capsule of growing up, falling apart, and finding your way back to yourself. Whether he’s reflecting on first love, jealousy, or self-work, his words carry the same sincerity that runs through their songs. In a landscape where male vulnerability is often tucked behind bravado, Tommy, Clem, Marcus, and Andy wear their emotions with pride. Throughout our conversation, he often talks about the importance of admitting feelings that seem unique to us, as we will frequently find many people who respond with, “I feel that too.” They listen closely to the irreplaceable pulse of genuine emotion, allowing listeners to embrace all the chaos and fragility that comes with the human experience. And their music reminds us that there’s strength in saying exactly how we feel, even when it hurts.
Only The Poets' album, And I'd Do It Again, releases 30th January.
Take in the full 22-page cover story beyond this teaser. Our brand new Autumn Winter 2025 issue, "To Be Human" is available to buy online.
