Lancashire singer scores chart success with new dance anthem

Tom Wills, 27, who grew up in Chorley and attended Southlands High School, has released ‘Laid’, a dance-pop and melodic house reinterpretation of James’ iconic 1993 track.

The single dropped on May 8 and has already begun climbing the UK iTunes Dance Chart within hours of release.

The track follows the success of Tom’s previous single, ‘Mid-Night Moves’, which reached four on the UK iTunes Dance Chart and 40 across all genres, while racking up more than 5,000 radio plays across the UK and Europe.

Produced by Preston-based Sholz-Y, winner of this year’s Dance Division/Label Radar competition, the new release transforms the original’s indie melancholy into a club-ready anthem, combining driving basslines, synth-led production and soaring vocals.

For Tom, the song carries personal significance.

He first discovered ‘Laid’ as a child through a free CD included with a Sunday newspaper, playing it repeatedly alongside other James tracks.

Years later, seeing the band live at Lytham Festival reignited his connection to the song, this time with a deeper understanding of its themes.

Tom said: “As a kid, it was just a song I loved.

“But growing up, especially as a queer artist, the lyrics took on a whole new meaning.

“It was ahead of its time in how it played with identity and gender. I wanted to bring that energy to today’s dancefloors.”

Now based in Manchester and signed to Swedish label The Dance Division, Tom has been building a name for himself at the intersection of commercial dance and pop.

His new track Laid is available to stream (Image: Tom Wills)

His performances have included Pride events and festivals across the UK, playing to audiences of up to 40,000.

He is set to debut ‘Laid’ live at Pride in Trafford (HomoGrown) this month, marking another milestone in what he describes as a “rebuild” following the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I lost momentum during Covid, like so many artists,” he said.

“But coming back in 2025 and seeing the response to my music has been incredible. ‘Laid’ feels like the next step.”

With early radio support ranging from Manchester stations to international outlets and confirmed coverage from music publications including Plastic Magazine and Earmilk, the track is already gaining traction beyond the North West.

Rooted in Manchester’s rich musical heritage, from indie to club culture, Tom reimagining of ‘Laid’ reflects both his upbringing and the city’s enduring influence on UK music.

He added: “Manchester shaped how I hear music.

“It’s always been about bringing people together on the dancefloor.”

‘Laid’ is available to stream now.