He started out at Tonbridge School, going on to form Keane with his school friends - a band which sold millions - but now singer Tom Chaplin has come full circle, making a fresh start and living in Kent.

Tom, who releases his debut solo album, The Wave, on Friday, October 14, now lives in a small village near Tenterden with his wife Nat and daughter Freya.

It's been an important part of his journey of self discovery, after battling addiction to drink and drugs.

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"I don't want to stray too far from where I grew up," said Tom, who grew up in Battle, Hastings and went to Tonbridge School from the age of 13, where he met his Keane bandmates.

The group formed in the mid 90s and released their debut album in 2004, with hits like Everybody's Changing and Somewhere Only We Know taking them to global stardom.

"There's such a drive these days to get out from where you grew up and move to Australia and places like that, but it feels important to me to keep that. I have wandered into Kent."

His solo album is filled songs based on his personal experiences and feelings.

"One of the reasons I wanted to go on this solo adventure was that I really wanted to express that inner voice," he said. "People haven't heard this voice underneath - I have a desire to let that out. I'm proud of how personal it is."

"My personal life hit the skids as it were and I ended up in a complete mess. While it was an awful time it meant I had a wealth of stuff to write about! I have realised in very recent times being open and sharing my feelings is really helpful."

Not only has he included his feelings in his writing, but he has included his personal life - his wife and daughter both feature in the pictures accompanying the album, which were shot by veteran photographer Derek Hudson.

He recently visited Maidstone Studios to record Later...With Jools Holland which was screened earlier this month, and said he would love to perform a gig in the county soon.

For more information about Tom Chaplin The Wave click here.