7:31am UK, Saturday May 24, 2008

When singer-songwriter Tom Baxter's career failed to take off, he went back to what he knew best.

David Schwimmer used track in film

Having parted company with his record label, the art student went back to painting.

But then one day, his luck changed when former Friends star David Schwimmer got in touch.

"He'd actually been a fan since my first record," said Tom, "and he turned up at a gig in London."

Schwimmer was there to ask Tom if he could use one of his songs -Better - in a new British comedy he was directing.

The film was Run, Fat Boy, Run starring Simon Pegg and it was to help Tom Baxter get back in the game.

"You always need that little bit of luck and that initial bit of good fortune.

"David Schwimmer was very, very good to me as a friend and tried in all sorts of ways to try and get my music across to people."

Now Tom runs his own record label called Sylvan Records from home and is back with a new single and tour.

But he says he's not exactly flying solo.

"There's 20 other people working for me and with me, so the romantic idea of doing it on your own is never such a thing.

"I don't think I'm doing it on my own, I'm doing it with lots of other people."

And Tom's advice to anyone trying to make it - get some mates to help launch your music career.

"If they've got enough passion about you as an artist, you can set up your own label and push it forward," he said.

Failing that, get a famous Hollywood friend?

"Yeah," he laughs, "or do some paintings."

:: Tom Baxter's new single Miracle is out now. He plays London's Koko on June 3.