The Triumph of T. Thomason
Photo by Meghan Tansey Whitton
by Q Review Staff
On the eve of releasing his new single 'Pleasure' and entering the next phase of what is a great career, now is the perfect time to catch up with rising Canadian star T. Thomason, the Canadian singer/songwriter on the lips of everyone. After an incredibly successful season on CTV's The Launch, T. has become more sought after than ever. From small beginnings in Nova Scotia to headlining the stages of Ottawa Canada Day and Toronto Pride, the east coast kid is riding an exciting wave with no slowing down.
With an ever expanding slate of live shows planned throughout the summer and a milestone birthday coming in the fall, we were fortunate enough to be able to grab some of T.'s rapidly depleting time to check in and chat about the past year, the summer and what's coming next for the busy musician.
Hi T. and congratulations on all the success. It's been a bit of a whirlwind year so far for you. You entered 2019 on the heels of new single 'Loser' before announcing that you would be part of the new season of CTV's "The Launch". Then you took home the win for your episode and released the single 'Hope' to incredible reception. Have you managed to catch your breath yet and how are you feeling about it all?
Thank you so much!!! It has been a whirlwind and it's been amazing. I'm currently sitting in my hotel room in Ottawa on my day off before the big Canada Day show and catching my breath. There are little moments like these which I'm really thankful for. I've really learned to value alone time and turning my phone OFF!
'Hope' was such a success as was your time on "The Launch". What did you learn from that experience?
Oh man, there was so much to learn from HOPE and The Launch. I learned some great lessons about performing from working with Marie-Mai and then getting to continue working with her after the show at the Bell Centre performance and then for Canada Day. I've learned that being honest and true to yourself, as cliche as it sounds, seriously does pay off. It can feel really scary at times, but it is so worth it at the end of the day when things come together, as they will. I think that's one of the biggest lessons I learned from the whole experience. Staying true can be scary and hard, but it's worth it, and the right people will respect you for that. The Launch was a beautiful environment to learn to trust myself and others in. I'm so thankful to the whole team for making the show such a great time.
You've been playing a lot of shows both in Canada and in the UK. You've headlined at Toronto Pride, are playing Ottawa's Canada Day and have a full July and August slate. Will you be taking some time off in the fall or are you planning further shows?
There's no time for time off, baby!! Haha. Well, August is a little quieter in terms of shows, but there will be a lot of behind the scenes stuff happening to gear up for an incredible fall. There are some very exciting announcements in the works...
With so many live shows recently do you have a favorite gig you've played as of late? Is there a favorite venue you enjoy playing in?
I loved playing Toronto Pride. There was such a great feeling in the crowd as everyone had just finished marching in the Trans March. I really felt like I was among family. I also played Bruce Guthro's Songwriters Circle this year at Casino Nova Scotia and that was a TIME. Wow. I had so much fun being on stage with Bruce, Matt Minglewood, and Ben Caplan. They are all amazing writers and performers, and so, so kind and fun to share a stage with. That was one for the books, for sure.
As for a favourite venue - full disclosure, I'm writing this pre-Canada Day, but I rehearsed on the Parliament Hill stage yesterday and THAT. That is quite a friggin venue. I am so pumped and honoured to play it.
What is the dream venue to play?
Honestly, anywhere there's a good crowd who are listening, excited to be at the show, and good to each other. It's all about the audience, for me. That being said...Massey Hall would be a fun time ;)
On the eve of releasing his new single 'Pleasure' and entering the next phase of what is a great career, now is the perfect time to catch up with rising Canadian star T. Thomason, the Canadian singer/songwriter on the lips of everyone. After an incredibly successful season on CTV's The Launch, T. has become more sought after than ever. From small beginnings in Nova Scotia to headlining the stages of Ottawa Canada Day and Toronto Pride, the east coast kid is riding an exciting wave with no slowing down.
With an ever expanding slate of live shows planned throughout the summer and a milestone birthday coming in the fall, we were fortunate enough to be able to grab some of T.'s rapidly depleting time to check in and chat about the past year, the summer and what's coming next for the busy musician.
Hi T. and congratulations on all the success. It's been a bit of a whirlwind year so far for you. You entered 2019 on the heels of new single 'Loser' before announcing that you would be part of the new season of CTV's "The Launch". Then you took home the win for your episode and released the single 'Hope' to incredible reception. Have you managed to catch your breath yet and how are you feeling about it all?
Thank you so much!!! It has been a whirlwind and it's been amazing. I'm currently sitting in my hotel room in Ottawa on my day off before the big Canada Day show and catching my breath. There are little moments like these which I'm really thankful for. I've really learned to value alone time and turning my phone OFF!
'Hope' was such a success as was your time on "The Launch". What did you learn from that experience?
Oh man, there was so much to learn from HOPE and The Launch. I learned some great lessons about performing from working with Marie-Mai and then getting to continue working with her after the show at the Bell Centre performance and then for Canada Day. I've learned that being honest and true to yourself, as cliche as it sounds, seriously does pay off. It can feel really scary at times, but it is so worth it at the end of the day when things come together, as they will. I think that's one of the biggest lessons I learned from the whole experience. Staying true can be scary and hard, but it's worth it, and the right people will respect you for that. The Launch was a beautiful environment to learn to trust myself and others in. I'm so thankful to the whole team for making the show such a great time.
You've been playing a lot of shows both in Canada and in the UK. You've headlined at Toronto Pride, are playing Ottawa's Canada Day and have a full July and August slate. Will you be taking some time off in the fall or are you planning further shows?
There's no time for time off, baby!! Haha. Well, August is a little quieter in terms of shows, but there will be a lot of behind the scenes stuff happening to gear up for an incredible fall. There are some very exciting announcements in the works...
With so many live shows recently do you have a favorite gig you've played as of late? Is there a favorite venue you enjoy playing in?
I loved playing Toronto Pride. There was such a great feeling in the crowd as everyone had just finished marching in the Trans March. I really felt like I was among family. I also played Bruce Guthro's Songwriters Circle this year at Casino Nova Scotia and that was a TIME. Wow. I had so much fun being on stage with Bruce, Matt Minglewood, and Ben Caplan. They are all amazing writers and performers, and so, so kind and fun to share a stage with. That was one for the books, for sure.
As for a favourite venue - full disclosure, I'm writing this pre-Canada Day, but I rehearsed on the Parliament Hill stage yesterday and THAT. That is quite a friggin venue. I am so pumped and honoured to play it.
What is the dream venue to play?
Honestly, anywhere there's a good crowd who are listening, excited to be at the show, and good to each other. It's all about the audience, for me. That being said...Massey Hall would be a fun time ;)
You're about to release your new song 'Pleasure'. What is the song about and what inspired it?
I wrote pleasure right at the end of the summer in 2017. It's written as a song to a partner, but it was inspired by finally feeling like I was coming back to joy and self care after a long time of ignoring the beauty in life and hustling super hard. I started with the line "Pleasure for the sake of pleasure" and the whole song grew from there.
'Pleasure' was written by yourself and produced by Dave Henriques. The song is a genuine top down, summer night pop vibe and steers into a really fresh electro sound. What was the process behind its creation?
Thank you so much!! When I went into the studio with Pleasure, I told Dave I wanted to make a pop banger. I wrote it on the acoustic guitar and then we demoed it and dug into the production side of things. We actually first demoed it in November 2017, and then left it alone until this past March. It just wasn't sitting quite right for us, but we both knew there was something there, so we went back at it and modernized the pop sound a bit. It was so satisfying to see the song shine after putting it away for a little while.
What do you want listeners to take away from 'Pleasure'?
I hope people put on Pleasure and just DANCE. It's fun and it's flirty and it's a little over the top, and that's the exact vibe I want when I'm feeling myself and having a dance party, personally.
With such an exciting year so far, what's next after 'Pleasure'? Are you looking at releasing more singles this year or a full album? What does the rest of 2019 look like?
There are some really exciting announcements coming for 2019, but I'm gonna keep them to myself for now ;) ;) ;) But just know that I can't turn 25 in September without some fun stuff happening, so keep your eyes peeled.
As a singer/songwriter, what's the most challenging aspect about the writing process for you?
Finishing a song. Haha. Yeah. It's really easy to get stuck, or distracted, or make excuses for why you don't have time to be creative.
Sonically are there musical styles that you haven't really tapped into yet that you're really interested in?
I love country music. Like old school Garth Brookes or Johnny Cash or Dolly Parton. It's entirely based around songwriting. I'm not sure if/when that record of mine will come out haha but you never know!
You've been around music since an early age and you have been in a fortunate position to meet some truly incredible artists. Who have you learned some of your best tips or lessons from while coming up through the music world?
That's a great question. I've been lucky to meet a lot of really talented and hardworking people. I think the thing that sticks with me the most is not one piece of advice from one person, but the fact that the main message from almost everyone I've met has been the same: Work hard. Be kind. Be patient. Be professional. Be ready for anything at the drop of a hat.
I wrote pleasure right at the end of the summer in 2017. It's written as a song to a partner, but it was inspired by finally feeling like I was coming back to joy and self care after a long time of ignoring the beauty in life and hustling super hard. I started with the line "Pleasure for the sake of pleasure" and the whole song grew from there.
'Pleasure' was written by yourself and produced by Dave Henriques. The song is a genuine top down, summer night pop vibe and steers into a really fresh electro sound. What was the process behind its creation?
Thank you so much!! When I went into the studio with Pleasure, I told Dave I wanted to make a pop banger. I wrote it on the acoustic guitar and then we demoed it and dug into the production side of things. We actually first demoed it in November 2017, and then left it alone until this past March. It just wasn't sitting quite right for us, but we both knew there was something there, so we went back at it and modernized the pop sound a bit. It was so satisfying to see the song shine after putting it away for a little while.
What do you want listeners to take away from 'Pleasure'?
I hope people put on Pleasure and just DANCE. It's fun and it's flirty and it's a little over the top, and that's the exact vibe I want when I'm feeling myself and having a dance party, personally.
With such an exciting year so far, what's next after 'Pleasure'? Are you looking at releasing more singles this year or a full album? What does the rest of 2019 look like?
There are some really exciting announcements coming for 2019, but I'm gonna keep them to myself for now ;) ;) ;) But just know that I can't turn 25 in September without some fun stuff happening, so keep your eyes peeled.
As a singer/songwriter, what's the most challenging aspect about the writing process for you?
Finishing a song. Haha. Yeah. It's really easy to get stuck, or distracted, or make excuses for why you don't have time to be creative.
Sonically are there musical styles that you haven't really tapped into yet that you're really interested in?
I love country music. Like old school Garth Brookes or Johnny Cash or Dolly Parton. It's entirely based around songwriting. I'm not sure if/when that record of mine will come out haha but you never know!
You've been around music since an early age and you have been in a fortunate position to meet some truly incredible artists. Who have you learned some of your best tips or lessons from while coming up through the music world?
That's a great question. I've been lucky to meet a lot of really talented and hardworking people. I think the thing that sticks with me the most is not one piece of advice from one person, but the fact that the main message from almost everyone I've met has been the same: Work hard. Be kind. Be patient. Be professional. Be ready for anything at the drop of a hat.
Being part of the LGBTQ community and a trans artist have you had many young artists reach out to connect with you or asking for advice on their own musical journey?
I do have people reach out to me which is a really beautiful thing. I try very hard not to refer to myself as a "trans artist". I'm an artist and I'm trans. I will always do my best to be available as a resource for those who need it.
What do you think are some of the biggest challenges affecting LGBTQ artists in the music industry?
I think things are getting easier all the time - though it is easy to think that as a white, cis, straight passing guy, especially during the summer when everything is focused around pride and pink washing. I think its still a challenge to make people believe that artists who are queer or trans are marketable beyond our community. That's always the biggest issue. We need more queer and trans people/allies in positions of power in the music industry to get over this issue of pigeon holing queer/trans artists. It is an ongoing challenge to work in an industry where most of the gatekeepers are people who don't and don't want to understand an experience that is not their own or challenges how they think the industry works.
Who have been some of the most influential artists that you've drawn inspiration from over the years?
Early Avril Lavigne in my early days. Bob Dylan, Kesha, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Troye Sivan, Carly Rae Jepsen, Neutral Milk Hotel, Geo Wyeth, Lucas Silveira and the Cliks, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly....there are too many to name!!
Collaborations are becoming a staple in the music world. We've seen you join others on stage, but who's on your dream list to collaboarate with?
I think it'd be a very similar list to those above. I'd include Halsey, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Carol King, Justin Bieber, Lennon Stella...
As a busy artist the demand for your time becomes more and more intense. How do you keep yourself grounded and how do you relax and take care of yourself?
Haha. Ooooo. Great question. This is a work in progress. But I try to put my phone away, I try to go for walks and spend time with family. Seeing a councillor is really important for me. I'm a float ambassador at the Floatation Centre in Halifax and so when I'm in town I try to go there and get a float in. Otherwise, I think it's great to keep a journal as the most basic form of self care. It helps you stay in touch with yourself when everything around you is going at a crazy pace.
More and more artists are emerging every day. With so much music being pumped out who are you currently listening to? Who do you have on repeat?
I'm listening to Marie-Mai's new record all the time. Lennon Stella, not music but a lot of episodes of My Dad Wrote a Porno haha. I kind of tend to get stuck in a few records for like years and then emerge and realize I've missed a bunch of great stuff, so I'm probably due to do that soon...
What's one last thing you want readers to know?
If you're at a show, come say hi after!!! I'd love to meet you!
Now for a couple of fun Q quick questions...
White, milk or dark chocolate?
Milk plz
Favorite cartoon character?
Vincent Adultman from BoJack Horseman
The one essential album or song you have to have with you while stranded on an island?
Rainbow (album) - Kesha
Superpower of choice?
The ability to teleport
If you could go anywhere in the world right now where would you go?
I'd go to some deserted, beautiful beach. Either Mexico or Malta.
T.'s new single 'Pleasure' arrives on all platforms Wednesday, July 3rd.
______________________________
Follow T. Thomason on all platforms.
Follow on Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Spotify
I do have people reach out to me which is a really beautiful thing. I try very hard not to refer to myself as a "trans artist". I'm an artist and I'm trans. I will always do my best to be available as a resource for those who need it.
What do you think are some of the biggest challenges affecting LGBTQ artists in the music industry?
I think things are getting easier all the time - though it is easy to think that as a white, cis, straight passing guy, especially during the summer when everything is focused around pride and pink washing. I think its still a challenge to make people believe that artists who are queer or trans are marketable beyond our community. That's always the biggest issue. We need more queer and trans people/allies in positions of power in the music industry to get over this issue of pigeon holing queer/trans artists. It is an ongoing challenge to work in an industry where most of the gatekeepers are people who don't and don't want to understand an experience that is not their own or challenges how they think the industry works.
Who have been some of the most influential artists that you've drawn inspiration from over the years?
Early Avril Lavigne in my early days. Bob Dylan, Kesha, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Troye Sivan, Carly Rae Jepsen, Neutral Milk Hotel, Geo Wyeth, Lucas Silveira and the Cliks, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly....there are too many to name!!
Collaborations are becoming a staple in the music world. We've seen you join others on stage, but who's on your dream list to collaboarate with?
I think it'd be a very similar list to those above. I'd include Halsey, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Carol King, Justin Bieber, Lennon Stella...
As a busy artist the demand for your time becomes more and more intense. How do you keep yourself grounded and how do you relax and take care of yourself?
Haha. Ooooo. Great question. This is a work in progress. But I try to put my phone away, I try to go for walks and spend time with family. Seeing a councillor is really important for me. I'm a float ambassador at the Floatation Centre in Halifax and so when I'm in town I try to go there and get a float in. Otherwise, I think it's great to keep a journal as the most basic form of self care. It helps you stay in touch with yourself when everything around you is going at a crazy pace.
More and more artists are emerging every day. With so much music being pumped out who are you currently listening to? Who do you have on repeat?
I'm listening to Marie-Mai's new record all the time. Lennon Stella, not music but a lot of episodes of My Dad Wrote a Porno haha. I kind of tend to get stuck in a few records for like years and then emerge and realize I've missed a bunch of great stuff, so I'm probably due to do that soon...
What's one last thing you want readers to know?
If you're at a show, come say hi after!!! I'd love to meet you!
Now for a couple of fun Q quick questions...
White, milk or dark chocolate?
Milk plz
Favorite cartoon character?
Vincent Adultman from BoJack Horseman
The one essential album or song you have to have with you while stranded on an island?
Rainbow (album) - Kesha
Superpower of choice?
The ability to teleport
If you could go anywhere in the world right now where would you go?
I'd go to some deserted, beautiful beach. Either Mexico or Malta.
T.'s new single 'Pleasure' arrives on all platforms Wednesday, July 3rd.
______________________________
Follow T. Thomason on all platforms.
Follow on Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Spotify
|
|
|
|