With Red Dirt music running through his veins, Oklahoma native Hunter Thomas is the quintessential example of how hard work pays off. Despite never releasing an album or singles to country radio, Hunter has been able to pack local venues because of his talent, turning one casual listener into a fan, and then the next then the next, organically growing his fanbase. However that fanbase is about to grow in size and distance as Hunter just released his debut single “Go For A Drive” to Country radio earlier and on all digital platforms today. Stream/download here.
We recently caught up with Hunter to talk about his musical background, his new single and what’s to come.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
HT: I’m just an Oklahoma guy who has enjoyed writing songs and creating my own sound for most of my life. I like to watch college football, play golf, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. Pretty typical guy.
CN: Prior to your musical path, you were quite the athlete. Which sports did you play?
HT: I’ve tried about everything, but golf, football and track were the main ones.
CN: How did you come across music and what made you realize that this was what you were meant to pursue?
HT: My interest started early and I picked up a guitar when I was 12. I played a lot growing up and just had fun with it. The time I knew it was what I wanted to do career wise was my freshman year in college after going to see Casey Donahew and Randy Rogers.
CN: Which artists have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
HT: A couple of my friends who are good songwriters in my area that taught me the ropes. They taught me lessons they had learned over 30-40 years, I owe a lot of credit to them.
CN: As a direct descendant of the Red Dirt music influence, your songs represent the everyday American through honest lyrics. Can you take us through your songwriting process? Where do you pull your ideas from?
HT: In short, I have a few methods of how I write songs. I try to write lyrics that make me feel something and I try to make the listener see the images that I paint through the lyrics, melody and vocals.
CN: Did you find yourself writing more during the pandemic?
HT: I wrote about the same amount I always do, fairly consistently. I did fish a lot more.
CN: You have had great success locally in regards to booking gigs and without releasing any music and no radio play. How did you go about creating a grassroots following?
HT: I would just say brick by brick through playing live shows, staying consistent on social media, and word of mouth.
CN: What advice would you give an up-and-coming artist who is trying to get his or her name out there?
HT: I don’t know if I’m in a position to give advice. I’d like to see more success myself and then I feel like my advice will hold more weight. With that being said, a few things I could tell other artists: Be the best version of yourself, and don’t overly compare yourself to others. There are things you can do that they can’t, and vice versa. People want authenticity, so just be real and put emotion into your music (that’s super important). Also, it’s not going to be perfect, but try to get as organized as you can and focus on what matters. And just have fun!
CN: Your hard work and success caught the attention of Thirty Tigers based in Nashville. Can you share with us how they approached you and what it means to you to be recognized by such a heavy hitter in the industry?
HT: I just had an opportunity to get my songs in front of some folks at Thirty Tigers and they liked them. I am thankful for my manager steering me in their direction and for Thirty Tigers believing in my sound.
CN: On July 30th you are releasing your debut single “Go For A Drive” across all digital platforms. After the year+ we’ve all had, we could all “go for a drive.” What was the inspiration behind this track?
HT: Through the song I wanted to capture that perfect moment when you’re on the road and feel like everything is calm and you are at peace in the world. I wanted ‘Go For A Drive’ to be something that people can relate to whether they are on a back road or in middle of the city. We had a lot of fun creating this song, and I really enjoy singing it live.
CN: This single will be on your upcoming self-titled debut album. Is there a release date set?
HT: Early 2022
CN: A debut album is an artist’s first impression. What are you hoping fans will take away from this collection of songs?
HT: I hope people connect with the songs like I did, and that they see the stories and the imagery. I hope the music makes them feel good.
CN: Have you been able to get back out playing live music?
HT: Oh yeah
CN: If you could collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
HT: John Prine or Kacey Musgraves
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
HT: Casey Donahew
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?
HT: Fun
CN: What’s next on the horizon for you?
HT: Putting out music left and right, and playing quite a few shows we have in the works.
“Go For A Drive” is available to download or streaming here.
For more information on Hunter Thomas, follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.