A Dirty Dozen with MIKE THOMAS – September 2025

According to a recent press release: “Nashville-based Americana singer-songwriter Mike Thomas is releasing a new single, “Tailwaters,” on September 26, 2025, via Diamond Hill Music. Thomas, a dedicated fisherman, pays tribute to the bond he shares with his son through their mutual love of the sport. The song highlights the peace and spiritual rest he finds by the water, and his desire to pass that same sentiment along to his son. With plenty of pedal steel, fiddle, and harmonica, the track evokes Thomas’ East Tennessee upbringing, ringing with a familiar twang as he sings about the “tailwaters of Cherokee.” A dedicated songwriter and entrepreneur based in Nashville, TN, Thomas has never taken the conventional path—he’s taken the one that felt true. A devoted family man and small business owner, Thomas continues to prioritize his passion for music, steadily building a loyal fanbase on his own terms.” We get Mike to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

My new single is called “Tailwaters.” I wrote it with my friend, Nick Powell. Nick and I grew up together. We played ball together. Our families were and still are close. The song is written from the perspective of a father who is out fishing with his son. The song really speaks to the spiritual aspect of doing something you love with someone you love. Some of my favorite memories are fishing with my dad and granddad. The love of fishing is something that can be passed from one generation to the next. The song also speaks of personal strengths and struggles that can be passed from one generation to the next. “He casts his line out in her waters, and I just stop and stare / just beyond the shallow riffles I swear my daddy’s standing there / he’s got the fire down in his belly / he’s got a poet’s soul / One day he’ll learn to tame the lions / One day he’ll just let go.” I think this final verse really captures the essence of this song. There is a lot in there, but in the end it’s a prayer. Our children can inherit the best and worst of us – our greatest strengths and our most glaring weaknesses. Our job is to guide them toward what is upright and shepherd them away from those things that can be destructive.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I was surrounded by music growing up. My sister and I took piano lessons at a young age. My grandfather played guitar, sang, and wrote songs. My dad grew up playing drums, and I inherited what was left of his drum kit after his family had to pawn most of the pieces off when he was a teenager to help pay the family’s bills. Growing up, I played multiple sports and was a decent athlete. I was especially good at football and had a passion for the sport. My goal was to go on to play at the collegiate level. So, while music was always part of my life, it was not a central focus of my life until about age 14. I had a serious injury that ended my football playing days, and I lost my grandfather shortly after. It was a dark time for me. I felt lost. No sense of purpose or passion for anything until I pulled out a guitar that had been sitting in a case under my bed for about seven years. Music pulled me out of the darkness and gave me purpose again.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

For me, it all started with Bob Dylan. Following my injury, I discovered my old man’s record collection. He had some great stuff, but I was especially drawn to the two Bob Dylan records he had – New Morning and Greatest Hits Volume 2. Something about Dylan’s music just grabbed me. I didn’t understand a lot of it, but I felt it. It was raw, authentic, and real. Dylan’s music was the gateway that led me to other artists who would influence me over the years, artists like Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, and the list goes on.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

This is a really tough question for me to answer. There are so many artists whom I respect, admire, and appreciate. I’ve even had the chance to meet a few of my musical heroes over the years, but if I had to pick one living artist that I’d love to collaborate with, I’d probably have to choose Vince Gill. I have such respect for Vince’s career. He can do it all. He writes great songs, plays guitar with the best of them, has an unmistakable tenor voice, and, most importantly, is a genuinely good human being. I had the chance to meet Vince once, and he was as humble and gracious as a man can be. As I have gotten older, that’s become increasingly important to me. I want to work with talented people, but I want to work with talented people who are also good humans.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

I have three teenage kids. When I have free time, I want to be with them. Watching my girls dance or my son play rugby and football – those are my favorite times. We only have our kids under our roof for a short amount of time, so I try to get as much time with them as possible. I also love spending one-on-one time with my wife, Sarah. She is my best friend, and we love to take quick trips together whenever we get the chance. I also love to fish, and I am an avid early morning exerciser.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

When people ask me what kind of music I make, I always say “country or Americana music.” That said, the country genre has become so broad that I am not even sure what it is these days, and I’ve always had a hard time defining Americana. I can’t say that I have ever had a comparison that made me cringe. I generally feel like reviewers are on target in their comparisons when writing about my music. I have had several listeners tell me that my sound reminds them of David Gray. I love David’s music and consider that comparison an honor, but that’s one that caught me off guard when I first heard it.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I’ve got a great group of guys in my band. They are all great friends, and I’m blessed to have them in my corner. If there is cooking to be done, I’d say it’s going to be me or Weston Woodford (guitar, vocals). I’d say Weston is the one who also makes sure there is proper lubrication for anyone who wants a drink. Tres Sasser (bass/producer) would be the one cracking out the guitars for a sing along.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I don’t really get starstruck. I try to appreciate people for their unique gifts and talents without putting them on a pedestal. We are all just different people with different talents in the end. Maybe this comes from meeting a few of my musical heroes at a young age and being disappointed. I do enjoy it when I get to meet artists whose work I have admired, and they turn out to be genuinely kind individuals.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part of being a musician is having a mental and emotional outlet. No matter how I am feeling – up, down, or otherwise – I can get it out. If I was not a musician, I think I would still be a writer of some sort. I might be writing poetry, short stories, or something else entirely, but I’d still be writing. I love it too much to stop.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I guess the question I get tired of answering is “how would I describe my music.” As far as a question I’ve always wanted an interviewer to ask… I have never really thought about that before, but I would like interviewers to ask me more about my creative process and approach to songwriting and recording. When it comes to songwriting and recording, I am a very process-oriented person. I am meticulous and systematic in my approach. I think that as a young songwriter it would have been helpful for me to hear from an established songwriter that you need to have a workman-like approach to your craft rather than just waiting for the inspiration to hit and trying to capture a moment. It took me a while to figure that out on my own.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I came to Nashville in 2004 to pursue a career as a songwriter. I walked away because the industry didn’t match my vision for what I wanted to do creatively. For nearly 15 years, I didn’t write or make music at all. In hindsight, I should have stuck it out a bit longer, played the game a bit and tried some new approaches.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

It would be Wildflowers by Tom Petty or Car Wheels on a Gravel Road by Lucinda Williams. These are two albums that I go to often. They are just excellent in every way from start to finish. Lyrically, musically, sonically, thematically… These two records are phenomenal.

MIKE THOMAS LINKS:

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Category: Interviews