Music Q&A with Andrew Thomases
Photo courtesy of Andrew Thomases
San Francisco based, alternative rock artist, Andrew Thomases, has been releasing music that anyone can relate to. An example of that is his single "Perfection”, a track that speaks to that desire we all have within us to achieve what the title suggests. In this Q&A, Andrew talks about the single, what he could change about the music industry if he could, and more!
FFO: The Psychedelic Furs, Red Hot Chili Peppers
A few weeks ago, you released “Perfection”. Congratulations on the release of the single! What inspired the song?
Thanks for asking me about the inspiration for my track “Perfection.” When I was younger, I always thought that perfection was the ultimate goal for anything I did, no matter how hard it would be to achieve. This applied to everything from school, to sports, to relationships, and beyond. I would strive for perfection, no matter the cost. Then, as I got older and wiser, I began to realize that constantly striving for perfection was the source of my dissatisfaction. Perfection is impossible, and expecting to achieve it would just set you up for failure. Also, one didn’t have to be perfect to impress others. We all have flaws, and that is part of who we are. In fact, I came to understand that the people who think they are perfect are the ones who are flawed.
So, I decided to write a song with this concept as its central theme. That led to “Perfection.” It has an ‘80s or ‘90s sound, with synths and a heavy driving bass line. One irony is the amount of time I spent to get the song sounding as good as possible. But, one Easter egg is the fact that there are some guitar notes at the end of the song. Those were actually from a mistaken take. I decided to keep those notes in because it reminds me that making mistakes is ok.
What would you say is different about “Perfection” from previously released songs?
In “Perfection,” I decided to experiment more with synths and delay effects on guitar. I wanted a retro vibe, so I wanted some ‘80s sounding layers for synths. My first single “Cure Me” had some of that, but with more of a Cure sound. In “Perfection,” I went for the true ‘80s pop/alternative sound, with synths building at the beginning of the song and then a psychedelic-like bridge.
I also worked hard on the bass riffs. Bass was my original instrument, and I wanted to make the bass prominent. There are some percussive bass lines as well as some quick licks. I also really dove into writing the lyrics to meet my theme. The lyrics show a path toward true self-awareness. Here is one example:
I used to think perfection ideal.
A goal to reach, despite the ordeal.
A badge to show, a certain way to feel.
What to strive for to prove my appeal.
Flaws that I had, I would all conceal.
And then I found out, it could not be real.
As you can see, my path toward self-awareness plays a large role in the song.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
Wow, that is a hard question because the music industry is so much different from when I was younger. Back in the ‘80s, radio stations and MTV ruled the roost, and those were the best way for someone to learn about new music. But it was really hard to get a record contract and, thus, to get on the radio.
Nowadays, we have a different problem. It is much easier for artists to record their music, but even harder to get a record deal. Record companies have really scaled back their efforts to search for talent. And radio stations are much less relevant. So, there is all of this great music out there, but it is very hard for artists to get exposure. This is especially true because the algorithms on platforms such as Spotify are designed to keep playing or suggesting music that the listener already knows. Ideally, those platforms would spend greater time and effort to find and promote new artists and suggest them to more listeners, like the way the record companies use to do long ago.
What's the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and get outside of your comfort zone. This applies to everything from writing new melodies, expanding my vocal range, or even trying to play new genres of music. It is not always easy, but now I know it is worth the try.
We all have our days where it may not be going as well as we’d like. People deal with their worst days in different ways. What helps you get through the bad days? How do you stay positive?
No matter how stressed or down I get, I always keep in mind that I am a very lucky person. I am lucky to have my health and comfort. A roof over my head and a great family. I have a good job and I have free time to pursue my passion – music. There are many people in the world who don’t have any of those things. Sometimes stepping back to get a little bit of perspective goes a long way towards staying positive.
Thank you for taking the time for this Q&A. Any last words or final message for the readers?
Thanks so much for your interest in my music and my message. I hope all listeners find something to learn in my “conscious rock” songs. If your readers want to learn more, please check out my website at AndrewThomases.com, as it is the portal for all my music, videos, and info. Rock on!