Nashville-based country and Americana singer-songwriter Mike Thomas is know for his attention to detail. Be it the thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics he pens or the always-stellar music that accompanies his words, Thomas makes music that hits all of the right notes. A talented writer who always seems to get to the heart of the matter, Thomas dug deep for his new single, “A Different Story,” mining his faith to create a song that explores redemption and grace for the downtrodden. It’s a glorious, gospel-tinged triumph, a slow-burn that builds until it erupts with a stadium-friendly sing-along at the end that is sure to induce goosebumps – you can almost see the smart phone lights swaying to the music in your mind as the song comes to a satisfying conclusion. Thomas sat down to chat with us recently about this terrific song.
Hi, Mike! You have a wonderful new song that just came out called “A Different Story.” What’s the scoop on this song? And what inspired you to write it?
“A Different Story” is unlike anything I have released to this point. While I often weave spirituality into my songs, this one is a gospel-infused celebration of faith and redemption – there is no gray area here. I wrote this song in the summer of 2024, and while it is the story of my own spiritual journey, it was also written as a message to my children, one of whom was going through some difficult circumstances at the time.
It’s a stand-out track. What do you hope its message is to listeners? And what did writing it bring to you?
The message is that no matter how lost, broken, angry, or ashamed we may feel, there is one who never stops reaching for us. One who never gives up on us and loves us regardless of how far gone we get. Writing this one was a powerful experience for me. The process really made me examine my own life and consider how many times my Savior has shown up for me even when I didn’t deserve it.
What kind of a vibe were you going for on this song when you recorded it? Do you think you ended up with a song that sounds like you expected it to sound? If so, how so, and if not, what’s different about it? Who joined you in the studio for this one?
When I wrote this song, I heard it as an acoustic guitar-driven song with very minimal instrumentation. In my mind, it was going to be a possible album closer. I had no expectations that the song would be released as a single. When I brought it into the studio, Tres Sasser, the producer, had some strong feelings about how we should arrange the song to give it more power. I initially struggled to get my head around his ideas, and, at one point, we had some tense moments in the studio. The next day, we both came in early and talked through his ideas once more, and that is the direction we headed with the song. I think since this song was nearly a year old when I brought it in and I had been playing and hearing it one way for so long, it just took me a day or so to get comfortable with the idea of changing the arrangement. In the end, it was the right call, and that is the great part about having a producer like Tres. He cares as much about my songs as I do. He’s deeply invested in helping take my songs to the next level, and he did exactly that on this one.
In the studio, I handled the guitar parts, and Tres played bass. Sten Nisswandt was on drums, and Michael Webb handled the piano and organ on what really became a keys-driven song. I really love what Michael brought to the track. I think the X factor though was Joanna Cotten. Both Tres and I felt that the song needed a strong and soulful female voice, and it doesn’t get more strong and soulful than Joanna. I was thrilled that she was willing to come in and sing on the track. She really took the song up a notch!
Your music and lyrics work so well together. Was this a music-first or a lyrics-first song for you? Which way do you tend to write in general, music or lyrics first?
Typically, I start with lyrics. I usually get an opening line and the first verse and then try to determine what direction I want to go musically. With this one, the lyrics and music came simultaneously. The entire song came quickly, which is often not the case.
Your last single, “Hell in High Water” was a break-out song for you, and all proceeds from the single went to a hurricane relief charity, Mountain Way. What was fan reaction like for that song?
The reaction to “Hell in High Water” was phenomenal. We released that song quickly, with no marketing or promotion. We didn’t follow any of the typical industry protocols on how to ensure a successful song launch. Time was of the essence with that track because it was about the devastation of Hurricane Helene. We just wanted to put it out as quickly as we could. I never expected the song to take off the way it did. During its first weekend, it went viral on TikTok and I didn’t even have a TikTok account. Massive streaming numbers followed, and it continues to be the best-performing song in my entire catalog. The best thing about that song is the outpouring of reaction it has gotten from people who were impacted by the tragedy. So many people have told me how much the song has meant to them, and how it gave voice to their pain, struggles, and frustrations. The song really reminded me why I write and has motivated me to keep working.
You’ve been living in Nashville for a bit. How do you think your time in such a music-centric city impacts the music you make?
I live a little way outside the city, and we typically do our recording in Franklin, which is about a half hour south of Nashville, but living in the Music City has definitely impacted me. I have been here for 21 years now, and I have seen the city change tremendously. One thing that has not changed is that the town is chock full of talented people. Having access to some of those people to help bring my songs to life is a tremendous blessing. At the same time, as a songwriter and artist, this town will keep you humble because there is a ton of talent everywhere you turn. I don’t get caught up in it too much. I just try to focus on my work and my audience.
What can fans look forward to next from you?
We will be releasing a lot of new music over the months ahead. I have been writing as much as I can, and we’ve been working hard in the studio. I have added a couple people to my team, and we are really trying to be intentional about having a creative strategy that fits today’s music landscape. It really takes a team to make it work, and I am fortunate to have a great group of folks around me. So, look for a bunch of new music and hopefully as many live shows as we can work in.
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