When Nashville-based country singer-songwriter Mike Thomas saw the devastating footage and spoke with friends and family in East Tennessee, he knew he had to do something to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. The result is Thomas’ latest single, “Hell in High Water.” All proceeds from streams and downloads of the song will be donated to a non-profit helping in the area called Mountain Ways (https://mtnways.org/). A haunting fiddle line marries the song to the region – it just sounds like Appalachia – and Thomas’ lyrical skill shines. It’s a highly emotional listen. Fans are encouraged to stream and download the song, and, if they are inclined, to donate to Mountain Ways or other non-profits who are helping with hurricane relief in that region. We sat down with Thomas recently to get the story on this very special song.
Hi, Mike! You have a terrific new single that just came out called “Hell in High Water.” What can you tell us about this song? What inspired you to write it and what is it about?
The song was inspired by the Hurricane Helene tragedy that hit East Tennessee, Western North Carolina and greater Appalachia in late September. I grew up in East Tennessee, and my family and many of my closest friends still live in the region. In the immediate aftermath, I spoke with numerous family and friends who shared stories that were heartbreaking. The images and stories of destruction really had a profound impact on me. I had a difficult time getting my mind off the tragedy. The stories and images just haunted me for days. Ultimately, I came up with the concept of hell coming in high water, and the song came rather quickly.
What was it like recording this song? What was the vibe in the studio, and how did this song come together?
The vibe in the studio was different. There was a sense of duty and purpose during the session among all the guys in the band. The session was a bit more serious and focused. When writing this song, my goal was to drive increased awareness about the Helene tragedy, because it’s going to be an extremely long road to recovery, and the people of Appalachia should not be forgotten. I think everyone just felt that we had a job to do with this song. We were on a mission to give a voice to those who’d lost it all and were feeling forgotten and left behind. Half the guys in my band are East Tennesseans, so this song just meant more. It took on a life of its own.
What do you hope this song conveys to those who listen to it?
For me it’s about making people from all parts of the country aware of what the region has been through and is still going through. Again, it’s going to take years, and many areas will never be the same. I hope this song just helps keep the lingering devastation of Helene on the minds and hearts of the listeners. If it inspires the listener to donate time or resources to help the region, that would be even better.
The proceeds from the streams and downloads of this single are going to a charity. How did you come up with the idea and where is the money going?
As soon as I finished this song, I knew that I wanted to use it to help give back to the region. I had no idea that the song would take off the way it has. That is a credit to all those who have streamed it and shared it. I have committed to donating the proceeds generated by streams and downloads of this song to Mountain Ways, an East Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) that is providing support for those impacted by Helene. It was important to me that the funds go to a local charity that gives one hundred percent of the money it brings in to relief and recovery, and that is exactly what Mountain Ways is doing.
If you look back over your career, you probably feel like quite a different artist now than when you began for a number of reasons – life experience, industry experience, studio and performing experience all factoring into that. Do different things inspire you now? Where do you tend to get your biggest inspiration from these days?
I started writing and recording songs in my late teens/early twenties, and while my process has evolved, I have always been most inspired by the real-life stories of those who cross my path in some way. My wife often says that it’s risky to get to know me too well, because you might end up in a song. Sometimes I wish I could write about cold beer, bonfires, tailgates, and tan lines. I like all that fun stuff and would probably have a lot more commercial success if I could go in that direction, but it just doesn’t work for me. I most often find inspiration in the real-life stories and struggles of everyday people. I think being a husband, a small business owner, and a father of three teenagers has only made me pay more attention to what’s happening in the world around me, and that certainly came through in this song.
Songwriting can be a really personal endeavor, yet when you release a song or an album or an EP, you share the music with so many people. How does this make you feel, and is it ever difficult to share songs widely like that? What kind of feedback do you get from fans who have connected with the music or had a song impact them in a deep and meaningful way?
I don’t necessarily find it difficult to share songs, but I do often find it challenging to know which ones will really connect with listeners. I have released songs that I felt were some of my best that have only had marginal success in terms of streams and downloads, while others that I viewed as just average have had great success. One song, “It Ain’t Him,” comes to mind from my first record. I didn’t even want to record it. I just didn’t think it was a strong enough song, but my producer, Tres Sasser, insisted that we cut it, and it has gone on to be one of my most successful songs.
As an independent artist, I don’t have a record label investing in marketing and promotion every time I release a new song to make sure it gets millions of streams and downloads. The upside is that I get a realistic picture of which songs really make a connection with listeners. If the songs resonate, they get streamed and shared and playlisted. The challenge is not getting too high or too low based on the results of each release.
In the end, it’s just about making a connection with the listener. Perhaps the most gratifying thing to hear is when someone says that a song told their story, or helped them through a tough time, or gave them chills. I have had plenty of comments like that about “Hell in High Water,” and I think that means we may have hit the mark.
What has been the most exciting thing to happen for you this year?
Releasing “Hell in High Water” has been the most exciting thing to happen for me this year. It’s just been inspiring to see how people have responded to the song. It has gone faster than any song I have ever released, and we haven’t spent a dime on promotion yet. It has all been organic, word-of-mouth, one person sharing it with the next, and that’s a great thing to see.
Got any tour plans? Where can fans see you on the road?
I did not plan to release any new music this year when we released “Hell in High Water,” so we didn’t really have many shows planned. I do expect that we will take December off and then look to start playing shows more frequently after the first of the year. The best way for fans to keep up with where I am playing is to visit the website and sign up for the email list. They can also follow us on Instagram or Facebook.
