We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kevin Thomas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kevin below.

Alright, Kevin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Making songwriting and music my main source of income most definitely came with a cost. I’d be lying if I said the road behind me was an easy one to walk. My journey in music is very unique to me I feel. Now with that being said I’m very Greatful and Blessed to get to do music for a living. When my career began I had recently went through a horrible divorce and was suffering through a lot of mental health issues. My days began with alot of emotion and little to no sleep. I was falling off of a cliff with no ledge to hold on to. I was at rock bottom only way to go was up and I chose to go up thankfully.(And before I go into how I was able to make it fulltime I wanna say I took the extreme route and I may not recommend doing what I did haha) I made huge life altering decisions such as quitting my job working for the federal government, filing bankruptcy and giving away everything I had ever worked for up to that point in my life. I done the extreme. I knew I had nothing left so why not do something I always wanted to do. So I quit my job had no idea how I was gonna accomplish this career in music but I knew I would make it work. so I started asking around to find places to play at and hone in my skills or cut my teeth as they would say. So my first year I played any and everywhere and totaled 226 total paid gigs for my first year going fulltime this lead to a lot of sleepless nights and early mornings but by the time the year ended I was wore down and ragged but my skill sets, my voice, my guitar playing and my knowledge of the business had grew 10 fold. Which only made me better and more confident. It’s a hard life being on the road but it’s a life I never wanna give up. And to answer the question of what could have sped up the process knowing what I know now? I’d say is learning to take No for an answer and moving on… there’s a lot of places to play at and a whole lot of talented musicians like myself (most definitely in Kentucky) trying to accomplish what I’m Setting out to do. and you gotta remember not every place is gonna like your sound or your “persona” so if I would have learned early on to just move on and go for the next opportunity I believe I would have achieved a little bit more at a quicker pace.

Kevin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Growing up in small town Monticello, Ky my life was pretty easy. We were what you would call poor and we definitely had hard times but momma was pretty good at keeping it a blind eye to us kids. Dad, my stepdad Bobby and her always made sure we had what we needed. where I come from I would say one of the biggest problems around is the drug problem. I was very fortunate to have had parents that where never into drugs or ever chose vices over us kids. So all in all growing up was easier for me.
And as for saying that it brings me to where it all begins. Growing up my mawma Thelma and Mawma Case sang in church and always encouraged me to sing as well. So that’s where my passion for music started. I remember as a kid sitting next to my Mawma Case as she would pull out this ole White Acoustic Guitar and she would start to strum it and sing her favorite gospel songs. She would always encourage me to try myself.. i sucked of coarse lol but I still tried. tragically in 2005 my Mawma Case left this world to go be with the lord. But little did I know then that she would
Leave her stamp on me when she left. She seen a spark in me that I didn’t see at an early age. She knew I would do big things. So she left me her guitar and in honor of her I sat down and taught myself to play. And to this day I still own that pearl White guitar And will for the rest of my days. Now most days my focus is more towards country music sought out by my influences like Merle haggard, Jamey Johnson and Kevin Denney. But every now and again I’ll turn back to my roots and you’ll catch a gospel tune break through the rowdy crowds of the Honky Tonks I play. And if you ever get to experience that just know it’s in memory of my Mawma Case and it comes from a place where I took root. At the end of the day Hard Work is the stand alone factor that separates me from the others. Everyone is talented but not everyone has the drive to go get what they want. So to me my drive and dedication will get me and has got me to where I want to be. Talent is an added bonus.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a songwriter is getting to express my emotions through my songs. As much as I love music. There is just something about getting to write what I feel on paper and experience it through my own voice. It’s very therapeutic for me. I tell people all the time music saved my life. I really don’t think they realize how serious and how much weight that statement hold for me.. I set on the edge of my bed ready to pull the trigger. The taste of iron on my lips is still the haunting memory I carry from that night. Ready to end it all with the hope my soul would move on and find peace. As I set there begging god for a sign that my life mattered and that I had something to live for my guitar fell over drawing my attention. I got up wiped away the tears from my swollen eyes picked up my guitar dusted it off and wrote my latest single release “Wither Away” and decide there that my purpose in life was music. So take it From a man ready to end his life at rock bottom to now being the happiest I’ve ever been. There is always a light to chase just find it and chase it.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

With a world evolving with technology and Social media the simple answer here is to click that like button and share and tell yah mom and them about us. And you know most would think that asking someone to hit a button for you and to help support your career would be a easy “free” thing to do but for most people it’s impossible to get them to support you before you’ve made a house hold name for yourself. You’ll get a lot of “Hey! I seen you online great stuff! Or hey I need to catch a show soon but the likely hood of that happening is slim to none unfortunately. But for those that do wanna support the simple answer is to follow, like and share our music along with coming out to our shows! And for those that believe and support us Thank you. I truly mean that. Y’all are the foundation that make it possible for what we do!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Kevinthomasofficial_
• Facebook: Kevin Thomas Official
• Youtube: Kevin Thomas Official
• Other: TikTok- Kevin Thomas Official

  My music out on all streaming platforms

  My debut single “Missin Michigan”

  My latest single release- “Wither Away”

Image Credits

Produced by Nuge
Kayla Drake Photography
Kit With A Cam
Abby Marcum
Steven Alsbrooks (Behind The Barn Radio)