We were lucky to catch up with Tommy Habib recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Tommy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I can honestly say that the album I’m prepping for release in December, ME AND YOU AGAINST THE WORLD has been the among the most meaningful projects I’ve ever worked on in my career. I’m so excited to put it out, it’s definitely been a long time coming. I put out my last album HINDSIGHT IS 2020 in October 2021 and then the tour for that album put me out until the spring of 2022. I started asking myself what direction I wanted to take next in my career: I knew people had liked HINDSIGHT but I also knew that albums are almost an endangered species at this point with streaming and Spotify, so that if I made one I better make it as excellent as can be or else why bother. I also didn’t have pressure making this one, with no rush, I focused on writing the best possible songs that excited me. In doing so, I ended up having an unusual advantage: there’s 15 songs on the new album (including one bonus track) I basically compiled the 5 best songs I wrote in 2022, 5 best in 2023, and 5 best in 2024, as opposed to rushing through a set of songs to meet a deadline. I can say I probably wrote 50songs in preparation for this project, so it’s nice to work with the cream of the crop.
As I started writing and recording material, I also started noticing that, organically, about 90% of the songs focused on romantic relationships (a common topic for writers ha ha). A lightbulb went off in my head: I had always wanted to make a “concept” album without being too pretentious about it, here was a perfect opportunity. I decided to tell the story of a relationship, two people meeting, falling for each other and then the breakup and the aftermath, from all perspectives. I had recorded most of HINDSIGHT IS 2020 by myself in quarantine with only a few guests here and there. On this project, “Me and You Against the World” I decided to feature as many of my musical friends as possible. So instrumentally, there’s more variety (lots of guitars, saxophones, mandolin) but also you have other perspectives. Melody Shepherd sings a song from the female love interest’s perspective after the breakup, Sam Morris is one of the friends who was telling her he’s a “walking red flag” all along, his sister Savannah pitches in singing on another track, and I’m voicing the lead character and some friends.
I’ve been very proud of some of my previous projects, 2013’s BEST KEPT SECRET is my musical autobiography, 2016’s LONG TIME NO SEE was the most fun to make and 2021’s HINDSIGHT IS 2020 was really well received, but this is the project for which I have the most pride.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a full time singer/songwriter/musician working in Nashville TN, I’ve been here for over 6 years and been in the industry since I was 21. Among my accomplishments (in chronological order): I arranged a piece for the concert band to play at my high school graduation, I’m a graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), I’ve been independently releasing music since 2013 and my 2021 Album HINDSIGHT IS 2020 made the top 10 Amazon Pop/Rock Charts. I average over 200 performances a year here in TN, playing at least one concert under my own name of Tommy Habib a week. I’ve been lucky enough to play with some great groups in TN: I play with the 90’s Top 40 country group 4 Runner as their keyboardist, I did a great tour with Irish singer Mags McCarthy that culminated in a performance at the CMA Fest in 2018, I’ve been nearly continuously employed as a church music director since 2011 with over 1300 services and counting, leading the groups on piano, vocals, arranging and conducting.
The most exciting news I have is that my new album ME AND YOU AGAINST THE WORLD is being released FRIDAY DECEMBER 27th, 2024 to ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS and in physical media/digital download. The third single, “Ride or Die,” is being released with an accompanying music video the previous FRIDAY DECEMBER 20th. I’m playing two album release shows on December 5th at Honey Tree Meadery and December 27th at the Underdog, and will begin a tour in support of the album in 2025.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I can only say that it took me years to realize the power of networking. One door truly opens another and another. Trust me, I was the most introverted only-child there ever was, and it’s definitely awkward at times. However, if I can work through it, anyone can, and so many great moments in my career have developed from stepping out of my comfort zone with a “hello” text, “just wanted to see how things are going” email, answered phone call and even the dreaded walking up to a new contact at a show for a handshake. In the long run, though, it is always worth it.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One that immediately springs to mind is the “prima-donna” myth. In college, I had the pleasure to interact with a number of a musical theatre singers both in my personal and professional life. Now, I don’t have to tell you that the reputation of the loud, domineering, belting, catty, demanding Broadway actor or actress is rampant. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say there weren’t a few apples in that bunch that were rotten to the core. HOWEVER, I remember a perceptive MT friend (Aubrey, if she’s reading-hi!) of mine taking me aside and saying “The humblest, kindest ones are always the most talented. The ones that shout and complain the loudest are hiding something for sure or overcompensating.” I’ll be darned if that isn’t my exact experience in every walk of life.: To illustrate, it only took 30 seconds of working with the Broadway bound singer Kathryn Boswell to know this was a rare vocal talent, and sure enough her kindness and empathy followed in equal pursuit when we cut my song “Engaged” in 2013 (She, a senior, I a junior). Every single circumstance I’ve had with musicians (and in general walks of life) follows suit. Hardworking, personable and giving people have talent to spare; egotistical, self-centered and noncommunicative people much less so.
One other ‘myth’ I’ve found is that by forcing it through you can produce a great song. I know a lot of songwriters here that write 3 songs a day, 5 days a week. While I certainly maintain a healthy work ethic, doing it to that extent turns into making sausages for me. The joy of music has to be present in the room when I put pen to paper, not meeting a quota.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/user/Tommyhabibmusic
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommyhabibmusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TommyHabibMusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Tommyhabibmusic
- Other: Please visit all of my social media links for updates on the release of my NEW album in late December 2024. My self-named website is under maintenance and will be live in the near future.
Image Credits
Lauren Miller, Annelise Loughead, Emily Lorenz, Victoria Cunic, Tammy Habib.