Hannah Thomas

Who would you say you are musically?
Musically I'm the artist that falls between genres. I have genuine love for music ever since can remember. Music is my world. Ultimately, I play for myself . It's also such a reward to see that people enjoy what I'm doing.

I know musicians hate this question, but how would you classify your style of music that you are currently playing?
Rockin' Americana. Not to be cliche, but it's a little bit country, a little bit rock'n'roll. Sometimes bluesy & soulful and sometimes 90's alternative or punk edge.

Is there a style of music you DON'T like?
Not really, I think there's something great to be found in all genres. I may not like everything in a particular genre, but there's always one artist or song that I find inspiring. I always say there are two kinds of music - Good and Bad Music. One day you'll find me listening to 70's Rock and the next Contemporary Jazz. I love music all around.

Who would you say is your greatest musical influence?
I don't know if I can limit that answer to just one artist. I grew up listening to The Judds and Tina Turner with my mom and Black Sabbath and Van Halen with my dad. Early on I was drawn to artists like Terri Clark and Garth Brooks. As I got older it was Indigo Girls and Tori Amos. I continue to be influenced every day so my influences are everywhere from Janis Joplin and Johnny Cash to Alice In Chains and Brandi Carlile.

Your latest CD is "Goodbye on Wasted Time." What's the story behind the title?
"Goodbye On Wasted Time" is a song on the album. Basically, the song embodies everything I've learned in the last couple years in the music business and in my personal life. It's really all about new beginnings and taking lessons learned and using them as a compass for everything here on out.

I read that fans helped you make this album. How did that come to be?
The fans have been asking for new album for quite some time. With touring and trying to introduce my music to new people I was having a hard time saving money to get into the studio, although the songs had been ready for quite some time. I heard about the Kickstarter approach and decided to give it a try. I was overwhelmed by the response and couldn't have made this album without the fans. So I owe a big thank you to them.

If you could no longer play music what would you be/do?
Probably a journalist or something in the marketing world.

If you were independently wealthy you would...?
Buy a tour bus and hit all the cities I haven't made it to yet with my band.

What is your favorite memory of a show?
It's a toss up between getting to sing a song during The Indigo Girls set in Jacksonville last month and having my fans get together and presenting me with a birthday/CD release cake at my CD Release Party in February.

Do you have a crazy fan story?
lol
I guess that means "no comment?"

Your favorite place to play and why?
Other than Atlanta.. The Akron Civic Theater in Ohio. The people are a great, It's a beautiful venue, and the audience is always very responsive.

What new music are you listening too these days?
Kacey Musgraves. Her new album is something totally fresh in country in music. With lyrics daring to go there. Also, I'm anxiously awaiting the new Natalie Maines solo album.

Favorite driving music?
Billy Squier

Name 3 Atlanta bands that you would take a friend to see?
Indigo Girls/Amy Ray (Solo), Roxie Watson, Sugarland

Name 3 Atlanta bands from the past that you wish were still playing?
Jennifer Nettles Band, Three 5 Human, REM (does that count since they're an Athens band)

Favorite chilhood Book?
The Poky Little Puppy

Favorite movie?
Almost Famous

Bucket list item that would surprise your friends?
Nothing would surprise my friends...

You're latest project is...
I'm already writing for the new album. In talks of starting the recording process this summer.

Hannah has "the soul of old country. and that will always be there, but she's also a die hard rocker with some punk thrown in the mix" - Amy Ray (of Indigo Girls)

The album, called "Goodbye on Wasted Time," is produced by Rob Gal, who also has worked with fellow Georgia artists Sugarland and Shawn Mullins, and Jaron Pearlman, an Atlanta musician.

"This is the album I've always always wanted to make," Thomas said. "I went back to my roots and started writing songs that I wanted to write. There's definitely more of an edge to this album, compared to my previous releases. You can hear all kinds of influences with a broad spectrum of genres."

Thomas has come a long way in the studio since her 2009 debut, “The Rest is Yet to Come.” After an acoustic album, an EP and a live album, Thomas released “Goodbye on Wasted Time” at the end of 2012. Thomas intended to release her latest album as a set of country songs, but after a period of prolific writing, she shelved all the songs intended for “Goodbye on Wasted Time” and instead pursued an edgier, country/rock sound.

“I had more things to say that were hard to say with country music,” Thomas said. “It felt right and real to draw more from my life experiences.”

The album that emerged from Thomas’s sessions with Sugarland and Michelle Malone producer Rob Gal deftly combines country music with some unexpected sonic flourishes. Thomas describes “Watch Out for the Deer” as a “cowpunk” song that thrives on the driving force of punk music. “Pacifier” sums up her insistence on being an individual and features guest vocals from the Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray. Thomas released the album under her own 3Quarters Records. Cutting out the middle man was the next logical step for an artist who has spent most of her short career defying labels.

“In the end it’s actually easier to take a do-it-yourself approach,” Thomas said. “If you just sit and wait for something it will always take longer.”

Roots music probably is the best way to describe her sound. It has vestiges of folk, rock, blues and country; listen carefully and you can hear hints of Zac Brown, the Indigo Girls, Bonnie Raitt, Ann Wilson and even Steven Tyler. And Thomas likes being that eclectic; it frees her to go wherever the music takes her.

"It would be between pop and rock," she said when asked where, if she worked at the local record store, she'd stock her albums. "I kind of have an old-school way of thinking. I liked it when they play Janis Joplin and James Brown on the same station. I kind of wish we could get back to that."

Tell me about the Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) connection on the new record.

We met through mutual friends. I’ve always been a fan of Amy’s. I told her that I had this song called “Pacifier” that I would love for her to sing on with me. She listened to it, liked it and the next thing I knew, she was in the studio with me. It was one of the biggest moments of my life.

Local country music singer Hannah Thomas has another award under her belt.

Over the weekend, Covington resident Thomas won the country category in the Georgia Lottery's All Access Music Search.

"I was very surprised," Thomas, 20, said Tuesday. "Everybody in the whole competition was very talented. I wouldn't have wanted to be one of the judges."

Contestants had been narrowed down from 3,000 to 80 -- the top 12 competed, and she was in the top three of country artists.

Although she has won several contests over the past few years, she said this is one of the biggest ones. She has won an Atlanta Opry Talent Showcase, an Atlanta Region Colgate Country Showdown, the 2009 Songwriter of the Year by Atlanta Country Music and the Georgia Country Female Artist of the Year for 2010, among others.

Friday's Georgia Lottery event was hosted by "Entertainment Tonight" correspondent Kevin Frazier, choreographed by actress/singer/dancer Jasmine Guy and judged by Georgia musicians Dallas Austin, Monica, Shawn Mullins and Clay Cook of the Zac Brown Band.

"They are some of my heroes," she said, admitting that she wasn't nervous performing but was nervous before judging. "I was good after I heard their comments."

Thomas performed her original song "The Rest is Yet to Come" as part of the contest because it was an upbeat song.

As part of winning the contest, she and the other winners will go to Hollywood to record a track at Capitol Records. The top 12 also performed "Georgia on my Mind" at an Atlanta Falcons football game at the Georgia Dome; in 2008, Thomas performed the National Anthem at an Atlanta Braves baseball game at Turner Field.