If you’ve been following Thomas Rhett on social media lately, then you know he’s been surprising fans with a lot of new music – songs that he’s written, but hasn’t recorded or put on an album yet, like “More Time Fishin’,” the fun reminder not to miss out on the fun stuff in life because you’re too busy working your life away, or the anthemic, destined-to-be-hit song, “What’s Your Country Song,” or “Ya Heard,” which celebrates all the reasons he knows God has heard his prayers. With great songs like those in his back pocket, and always pouring out of Thomas, it’s a wonder he’s ever able to finish an album, but he says, “I think as an artist you’re always writing and you’re always creating and when you finish a record there are always those moments in your mind where you go, ‘Okay, did we cut the right songs? Well what about these four or five that we wrote two years ago that we kind of forgot about? Should we go in and cut these?’”
Fortunately, Thomas is surrounded by a lot of people he trusts, who are able to help him know when it’s time to say an album is done, even if he is still writing and turning out great songs. “I think if it were up to me, albums probably would never come out,” admits Thomas, “because I think you’re always second guessing and you’re always going, ‘Well, could we have done that? Should I have sang this line a little bit different?’ But at some point you kind of have to just know and trust the people that you’re around to go, ‘Man, this is a great album and these are the best 15 songs that you could have possibly put on this record.’ And then you have to walk away from it and feel proud about it.”
The good news is, Thomas never has a shortage of great songs to pick from for his next album, or the one after that. And while he’s busy writing his next hit songs, he’s actually got two songs on the country charts right now – his current single, “Beer Can’t Fix,” which is in the top five, and “Be A Light,” which is a song he felt moved to share with the world during this time when people are struggling with the coronavirus pandemic and the impact that is having on all of our lives.
Thomas Rhett – knowing when record is complete :41
“I think as an artist you’re always writing and you’re always creating and when you finish a record there are always those moments in your mind where you go, ‘Okay, did we cut the right songs? Well what about these four or five that we wrote two years ago that we kind of forgot about? Should we go in and cut these?’ And I think it takes a good team, a great label and great peers to kind of be like, ‘Dude I think you really captured what you were trying to say on this record.’ I think if it were up to me, albums probably would never come out because I think you’re always second guessing and you’re always going, ‘Well, could we have done that? Should I have sang this line a little bit different?’ But at some point you kind of have to just know and trust the people that you’re around to go, ‘Man, this is a great album and these are the best 15 songs that you could have possibly put on this record.’ And then you have to walk away from it and feel proud about it.”