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In Bed With Jesse Thomas

The last time AfterEllen spoke to Jesse Thomas, the silver tongued singer/songwriter was dropping her sophomore album, Burn The Boats, and publicly coming out. Like her debut album, War Dancer, Burn The Boats hit the charts high and fast, climbing to #6 in the Singer/Songwriters category on iTunes. Jesse’s music is an addictive blend of romance, wry observation, heady beats, and catchy choruses.

A critical and commercial success, the out singer alternates between LA residencies and touring with the likes of John Mayer, Bret Dennen, Dawes, Lights, Tori Kelly, Crash Kings, Meiko, Cary Brothers, and Andrea Gibson. Her music regularly appears on major shows like Degrassi, Heart of Dixie, Shameless, The Fosters, and Vampire Diaries. Her ass shaking, hilariously scathing hit “Leather Jacket” took down dudes who hit on lesbians and hit over a hundred thousand Spotify plays within the first week of release.

Jesse invited me over for some real talk before joining Andrea Gibson next week on a hotly anticipated (and hella gay) cross-country tour. Check out taped, highly informal lightning round questions session in Jesse’s bed, and read on for the full interview below.

AfterEllen: You’re going on tour with Andrea Gibson next week! How do you feel?

Jesse Thomas: I feel amazing! She is so wonderful and talented and I am the luckiest girl in the world. She has a huge queer following, which I think is really neat. She creates such a magical, safe environment and then disarms everyone in the audience with her words. I’m searching for a metaphor but I can’t really describe it. It’s very powerful. I love it. Go see her.

 

AE: How did Andrea reach out to ask you to be her opener?

JT: I was introduced to her manager back when Burn The Boats came out. She wasn’t interested in managing me, but she liked me enough to ask me to open for Andrea at The Troubadour. I dreamed of playing that stage, so all of it was very cool. I wrote her a thank you e-mail the following day, and told her that as long as I live, I’d never forget it. I guess she thought that was nice because she then asked me to tour with her. Moral: thank people. It can take you places.

 

AE: Had you listened to her work before or been to a show?

JT: I hadn’t actually. I was never big into poetry. Though, when all of the Andrea stuff happened, the timing couldn’t have been better. I was dating a lovely lady who really enjoyed poetry and reading Rumi. She really got me into it. Then suddenly I’m touring with a well known poet, so yeah, that worked out great.

 

AE: Do you see any similarities between your songs and Andrea’s poetry?

JT: Yes, a lot! I wish I could write like her, but I think we are trying to say similar things. Taking something personal, turning it into art, and hoping it connects with people.

 

AE: How do you prepare for tour?

JT: Make sure someone is going to water my plants. Make a setlist. Make sure I know the setlist. Find places to sleep. Talk to AfterEllen.

 

AE: After the Andrea Gibson tour, do you have any more performances lined up?

JT: I am playing at the Hotel Cafe on April 9th in Los Angeles. Then after, at the end of April, I hit the road with The Young Romans. All the dates are on my website.

 

AE: The other opener on Andrea’s tour is Holly Miranda. Are you two alternating or will you be playing shows together?

JT: We are alternating. It would have been lovely sharing the stage with her, although we’ve never met.

 

AE: Do you know Andrea Gibson personally? If so, how did you meet?

JT: I do! We did a few shows together last year, and that’s when I met her. I was really intimidated at first, but then she is so nice and welcoming. I met her in the hallway, backstage of our second show with her dog Squash. She was cool as hell, man. Now she sends me really hilarious videos of her dancing to my songs. I wish I could share them with you. She really has some sweet dance moves.

 

AE: As Andrea’s opener, how long will your set be? What songs will definitely be on the set list?

JT: My sets are 30-45 minutes. I typically always play “Beverly,” “Lorraine,” and “Say Hello”.

 

AE: Are you going to perform with a band or solo?

JT: Just me! Yikes.

 

AE: What place are you most looking forward to playing?

JT: Probably Chicago. I LOVE Chicago. Its a big venue and I hear its really beautiful. Also my ex lives there, so doing something cool in cities where your ex lives is like, the best.

AE: When you’re on tour, what do you do in your down time?

JT: There isn’t much downtime. You are driving, eating, sound checking, or sleeping. People think the road is a constant party, but it is a lot of work.

   

AE: Last time I interviewed you, your album Burn The Boats had just dropped and you officially came out. What was the reception like to your coming out?

JT: It felt a lot like before I came out, but now there are more lesbians following me. So thanks! It also made me more comfortable taking pictures like the one you are using for this article. That is possibly the gayest thing I’ve ever done… And I’ve slept with women.

 

AE: Have a lot of young lesbian musicians reached out to you?

JT: I have lots of people reaching out to me and some are lesbians. They write for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes to thank me for a song I wrote, or asking for chords, or asking me to call and wish their GF’s happy b-day, or to ask for advice or help. All sorts of things, and I am incredibly honored to be in that position.

 

AE: What’s your favorite thing a fan ever told you?

JT: I always like hearing I’m someone’s favorite artist. That’s insane to me. All the music out there and I’m someones favorite. Pretty rad. I think my all time favorite was when two fans in Spokane carved my face into their pumpkin. It even looked like me! They did a good job.

 

AE: Are you working on any new material? If so, could you tell me a little about your inspiration?

JT: I am always writing. I am trying to step up my game lyrically. I am also trying to change my sound up a bit to something a bit more raw. I’m inspired by hearing or reading good lyrics. It’s also cool to see people like Hozier and Sam Smith coming up big, because I consider that to be real music, and them to be real artist.

 

AE: When do you think your next album will be out?

JT: I would love to put a record out in June.

 

AE: How do you think your music has progressed from Hazel to War Dancer to Burn the Boats to what you’re working on now? What’s been the biggest change? What about the biggest consistency?

JT: Hazel was very basic and raw. I think there was something really special to it. I didn’t really try to write poetically, it was just straight to the point. When I listen to it now, I cringe at the writing, but I also get so many compliments from those songs. I think because the lyrics are so basic that it hits people harder. Now that I am better at guitar, that opens up new avenues that weren’t available with the older stuff. The songs are becoming more poetic, but the subject matter stays pretty consistent. I still write about love, whiskey, and the weight of the world.

 

AE: Aesthetically, you’ve also evolved a lot. In Hazel and War Dancer, your look was much more feminine. Now you’ve got cropped blonde hair and dress a little more androgynously. Why and how did your style progress?

JT: I have always been a tomboy. I think as my confidence grows, I am more comfortable dressing how I want. I used to want to wear boyfriend jeans, but was a little nervous about looking super gay. As you can tell by that picture up there, I’ve moved on from that. Lol. I don’t consider my style to be super masculine. I just try to dress hip and cool and comfortable and I dance all over the spectrum.

 

AE: Do you ever collaborate with other songwriters on lyrics?

JT: Yeah. I’m not a huge fan of co-writes, but when I meet someone who I am really impressed by, I love getting together with them to see what comes of it.

AE: Are there any out musicians you love to listen to?

JT: I love to listen to Brandi Carlile, The Wood Bros, Tove Lo, Ellie Goulding, Fiona Apple, Queen. It’s a rotating list.

 

AE: Who would be your dream artists to collaborate with?

JT: Brandi Carlile. I will at some point.

 

AE: Are you currently seeing anyone?

JT: Married to the game.

 

AE: What are your favorite bars, venues, and restaurants in Los Angeles?

JT: I really like dive bars, or bars with lovely outdoor seating. Davey Waynes in Hollywood is cool and Wood & Vine is pretty. Favorite venues are Troubadour and The Wiltern. Favorite restaurant is Sage, a vegan joint in Echo Park. I’m a vegetarian

AE: Do you consider yourself a feminist?

JT: Fuck yeah.

 

AE: You’re from Kentucky. How has your family responded to you being an out and proud musician?

JT: They are bigger hippies than I am. So, they are stoked. I am really lucky. My dad is a musician so he loves to see me doing well, and they have always had my back during the highs and lows. They get it.

 

AE: What are your goals for 2015?

JT: Make more money. Further my career. Buy a couch.

 

AE: If you could reach back and give yourself advice at 16, 21, and 25, what would that advice be?

JT: 16 – You’re killing it. Never change. 21 – Damn it, I told you to never change. What the hell are you doing? You are doing things for other people who don’t care about you. Stop that. And butterfly sequin tops are hideous. 25 – You should create an app that is like a taxi service, but on your phone.

 

Check out Jesse’s songs on YouTube and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Follow Chloë on Instagram and Twitter.

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