About this episodeJoe Thomas discusses his journey from Georgia to Jersey, detailing his early musical beginnings, first record …AI summary
Joe Thomas discusses his journey from Georgia to Jersey, detailing his early musical beginnings, first record deal with Mercury Records, and strategic signing with Jive Records for creative control. He emphasizes the importance of being a multi-instrumentalist to command respect in the studio, shares insights on maintaining vocal health through constant practice, and advocates for stronger collaboration among R&B artists to elevate the genre.
Key takeaways 5
Studio Competence: Being able to play instruments and understand production allows an artist to articulate their vision clearly and command respect, similar to how Quincy Jones worked with Michael Jackson.
Label Strategy: Joe Thomas chose Jive Records over higher offers because they understood his artistic blueprint and offered creative control, leading to the critically acclaimed sophomore album 'All That I Am'.
Vocal Maintenance: Joe Thomas maintains his voice by singing constantly while on the road and recording, rather than relying on specific teas or rituals, noting he has been sober for six months which helps.
Industry Collaboration: There is a need for R&B artists to collaborate more frequently (features, tours) to build the genre's momentum, similar to how hip-hop artists support each other.
Gospel Respect: Joe Thomas avoids releasing a full gospel album because he feels it requires a level of personal spiritual alignment and lifestyle that he does not want to be judged against, preferring to keep his secular and spiritual lives separate.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“I don't like engineers and people in the room. I like to do my own thing. My system is set up where I can just work and go for it.”
▶ 10:46Explaining his preference for recording vocals independently to maintain creative flow and control.
“If you're going to sing about God... you got to take that walk with him too. You got to be on that same page. And knowing that I wasn't there... it might be a little hippie.”
▶ 11:16Explaining why he has not released a full gospel album despite his church background.
“I was trying to go at everybody's neck. I didn't care who it was... R Kelly, Aaron Hall, Bobby Brown... Y'all ain't got nothing on me.”
▶ 15:33Describing the competitive mindset he had when recording his first album.
“When you put God first, great things happen. Always remember that.”
▶ 1:01:58Joe Thomas attributing his success and ability to charge high production fees to his faith.
“I'm more of a Barry White... with the silk and sadness. I'm definitely a waist coat kind of guy here.”
▶ 41:57Describing the style and aesthetic of the 'Voltron' R&B artist he would create.
Chapters & Sections (49)▼
0:01Joe Thomas Early Musical Beginningschapter2
2:29Joe Thomas Hometown and Father's Ministry
3:40Early Auditions and Church Music
4:56Early Music Career and Jersey Connectionschapter2
6:15First Publishing Deal and Music Store Work
7:41Early Studio Work and Production Skills
9:02Musical Instrumentation, Gospel Respect, and First Record Dealchapter2
10:41Recording Setup and Gospel Artistry Standards
11:37First Record Deal and Trusting the Process
13:02Early Career Deals and First Album Mindsetchapter1
14:44First Album Mindset and Competitive Drive
17:23Signing Jive Records and Creative Controlchapter1
18:52Nashville Songwriting and Producer Control
21:31Love Don't Make No Sense and New Albumchapter2
23:27Solo Project and Production Credits
25:04Collaboration with Joshua Thompson
26:36Touring History, Vocal Care, and Social Mediachapter2
28:09Performance Style and Vocal Maintenance
29:52Simple Pre-Show Routines and Social Media Avoidance
31:21R&B Touring, Ego, and Album Creationchapter2
32:49Eric Bellinger Collaboration and Album Mindset
34:19Balancing Commercial Appeal and Vocal Complexity
37:18R&B Tempo Hits and Kelis Competitionchapter2
38:44R&B Tempo Hits and Big Voice Challenges
39:41Rivalry with Kelis and G Unit Bond
41:50Faith, Friendship, and Big Rich Townchapter3
43:09Importance of Faith and Conscience
44:22Gratitude, Faith, and Gospel Music Pressure
46:02Big Rich Town Theme Song Origin
47:57Growing Up in Jersey and Early Music Industrychapter1
50:03Strategic Career Moves and Label History
52:09Independent Release Strategy and Musical Ambitionschapter3
53:26Catalog Acquisitions and Spiritual Guidance
54:44Independent Distribution and Vinyl Production
56:07Tiny Desk Concert and Release Plans
58:00R&B Production Fees and Hit Song Economicschapter1
1:00:16Production Fees and Hit Song Economics
1:01:51Black Men United Legacy and R&B Longevitychapter1
1:03:50Vocal Purity and Industry Longevity
1:05:51R&B Artists Collaboration and Supportchapter1
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