Kaitlyn Thomas is one of the most dynamic artists in Australian country music, with songs that are musically rich as well as entertaining and powerfully delivered. Her latest example of this is the single ‘Hell of a Long Time’, which she wrote with Troy Kemp, and MSquared – Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis. The song was written during the pandemic, and it captures the essence of catching up with friends and celebrating life's moments. It was a collaboration Thomas relished, although she is just as comfortable writing alone.
‘I love the collaboration and working with people because it makes songwriting fun,’ she says. ‘And I love songwriting for me, as an artist, but also as a creative person … but I also love writing and getting ideas from other people because it just bounces. It's just awesome.’
Thomas has written with others during songwriting retreats, such as the SHE retreat run by the legend that is Lyn Bowtell, and the Dag Sheep Station, and says such retreats have been instrumental in her creative growth. Thomas reveals that they can be an emotional experience for her, as she taps into her vulnerability and allows her personal stories to pour out through her lyrics.
Thomas started recording music before she was even in her teens, and accordingly has a keen sense of what is recorded in the studio. She connects deeply with the feeling and emotion of the song before stepping into the studio, and the energy of the production team helps to shape her vocal performance. She has been working with that team, MSquared, for a while.
‘The energy in the room with those two incredible legends is outstanding. And they're vibing, therefore you're vibing. And this song was definitely, definitely a vibe.’
Thomas’s vocal influences are diverse, ranging from the powerhouse vocals of Pat Benatar and Linda Ronstadt to Sheryl Crow, The McClymonts and Lainey Wilson. As she teaches singing she also sometimes finds she has to unlearn what she knows when she goes to record.
‘Paynter says to me … “you need to turn the singing teacher off. Not every note needs to be perfect. The imperfection is what makes the songs great.”’
It seems to be working, because Thomas gives each of her songs their own identity, and brings the listener into the story because she connects with it so deeply. No doubt she will keep that connection as she plays live over the next little while, and heading into the Tamworth Country Music Festival. As a graduate of both the junior and senior Academy of Country Music, Thomas is very familiar with the country music capital, so you’ll find her there in January. In the meantime, you can get to know her and her music through this interview.
Listen to Kaitlyn Thomas on Apple Music
Listen to Kaitlyn Thomas on Spotify
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