Following on from a string of high-profile releases including 'Only' and 'How I Want Ya' ft Hailee Steinfeld these last few months, singer and songwriter Hudson Thames now returns with his latest uplifting piano-led ballad 'Chess'.
Hailing from a family of creatives in Los Angeles, Hudson Thames is the product of of a honkey-tonk piano player father, Golden Age Hollywood Matriarchs and a crew of skate rats from The Valley, all who have contributed to his bold and compassionate sound. On 'Chess', he brings back the art of musical storytelling through a lens of bright and soaring energy as this new offering delivers one of his most blistering and heartfelt performances to date.
So with his newest release doing the rounds right now, we sat down with him to find out more about his earliest beginning and what led him to this point in his career.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Piano!
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
My dad. He is an insane blues piano player and songwriter and taught me everything I know.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
Mostly Rock and Hip Hop funny enough.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
Probably 'My Doorbell' by the White Stripes. I was in 5th grade and my “band” at the time was my best friend, who was a drummer, and I. I saw how big of a sound Jack and Meg could make with only those two instruments and it gave me hope!
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
Jazz or old Motown Soul.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
Most of them!
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
I was waiting to go on stage for the Radio Disney Music Awards to do a medley with Hailee Steinfeld and Joe Jonas. It was the biggest show I had played at the time and I was literally shaking. I remember feeling a tap on the shoulder.. Randomly Marc Cuban was backstage! I’m a big fan of his.. I don’t know if he had any idea who I was but I remember he just said.. “Don’t worry bro, you’re going to kill it!” And it made all the difference.
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
Travel.
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
History or Law. Fascinated with studying the “Why” of human decision making.. And I love to argue!
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to stay productive through the coronavirus lockdown?
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I think it’s important to create right now but I have also seen a lot of people feeling very stressed at the idea that the should be “being productive” 24/7. Let the art happen when it happens, then follow through.
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Hudson Thames' new single 'Chess' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.