Warm Up with Wes Thorn’s New Single, “Cold”

He’s got a hit song, great hair and new pants! Wes Thorn sits down for some mumbles with his forever girl, Jody Suhrheinrich. Watch his video and then read on for her exclusive interview with Paducah’s newest talent and see why everyone is talking about this big-hearted young man with the voice that won’t let go of you.

Jody: So, Wes, you’re on iList Paducah. Strangers know your name. I am interviewing you. The song, “Cold” that you wrote and recorded in Nashville is a hit on Facebook. Tell iList how important I am to you and your career?

Wes: You are super-duper important! If my career was a pizza, you are totally the cheese!

You’re just saying that because you know how much I love cheese…

True. So it’s true!

I mean I FOUND you at Shandies, and gave you your first shot at Mother Duncan’s right? No. That didn’t happen. But once I saw the way you rocked duct taped zipper fly pants that you shrunk in dryer everyday at work I was like, this kid’s got something…But seriously what is your first memory of singing and loving it?

Haha!!! Those poor pants… I am sad to say “The Pants” have now been retired due to unintended overexposure. Coming from a very conservative upbringing, I was not really exposed to “mainstream” music until my mid-teen years. I discovered my passion for singing when I secretly watched an episode of Pop Up Video on VH1 featuring Jewel. I haven’t stopped busting out notes since…

How have you kept singing a part of your life since then?

I never thought singing would NOT be a part of my life after that VH1 episode. May sound cheesy, but it’s the truth! All throughout school I was constantly involved in musicals, show choir, and any other production that would have me. After graduating, it was a bit more difficult to balance building a musical career and learning how to survive in this bill-ridden crazy adult life! I eventually told myself, “Screw it! I’m going to do what I LOVE and be successful doing it”. 

Very brave of you so anyway, what’s your favorite thing about me?

You mean OTHER than our 4am cooking fiascos over cocktails??? Probably the fact that I still cannot spell your last name☺

Ouch, bro. Everyone I know and love can spell “Suhrheinrich”!! It looks just like it sounds!

Well tell us what’s going on in your career now?

“Cold” is my first officially released and published single. I was fortunate enough to work with Guy Gilchrist (The original illustrator for Jim Henson’s “The Muppets”) and Eddie Kilgallon, member of Montgomery Gentry. We start promoting the single via radio, press articles, and local gigs next week! In the meantime, I am always writing and collaborating with “the team” as we hope to have the complete album released within a few months. Wednesday January 18th at 8pm EST, the song will hit the airwaves for the first time through Hooah radio. VERY exciting!

Sure is, and it all happened fast! I remember the first time I heard you at Karaoke Night at Duncan’s. Everyone kept telling me I had to come hear you sing, and I didn’t doubt that you could sing better than the average drunken karaoke wannabe, but when you delivered Erykah Badu’s “Tyrone” I ended up on my feet with my jaw on the ground!! You have so much SOUL!!! Obviously that’s a big part of your style, right – soulful?

Most definitely! I didn’t really mean for it to happen, my voice just kind of went there. I love the raw and emotionally relatable aspect of soul music. The first time I heard Amy Winehouse, her sound turned me inside out. If I could draw half the emotion she did, I‘d consider myself successful.

Yes, another shared obsession of ours is Amy, second only to vodka – and not even really second since they go together so well. And you definitely deliver some of the same pain she inflects. Maybe our third obsession is pain?

Shooo, you’re so right about the first two, but let’s try not to bring up pain right now, k sweetie? Not here. Not on iList ☺

What? Sorry, I don’t even know I do it sometimes. So I prefer a performer who can deliver hair-raising emotion to their audience over a super powerful voice – is that part of your strategy for your voice in your career?

I try to make conversation and an emotional connection with the audience when I sing. I tend to close my eyes a lot when I perform, because I try to stay in my own head and let the song come out as I feel it. Sometimes I have difficulty “toning down” my voice because there is SO much personal experience and feeling behind the notes. I am learning, however.

I mean your voice is beautiful, don’t get me wrong, it has this raspy warble but you never sound off key.  Almost reminds me of The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, at times – do you like the way you sound when you hear yourself?

Honestly, it kind of freaks me out because what I hear and what I perform are two totally different experiences in my head! Ask me again in 10 years…I may be able to explain it better ☺

Fair enough. P.S. I’m so mad I missed the night you did Rehab! Talk about other artists you admire and model yourself after?

Amy Winehouse, is definitely at the top of my list. Maybe more “recent” but her lyrics and sound just hit me on the inside…Hard! Love The Black Keys. Can’t go a day without jamming to some Bill Withers or Stevie Wonder. Is it too late to join the Temptations?

The modern mo-town sound is genius no doubt. Such a great blend of taking old familiar sounds and blending them with beats. Put some hip hop in my doo wop or R&B in my Rock and Roll then add it to my favorites collection! I bet Wes Thorn will have a place on that play list one day!!

That would be an absolute dream, to have that kind of timeless sound, but one day at a time, Jod!!

Are you writing more songs- does that come easy to you?

I am constantly writing new material. Some days lyrics or ideas flow through my head, and the other days I have to force myself to write an hour a day. I always have a composition book on me, just in case! I am my biggest critic, and that is never easy.

I mean I’m a really good writer. Obviously. Maybe we could become a duo? If you auto-tune me I sound awesome.

I am SO down with that! I see the new Donnie and Marie in our near future…Yes?

No. Not at all. I was thinking more like Macy Gray and T-Pain? Those Osmonds were effin related, dude! And they never sang about drinking yourself blacked out after a break up!

This is why I need you!

Our first single could be called “Mumbling”? We’ll sing about love and hate but no one will be able to understand us but each other since we’re both mumblers.

I know! It’s a language so few understand. Unless they look at our faces as we mumble. Our expressions are pretty readable!

I think you’d make an awesome front man for a band. What do you want your career to look like? To sound like? Would you rather make a go of it as a solo artist, singer/songwriter? Or would you rather have a band?

You know…honestly, I would love to be successful and make a decent living from my music career as a solo artist. I think I will. My sound is loungy and pretty distinct, and I am not willing to compromise that. Any music is a collaboration of several creative minds and I am cannot wait to bring in a group of musicians that click.

So what’s next? Do you have plans to perform in Paducah anytime soon? When are we moving to Nashville?

We are moving to Nashville within the next month. Start packing! Wait…we need a car that will make it right? I would love to perform in Paducah! Everyone here has been so supportive. I feel like I have found a second family and a second home! Ya hear?!

(Hear that Paducah? Book him now while he’s still here! Also please give us a new car?)

I’m not sure what role I want to play in your career…Manager, Stylist, Back-up Dancer, Life Coach…probably all of them?

Well DUH!!! I’ve never taken you as the type of person to be good at just ONE thing. You ARE my career! You left out your title as master Ramen Noodle chef extraordinaire!

That’s because I never remember making them… We’ll just call me your Executive Assistant which means in “Celebrity Speak” I do a little of all of those but in reality I’m just your friend taking advantage of your fame…

I love being taken advantage of! Please continue. I plan to take advantage of you for the rest of your life!

Maybe. In closing I’m sure our readers MOST want to hear any hair tips you might have for them? Your hair always looks amazing. And different.

Hmmm…. Lets see: Don’t shower for a week. Lots of hairspray. When in doubt, shave it off!!!

Well in the final, closing conclusion – you know I love you right? Like a lot?

I do. Ditto. I knew we were destined to be friends the second I heard that ancient Mumbleese come out of your mouth. I understand you ☺

Fricknfrackcustfnehcant20dollarswhatisnd;aa to you too my love

I need a Bud Light Draft for table 21?

Brilliant!

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