Music Star Jake Thistle On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry
An Interview With Guernslye Honoré
I wish I was told when I just started, although I think it’s something that can only fully be understood when experienced. I wish, earlier in my development, I was told that there are no right answers in how a person chooses to go about learning, writing, playing, etc.
As a part of our interview series with leaders, stars, and rising stars in the music industry, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Jake Thistle.
Based in New Jersey, singer/songwriter Jake Thistle has been entertaining audiences for years.
Jake, now 19, has been hired to perform in Europe and across the US, and for crowds of thousands at major music events. His first studio single, Ghosted Road, garnered the Best Americana Song of 2022 Award from Indie Boulevard Magazine, and the Hollywood Sentinel had this to say about Thistle’s follow-up single, The Dreamer: “JAKE has it all. The looks, the voice, the talent, and even a great song here…be prepared to be blown away.”
Jake has been featured on CBS News, Variety, Billboard, American Songwriter Magazine, BBC Radio, The Record, WCBS FM, NYC’s Q104.3 FM, Norman’s Rare Guitars, All Guitar Network, and a wide range of other news outlets. And already in his young career, Jake has played with legends like Ron Blair and Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Jim Keltner (Traveling Wilburys, Bob Dylan), Earl Slick (David Bowie/John Lennon), Jon Herington (Steely Dan), Mark Whitfield (Sting), Tony Garnier (Bob Dylan), GE Smith, Jesse Malin, Low Cut Connie, Carmen Vandeberg (Jeff Beck), John Hiatt, Anton Fig (Warren Zevon), Severo (The Smithereens), Alex and Roy Orbison Jr, Chris Stills, Jeff Slate (Rolling Stone), Willie Nile, Lou Pallo (Les Paul), Eddie Brigati (Rascals), Johnny Farina (Santo and Johnny), and many, many other great musicians. Jake has been on bills with the likes of Jackson Browne, Stevie Nicks, Foo Fighters, Eddie Vedder, Roger McGuinn, Steve Earle, Tom Morello, The Lumineers, Wilco, among other Hall Of Famers. Along the way, Jake has picked the musical brains of rock royalty, such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Steve Winwood and many other influential artists.
Moreover, Jake has personally raised hundreds of thousands for a variety of charitable organizations through an extensive range of fundraising performances, and has contributed music to events that raised millions. In recognition of those efforts, Jake was recently named an official artist for WhyHunger’s Artists Against Hunger and Poverty, alongside legends like Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Brandi Carlisle and Carlos Santana. He was also honored with a special service award from the American Cancer Society for his significant contributions to the cause through his music.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Thanks for taking the time to speak with me– I appreciate it! I was born in 2004, raised in Paramus, NJ, a great suburban town about 20 miles outside of New York City. I was interested in music from before I can remember; I only know that because when I was two years old, a music program I was a part of used me in their ads…and I’ve seen those. But while music was always important, I played baseball and football, right up until the sports started to conflict with gigs after I started playing regularly at nine years old. After that, my days were mostly school and music…haha. It was a great way to grow up.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did your journey begin?
That happened pretty early, actually. I was three years old when my parents let me stay up to watch the 2008 Super Bowl Halftime Show. They thought I’d get into football, but when Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hit the field for their show, I was mesmerized and never looked back. That was one of my first memories and a really formative moment in my life. Years later, after Tom passed, his brother Bruce tracked down my phone number to offer some kind words– and after he learned about that story, he went home, took his ticket from that Super Bowl out of the frame on his wall and gave it to me because he knew that show was so important to everything I’d eventually work toward. Such a kind gesture, and I’ll treasure it forever, because that Super Bowl changed the course of my life.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I’m not sure that I can…haha. It’s incredibly hard to choose just one! I’ve been really fortunate to have amazing experiences through music, and to meet some incredible people. I might have to go with this: After Tom Petty passed away, some of the Heartbreakers performed a show in LA to honor Tom’s birthday. I was hired and flown out to perform with them and a ton of other incredible artists. I opened the show with Learning To Fly, backed by Heartbreakers Ron Blair and Steve Ferrone– and at one point that night I was backed by Steve Ferrone and the legendary Jim Kelter both on drums, with legendary David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick on electric. That was an incredible night; I mean, the Heartbreakers are the reason I got into music, and to be trusted to play with some of them for something that important only a handful of years later was really special. The odds of that happening were astronomical, but I truly appreciated every moment of that experience. Certainly, a highlight of my life.
It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I’m sharing this story as I just arrived in Gainesville to play a festival, so this memory is top-of-mind. Last year, the night before my flight to headline the festival, I was walking in the dark, hit a curb and fell. I tried to break my fall with my hand…but instead I broke my hand and wrist. I ended up in the hospital and got a cast that wouldn’t allow me to play. I explained my situation, and the ER doctor (very unofficially) explained how I might be able to get around the problem, but warned me to be very careful as I could cause more damage. But there I was, going right from the hospital to the airport, where I took off the cast and replaced it with a brace that would let me play to a certain degree. The show had to go on, but my motion was restricted, playing did hurt and everything took a long time to heal. I still feel it to this day, really. This year, I had friends around me and I made them promise to keep me upright and intact before my flight…haha. The lesson there, I guess, is to be very careful before major gigs like that; a lot of people are counting on you.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
So many people, really. My music journey really is that– a long and great series of people and things leading to new opportunities, which lead to more new opportunities…. I never really took traditional music lessons, so the people I’ve played with have been my teachers whether they knew it or not. A friend gave me a guitar when I turned nine, and showed me my first few chords. Then I learned on my own online until I felt like I could play in front of people, which happened before I turned ten. Once I started playing with other great musicians, my “lessons” mostly consisted of watching them on stage, seeing how they play, how they handle the band, how they handle the crowd, that kind of thing. I hesitate to name one person, because so many people were and are important to me– but I’ll mention Lou Pallo in particular because I played with him so much and I miss having him around. Lou was Les Paul’s rhythm guitarist for decades, and he’s played with all of the greats. I played with Lou and his band in a bar just about every weekend from the time I was ten. When I was up with them, I was mostly the youngest guy on stage by about 70 years…haha. He taught me a tremendous amount about music, guitar, leading a band and even the business of music. He was definitely an important influence and a good friend.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I’m currently working under a three album deal with a great team at Gold’n Retriever Records, and we’re preparing to release my debut studio EP– called The Half Left Out– on November 17th. I’m incredibly excited about that release, even as we’re planning to get into the studio with new songs for the full follow-up album. I’m proud of the EP, and I can’t wait for people to hear the full product. Upon its release, The Half Left Out will be available for purchase and streaming on all of the major platforms– I look forward to hearing what people think– definitely exciting times!
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film, and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
- Diversity means inclusion; being inclusive brings fresh ideas and interactions to any art– and it can be inspiring to an entire new generation of artists.
- Diversity breeds innovation; having different cultures and backgrounds represented means that people are bringing unique experiences to bear, and they’re potentially able to shine a light on the human condition in a new way.
- Diversity just makes sense; we live in an increasingly diverse world and showing the importance of working together to achieve is powerful– we either all win, or nobody wins. At the end of the day, we’re more alike than different and we begin to see that when we embrace diversity.
As a successful music star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated? How do you overcome obstacles in your career?
It’s funny, I was thinking about this the other day. The more success that I have (and I’m definitely just scratching the surface of any kind of potentially lasting success), the more I understand that there is no value to thinking “I’ve made it!” I don’t think that I’ve come close to reaching that point, personally– and I don’t even know if there even is such a thing. You’re either “making it” over and over again, or you’re out. So, I don’t think it’s about being a star, or looking at things as challenges or obstacles to overcome. For me, it’s about the journey and the process. It’s about doing what I love to do and working hard while embracing opportunities. I try to take on as much as I can, and to say “yes” as often as possible, because you never know what will inspire you or lead to the next thing. It’s about putting one foot in front of the other every day, being mindful of where you want to be. I’ve been fortunate to be able to do what I love as my job, and, to me, that’s success– everything else is just about details and scope.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
There’s really only one major thing I wish I was told when I just started, although I think it’s something that can only fully be understood when experienced. I wish, earlier in my development, I was told that there are no right answers in how a person chooses to go about learning, writing, playing, etc. There can be such variety in the ways your musical ‘education’ works for you as an individual– so I think it’s important to choose something that works on a personal basis and commit to it, as opposed to trying to pigeonhole yourself in a zone that you were ‘told’ works for everyone. Aside from this, I’m really happy with how I’ve learned from experiences, considering that experiential knowledge sits with me in a more meaningful way than anything I was ever told. Sometimes, there’s just no replacement for learning a little the hard way…haha.
Can you share some insights into your creative process? How do you approach songwriting? How do you approach musical collaborations?
I love to write. When it comes to songwriting, I tend to come up with the chords and melody first then write the lyrics, though I often have an idea of where I want to go at the start of the process; mostly they go hand in hand. Some songs on the new EP took months to write, and others took minutes– you just never know how or when inspiration will strike and I don’t think there’s any wrong answer to how the job gets done. More often than not, I write by myself– though I have co-written in the past and look forward to doing it again.
Your music has resonated with so many fans worldwide. What do you believe sets your music apart?
Thanks for the kind words– I’ve been fortunate to have reached different audiences around the world, and I’m always grateful for the support of people who listen to my music. It means the world to me, no pun intended…haha. Regardless of primary language or culture, I think people respond to what they feel is genuine. The truth resonates, and which is why I think it’s so important to be open and honest in the songs. People inherently feel when something is a veneer– the thing has to be true all the way through for the audience to connect.
How do you connect with your audience?
Philosophically, I connect with them through the songs and performances that marry to tell a story that has an element of universal truth that people can identify with on some level. Tactically, I connect with them through as many kinds of media as possible– audio, video, social media, physical media, streaming…. My audience seems to span multiple generations and cultures, so it’s important to use a broad brush when thinking about how to be most relevant and visible to them in a way that resonates.
With your busy schedule and demanding performances, how do you prioritize self-care and maintain a balance between your personal life and career in the music industry?
I’ve been very (thankfully) busy on the music front. There’s a lot to balance and plan, but I try to prioritize to make things work. In addition to the music, I’m carrying a full-time course load and being as active as I can. This morning I was in North Carolina on a layover on my way to Gainesville for a show; on the break, I’m talking to you, then working on midterms as I prep for the shows this weekend and do some work for my upcoming EP. It’s very busy, but good. I try to eat right and get as much sleep as I can to stay healthy, and I prioritize the best I can. But I absolutely make time to enjoy the little things. Being rounded is important.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
Giving back has always been important to me. I’ve played to support many charities for as long as anyone has wanted to hear me play (maybe even before that…haha), dating back to when I was ten years old. It’s a great feeling to be able to do what I love while helping other people. Everyone wins — people get to have a good time and know they’re helping, I get to do what makes me happy and know that it’s for a great cause, and the charity gets to raise really important funds that combat real-world problems. I’m now an official artist for WhyHunger (alongside artists like Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne), and last year the American Cancer Society awarded me with a special honor for my service to them through music. I also very often support Tazzy Animal Rescue Fund, which has always been important to me. Since the beginning, I’ve supported those great charities along with other efforts on behalf of the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Diabetes Association, and many, many others. To answer the question directly, I’d love to inspire other people to use their talents, whatever they may be, to give back to any worthy cause close to their hearts. If everyone did that, the world would instantly be a better place and the people giving would feel more fulfilled.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
I’ve been very fortunate to have been able to talk to a lot of my musical heroes and I hope to meet more in the future– so, I wouldn’t want to narrow it down to one person along those lines. But if I could pick someone out-of-the-box for this kind of question, it would be something special if I could have another meal with my grandfather. He was a tremendous, lifelong music fan, and always extremely supportive when I started to learn. One of the last things he did was ask me to learn a song for him, which I did. But, unfortunately, he passed before I got any interesting traction with my music career. I know he’d take great joy in hearing where music has led me, and the opportunities it’s provided. I even got to spend some time backstage with one of his all-time favorite artists, Steve Winwood– he’d love stories like that. So, there are a ton of people in the world I’d love to speak with– but when you asked this question, this was the one answer that jumped out, so that’s the one I’ll leave you with.
How can our readers continue to follow your work online?
People can always find me at www.jakethistle.com, where they can find links to my work on all of the major streaming services along with my social media presences. Or just search “Jake Thistle” in whatever streaming service you subscribe to– I really appreciate it!
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
About the interviewer: Guernslye Honoré, affectionately known as “Gee-Gee”, is an amalgamation of creativity, vision, and endless enthusiasm. She has elegantly twined the worlds of writing, acting, and digital marketing into an inspiring tapestry of achievement. As the creative genius at the heart of Esma Marketing & Publishing, she leads her team to unprecedented heights with her comprehensive understanding of the industry and her innate flair for innovation. Her boundless passion and sense of purpose radiate from every endeavor she undertakes, turning ideas into reality and creating a realm of infinite possibilities. A true dynamo, Gee-Gee’s name has become synonymous with inspirational leadership and the art of creating success.
