Paul Thorn

02.22.2008 -- Written by: John Walker

(laughs) Well thanks. Glad to hear it. You need to get over to our Web site and get that other CD though.

I will do that. Speaking of your Web site, http://www.paulthorn.com/, I must tell you that it is by far one of the best I have seen. It is very informative and easy to use.

Well thanks. I appreciate that.

I have attended a couple of your shows, and I know one way you utilize your Web site is through your e-mail list that you pass around at your shows. Can you tell me a bit about that?

Yes, we try to get a list of people that are familiar with me and my music, which attend my shows, and keep them informed when I come back in their area. That way, they tell a friend, and maybe they will come to our show next time too. Hopefully, our crowds get bigger instead of smaller, so I can bring the whole band.

Your Web site is offered a special pre-order package on your new CD, which includes a live bonus CD. How is that going?

To be honest, we are stunned. It has gone really well. We are just scratching our heads. It took some time. This is the age of the Internet. Building up our email list, having the Web site, touring. All those things in tandem really have paid off. It took a while, but it is a wonderful thing.

Perhaps one reason that you do not receive a lot of airplay on the radio is you can not be labeled in any one genre. Your music is a terrific blend of country, rock, folk, and blues. Have you ever considered going in one direction, if so what?

Not really, because I have had opportunities to have major record deals, but I just have never really been into it. I have seen how it works. If you get a major record deal, they basically tell you where to stand, what to wear, what to sing. You do not get to be an artist anymore. It is not real art to me. You become more an opportunist than an artist. They are just doing it to be famous. Sure, I would like to be famous. In this business, that is how you make a good living. But, I do not want to be embarrassed by my work.

I read in another interview where you once joked about being in a Wal-Mart, and seeing someone purchase a one of those popular country artists CDs and you said that was part of your problem, competing with all this music that is not real. Is that true?

I don’t have anything against the artists personally. I am sure they work hard, and do their best. It’s just that what they do, does not speak to me. They have a different demographic.

Author: John Walker