Hear It Now, In the Voice I Made: T. Thomason’s Tenderness

New Album Out October 25, 2024
Listen to “True” Today

More News: Album Listening Parties Announced, TIFF film premiere, Music Nova Scotia Entertainer of the Year Nomination

Photo by boy wonder, album design by Arwa Hussain

It’s hard to be soft in this world. As its title declares, Tenderness, T. Thomason’s new album, is a work of strength, courage and resilience. Out October 25, 2024 via Six Shooter Records, Tenderness fearlessly bares body and heart with confidence, clarity and lightness.  

Thomason, the Halifax-based songwriter, actor and multi-faceted collaborator, introduces his new collection with these powerful words: “There are forces working against us, doing their best to grind us down into these hard, tired out versions of ourselves. To stay tender and joyful and curious is an act of rebellion.”

Created around central themes of self-affirmation and self-determination, Tenderness is a direct and purposeful expression of queer and trans liberation. With Tenderness, T. Thomason reminds us that intimacy can only be offered, never taken. At times heartwrenching, hungering, hopeful, occasionally horny, Tenderness is always honest. Earnest and genuine with its truths, the collection is centered around T.’s own journey, shared for the purpose of finding connection and joy with others.

The album opens with “True,” about the importance of trust when facing the unknown. In diaristic style, T. grapples with perception and expectation, both from the outside world and from within. The song documents T.’s own journey to find his voice, in all senses. Thomason has openly shared much about his vocal transition throughout the process; these years of practice and patience, guided by Toronto vocal coach Ali Garrison, erupt in “True” as a gloriously affirming anthem of acceptance, not as a final destination but as a place to begin anew. 

Tenderness boldly explores a wide array of pop sounds and touchstones, with moments of 90s pop rock, dance and electro energy, and the silky chiffon of indie pop influences. From the gender bent rock roll call of desire in “Boyfriend” that evokes our inner teenage dirtbags to the cherubic “Dirty Thoughts,” with its “Bed Chem”-level lust and sexually specific approach, Tenderness tells its own indie pop coming-of-age, coming-of-self story.

In the album’s many exquisite ballads, including the impatient, ascending yearning of “Tonight,” and the harp-struck “Beautiful,” T. truly transcends into celestial popscapes. Ornamented with glowy drops of keys and heavenly layers of vocals, these softest sides of Tenderness are pillowy pop bliss.

In the delicate acoustics of  “Unchanging Eyes,” his first self-produced and engineered song, T. returns full circle to where he began with “True”: searching to be seen, to be heard, and to be understood. So much of the album is focused on what has changed; “Unchanging Eyes” is about what remains the same.

The final song of Tenderness, “I Must Believe,” breaks like a sunrise. Rather than a closing track, the song is open-ended and radiates the pure hope of a new day. “I must believe these things can heal,” T. repeats.

Created over a time of personal change, challenges and growth, Tenderness is also about the importance of being attuned to creative opportunities wherever they come. With songs that originate from bedrooms, studios, and mid-shift at a very temporary day jobTenderness is a work of breaking down the walls of personal experience to a bigger universe. From the title track, which features a co-write and guest appearance by Stars, and throughout the collection as a whole, Tenderness sources strength in community.

Album credits include a range of international and Nova Scotian co-writers, collaborators and producers, including long time collaborator Dave Henriques (Finger Eleven, Justin Nozuka, Raine Maida), UK collaborators Kim Reader, Laura Roy (Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat), Geo Jordan (Doja Cat, Jungle), Natalia Salter (Kygo, Rhodes), Canadian home-growns Isabelle Banos (Caveboy), Breagh Isabel (BANNERS, Classified, Donovan Woods), Mingxuan Gao (Vardaan Arora, Kennen), Thom D’Arcy (July Talk, k-os, The Sheepdogs), Melody McKiver (Lido Pimienta, Tanya Tagaq, Jeremy Dutcher), Jesse Northey (Witch Prophet, Zoon, NYSSA), Cassie Mann (Ria Mae), and fresh on the scene – Will Yarr. Finally, T.’s primary creative partner on Tenderness production and mixing, Dartmouth’s own Joel Waddell (Rich Aucoin, Beauts). 

Thomason, currently nominated for Entertainer of the Year (Music Nova Scotia), has been involved in a number of high-profile projects of late. With a film that he music supervised and scored alongside Waddell premiering at TIFF this week, a song written into the pages of a NY Times bestselling dark romance novel, and another in a buzzy indie feature film, Thomason continues to expand, create and make his mark.  

Thomason will celebrate the release of Tenderness with album listening events in both Halifax (October 4) and Toronto (October 24). The parties will include an acoustic performance from T., drag performers’ interpretations and a sneak peak at unreleased music videos. See ticket links in tour dates below. 

Six Shooter Records releases Tenderness on October 25, 2024. Pre-Order Tenderness on CD and vinyl here.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Ottawa, ON: Byward Market, Antidote Artists Showcase, Sept 12

Ottawa, ON: Rainbow Bistro, An Evening of Sin, Sept 12

Wolfville, NS: Al Whittle Theatre, Deep Roots Music Festival, Sept 25

Wolfville, NS: Festival Theatre, Deep Roots Music Festival, Sept 28

Halifax, NS: Cafe Lara, Album Listening Party, Oct 4. TICKETS HERE.

Nashville, TN: Alley Taps, Nash Bash Collective Writer’s Round, Oct 7

Los Angeles, CA: Pedalers Fork, MJ & Friends Showcase, Oct 16

Los Angeles, CA: Hotel Ziggy, The Gay Agenda Showcase, Oct 17

Toronto, ON: Lost Tonic, Album Listening Party, Oct 24. TICKETS HERE.

Wolfville, NS: Nova Scotia Music Week, Nov 7-10

London, UK: The Half Moon, New Moon Nights of New Music, Nov 18

London, UK: Nico’s Bar, Queer Edge Live, Nov 27

London, UK: Karma Sanctum Cinema Room, SEB Collective’s Cameo Sessions, Dec 3

Find additional show details and tickets here.

Tenderness Track List:

  1. True

  2. Fantasy

  3. Lovers In A Dangerous Time

  4. Dirty Thoughts

  5. Boyfriend

  6. Tonight

  7. Space [physical only]

  8. Carolyn

  9. Beautiful 

  10. Unchanging Eyes

  11. Tenderness

  12. I Must Believe

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