By Brent Thompson
Photo Credits: Graham Dodd
Singer/songwriter Thomas Csorba is a student at Baylor University but his music, experience and influences belie his age. To the 20-year-old Texan, performing live doesn’t just mean playing to locals and fellow students – it means traveling extensively and recording albums with crack studio musicians. In 2017, Csorba released From The Foxhole, his third album and first full-length recording. Drawing on the sounds of his home state’s legendary troubadours, Csorba’s music possesses a timeless quality. On Thursday, February 8, he will make his debut Birmingham performance at Seeds Coffee Co. in Homewood. Recently, Csorba spoke with us by phone from his Waco home.
Birmingham Stages: Thomas, thanks for your time. How are you able to juggle performing, traveling and life as a student?
Thomas Csorba: It takes a lot of discipline and some understanding friends. I wouldn’t be able to do it without folks that wanted me to do it.
Birmingham Stages: We are looking forward to your first show in Birmingham.
TC: I’m really excited. We were going to play in Auburn that night and it ended up not working out. I got hooked up with the folks at Seeds. I haven’t spent much time in Birmingham but I’m really excited to be there for a couple of days.
Birmingham Stages: Your music possesses a timeless quality. If you will, talk about your influences.
TC: It was a lot of “Outlaw” Country as a kid – Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard. Also, Townes Van Zandt really stood out to me – he’s a distant relative of mine. Half of the family thinks of him as a disgrace – the Southern Baptist part of my family – and me and my brother think it’s the coolest thing that we share a little bit of blood with this guy. I dove into Townes’ stuff really young and that led me to 1930s Blues – Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mississippi Fred McDowell and a bunch of those guys. My brother is six years older than me and forced me to listen to that stuff and I’m glad he did. 
Birmingham Stages: How would you describe your songwriting process?
TC: When I was 15 or 16 I had a buddy that was in a band and he told me, “If you want to write, it’s a discipline.” He taught me it’s something you have to work at – it’s not a gift, it’s something that’s earned. For my first EP, I brought the producer 15 tunes and we decided to do five badass tunes instead of 15 half-assed tunes and I think that’s a smart way to do things. For the most recent record – my first full-length – it’s very much a concept record so that on had more direction. The record was written over the span of a year with themes I tried to dial-in on.
Birmingham Stages: How do you view the musical climate today in the age of iTunes, Youtube and satellite radio? How do you separate yourself from among the crowd?
TC: When The Beatles and The Eagles were putting out records, their tours would promote their records. Nowadays, it’s completely backwards. We’re putting out a record to give people a reason to come to a show. As a kid, sitting in the same room and watching someone pour out their heart and soul was a big deal to me. That’s what I want to do. I rarely have an epiphany listening to Spotify, but being in the same room as an artist is a sacred thing. You experience something different than the person sitting next to you. People want to feel like they’re part of something.
Thomas Csorba will perform at Seeds Coffee Co. in Homewood on Thursday, February 8. Showtime is 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.seedscoffee.com.