WCC student takes plunge into local music market
Staff Writer
Although Hope Thomas has been performing all of her life, it wasn’t until more than two years ago that she decided to pick up a guitar and start playing seriously.
Recently, Thomas, 20, of Ypsilanti, a student of Washtenaw Community College majoring in music production and engineering, has released her first EP on Vyne Records as Jo Pie Whyld, a combination of childhood nicknames.
Jo Pie Whyld (Jennifer Gentner courtesy photo)
The new record is called “Songs for Noah.”
Named for her pet dog who suffers from genetic, skeletal defects, “Songs for Noah” was written, recorded and mixed all by Thomas with her microphone and interface in her apartment.
Originally from Lawrence, about a half hour outside of Kalamazoo, Thomas has been attending WCC since Fall of 2010 and by signing with Vyne she’s hoping to support herself through music.
“The way this works is they promote me, I sing; they promote me some more and I sing some more,” Thomas said. “Signing with Vyne is like me seriously saying, ‘I want to do this, I’m putting all I got into it, I’m investing into Vyne and I’m investing in my music.’”
Making the decision to move to Ypsilanti, halfway across the state, was easy for Thomas. She knew that WCC was the right place for her if she was going to start studying music on a more passionate level.
“I haven’t had struggles with singing although I really don’t know how I got to where I’m at,” she said. “But I’ve matured emotionally – which is essential to writing music.”
While Thomas hasn’t suffered the displeasure of losing her voice, she says that playing the guitar has been the most difficult part of her music career.
“Of course, I want to get better,” she said. “I don’t want to be a songwriter, or just a guitar player, or just be a singer. I want to be all three and do them better than what I’m capable of now.”
While that road may be uncertain for Thomas, she looks forward to the strong relationship she has with Pat Raymond of Vyne Records.
It was July of 2011 at one of the several open-mic nights when Raymond, out scouting for Vyne, noticed Thomas’s talent.
Jo Pie Whyld smiles at fans who chant her name before her performance on Jan. 14 at Crossroads Bar and Grill in Ypsilanti. (Jennifer Gentner courtesy photo)
Jo Pie Whyld plays her song, ‘Despair’ at Crossroads Bar and Grill on Jan. 14. (Jennifer Gentner courtesy photo)
“Her voice is what sets her apart,” Raymond said. “When it comes to music, it’s not just somebody’s voice. Someone can have a very beautiful voice, but the fact that she was able to take the lyrics and take her voice and put it with a simple melody was amazing.”
Raymond, 22, of Ann Arbor, a recent University of Michigan graduate, has one goal for Thomas: to give her music the exposure that will allow her to earn a living.
“Sustainability, for me, for her means that she wouldn’t have to work at a coffee shop during the day to sing,” he said. “Our No. 1 goal is getting her in front of as many people that will listen.”
Thomas’s view for the future is similar.
“The next step for me is to keep practicing and refining my skills,” she said. “I’m not anywhere (near) where I want to be, but I’ll be there soon. I know that I will be coming out with another EP or another album relatively soon.”
At Crossroads in Ypsilanti, Thomas’s sister, Elly Thomas, had the chance to see her little sister play for the first time.
“I don’t know how she does it. For her, it just seems so effortless,” Elly said.
Her mother, Anne Hawkinson, 54, agrees.
“It wasn’t until 2 ½ years ago, she decided that music was her passion,” Hawkinson said. “Her dad and I are supportive of her, and I’m just glad she’s found something she loves and she’s good at it.”
For more information on Jo Pie Whyld visit http://jopiewhyld.com.
Recent comments