TheThread Sing Through Their Tears in ‘Cry for You’ Premiere

Has anybody trademarked "The Duo in Black"?

Written by Chris Parton
TheThread Sing Through Their Tears in ‘Cry for You’ Premiere
TheThread; Photo credit: Travis A. Jones

Americana duo TheThread sing through the tears of a bruised (but not broken) soul in “Cry for You,” a gorgeous new mood track premiering exclusively on Sounds Like Nashville today (July 30).

Comprised of seasoned violinist Caitlin Nicol-Thomas and hard touring drummer-turned-guitarist Tyler Boydstun, the new duo has collectively spent years backing stars like Pam Tillis, Maddie & Tae, The Cash Family, Shooter Jennings, Charlie Daniels and more. But after bonding over the gritty realism of Johnny Cash at a low point in each of their personal lives, they decided to create something for themselves — and if “Cry For You” is any indication, they should claim “The Duo in Black” as their nickname right now.

Calling it the “most classic-country sounding” tune on their debut album, the waltzing not-quite-murder ballad rises and falls on the waves of heartbreak — at times ready to fight and elsewhere resigned to its fate. But it’s not so miserable as that description makes it seem. Featuring a lush vocal blend and weeping fiddle melodies, it’s built on overcoming real-life devastation … as in the love that eventually dissolved in both of their marriages. The track comes out officially tomorrow (July 31).

“It’s my personal favorite when it comes to our harmonies blending,” Boydstun tells SLN. “The song is about us putting to rest the pain caused by our former partners. Standing firm in our spot and letting them know we are free of that pain.”

“When I started writing this song it was one perspective, from my point of view,” adds Nicol-Thomas. “Bringing it to Tyler I thought it would be a powerful duet — and boy did he prove me right! He took one for the team as he sang from the “bad guy” perspective, even though he relates to my side of the story within the song.”

“I don’t wanna cry for you no more / And I don’t wanna dry my tears as they hit the floor / Don’t wanna scream, don’t wanna yell / Don’t want you waking me in my dreams / I want my life to be like it was before / Don’t wanna cry for you no more,” goes the aching chorus.

Looking ahead, TheThread will further navigate the dark-and-stormy seas of life on their first LP, House on Fire, which arrives August 28 and also includes their swampy first single, “King of Me.” And according to them, that seems more appropriate then ever in light of a global pandemic.

“We started this record during a time when Caitlin and I were at our lowest,” says Boydstun. “We’ve come a long way personally since then. And now, it seems even more relevant than it was the day we finished. There are a lot of raw emotions going on now, and I don’t think people want to hear another ‘drinking beer down by the lake’ party song. This is real stuff that folks can relate to.”