The Fans Help Parmalee Choose Their Songs
When it comes to picking songs to record, Parmalee has no rules and will record anything that feels good to them.
Parmalee’s current album 27861 marks an important stepping stone in their career. The four-member band, consisting of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas alongside cousin Barry Knox and longtime friend Josh McSwain, spent most of 2017 on the road for their first official headlining Hotdamalama Tour in support of the album named after their home state zip code, gathering valuable insight along the way they plan to channel into upcoming music.
“This album is definitely a snapshot of the past three years and us being proactive on finding songs, writing songs, producing – just doing what we wanted to do – and being able to play shows and seeing what we feel like the fans want and what makes the shows better,” lead singer Matt Thomas describes of 27861. “It’s a good look at things, as far as [how] we produced a lot of the tracks on this, the way we’ve made the record, the way we wrote. I think it all influences where we want to go with the next project down the road.”
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Touring is one of the most important factors for the “Carolina” singers when it comes to putting together an album, using their live shows as a litmus test for what type of songs fans are drawn to the most, keeping that vital information in mind while making music. “You learn the songs that connect with fans because these are your real fans out here. You’re not riding the coattails of anybody else, they’re here to see you 100 percent,” Thomas says of the most valuable lessons the band learned while on the road, citing “Hotdamalama” and lead single “Sunday Morning” as two of the most noteworthy crowd pleasers. “You get feedback and you meet your fans and you learn what they want. They keep bringing songs up…so you’re getting research back. It’s really good.”
The foursome is never idle when it comes to writing songs, constantly coming up with fresh material while keeping previous creations in mind as they approach a new project. “It’s kind of all over the place,” Knox describes of their writing process. “We don’t have any rules when it comes to songs.” Though the band is passionate about all 12 tracks on 27861, there are some unreleased numbers they hope to shine a spotlight on as individual releases, citing “Last Night” and “These Are the Good Days” as two fan favorites they’re particularly hopeful about sharing. “That’s why we just continue to write all the time so that we have a mass array of different types of songs,” Knox continues.
Had a great round of label meetings today. Big things ahead… y’all stay tuned. #HOTDAMALAMA 🔥 🔥 🔥
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The country quartet has a consistent tour schedule built out through the summer of 2018, assuring fans that they’ll deliver nothing short of a memorable night. “We’re all about a good time and that’s what we’re bringing this summer,” Thomas promises. “We’re bringing a good time and a party.”
Parmalee crosses the U.S. April through August, making a stop at the WME Bash at the Beach in Las Vegas for the ACM Awards and at the Riverfront Stage during CMA Fest in Nashville on June 9.
