Thomas Csorba: The Country Album Made for Dads Like Us

This week we interview Thomas Csorba, a Texas singer/songwriter whose latest album, Tender Country, seems like it was made specifically for Country Music Dads just like us. Tender Country paints a vivid, beautiful and highly accurate picture of life in the early years of parenting. The Dads had never heard anything like this -- an “authentic” view of early parenthood-- so we had to talk to him.

SHOW NOTES:

00:50: A bit of an intro and a spelling lesson, as we welcome Thomas into the show.

2:58: A dive into the album, Tender Country and how this album hits much deeper into the Dad Life. Csorba explains that his approach toward songwriting had to be part of his lived experience. And not trying to be cool, which is pretty cool.

6:05: The Productivity of Naptime -- Thomas outlines how fatherhood changed his approach to art and productivity. Kids’ proximity to the ground enables them to change our perception, said Thomas and that this process of being a dad has shifted his understanding of being a creative.

11:08: What is the real cost of making it? The Dads and Thomas talk about his opening track “Big Time” and what success really looks like for parents. For Thomas and his four year-old, it’s high, low, buffalo and getting a handwritten sticky note on a cut out of his profile in the Houston Chronicle.

16:35: Inspiration in the mundane and the ego killer of a four year-old demanding a sandwich.

19:35: A discussion “He Would’ve Love This” and how generational family life matters so much more once you’re a parent.

21:30: Asking the songwriter his go to lullaby. A mixture of old gospel music and Willie Nelson tunes -- very Texas.

24:05: The Dad Life Sound Check

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Mentioned in this episode:

• The War of Art- Steven Pressfield
• Houston Chronicle profile.
• Wind Chimes album - Thomas Csorba
• How to Write One Song - Jeff Tweedy

References:

• Theme Music: “Dark Country Rock” - Moodmode
• Homemade Margaritas - Thomas Csorba
• Big Time - Thomas Csorba
• I Love - Tom T. Hall
• He Would've Loved This - Thomas Csorba
• Precious Lord, Take My Hand (with Marion Williams) - Thomas A. Dorsey, Marion Williams
• Bigger Wheels - Thomas Csorba
• Bigger Than Your Hat - Thomas Csorba
• Rake And Ramblin' Man - Don Williams
• Can't Into Could - American Aquarium
• Feelin' Good Again - Turnpike Troubadours, Sierra Hull