Evolving to "Finally"

Written By: Raven Ekundayo

One of the things I've always respected about Gospel artist and good friend of mine, Tre Thomas, is how well he understands business. A lot of artists only understand that artistic side of things and because of this they never reach the places they want to go with their gifts. Tre understands that he's a brand and he has his hand in a lot of things; often making his visions become a reality on his own. I truly respect that. I wanted to have this Scorpio brother in the final issue because I hoped he would drop some knowledge on aspiring artists out there that want to know how to guide your career in the right direction. Check it out.

Raven - How much has changed in your life since your last interview with ETM?

Tre - Life for me has changed measurably since my last interview with ETM! I've done some pretty major things that have been able to push my career further than I'd really hoped or dreamed. Since the last interview, I'm now the host of my own radio show "LoveLudes" with Tré Thomas on the award-winning Bonnerfide Radio, I've featured on BET's longest running show, Bobby Jones Gospel, featured at DC's historic Blues Alley, partnered with BLCA (Black Leadership Commission on HIV/AIDS) to help fight the epidemic in the DMV and more recently been awarded "Best Male Upcoming Artist" at the LSS (Love From the Sound Stage) Awards in DC. Things have been GREAT to say the least.

Raven - What was it like performing on Bobby Jones Gospel?

Tre - Performing on Bobby Jones Gospel was one of the greatest moments in my life to date. It was an incredible feeling and honor to be introduced to the world by my godfather, Richard Smallwood. It's one of those surreal moments when you "see" yourself in a moment that you've visually dreamed of and now it's come to fruition. GREAT moment in time!

Raven - What are your thoughts on the state of Gospel music right now?

Tre - I think that Gospel music now is--how do I approach this answer without getting into trouble..lol--attempting to make some great strides--especially in the independent world. Indepentent artists are making some incredible music these days. The only drawback is that it's not really exposed to the general/buying public. I think if we [gospel industry/radio] were more open to different styles with the genre and were willing to take more chances on indie artists, the industry as a whole would be in a much better place, and would appeal to a greater audience. #jussayin

Raven - What are the challenges of being an independent artist?

Tre - I think the main challenges of being an independent artists are resources, reach and retail (that's three R's!! I'm on it today!! lol). It's hard to fund yourself as an artist these days. It takes a lot of resource to make all elements work together and for your good. It's also a challenge when radio doesn't really support indie artists, which makes it harder for us to have the reach we'd need to get the necessary exposure. Unfortunately, when you don't have the resources to make things happens or the reach to get exposure, it becomes hard to SELL. So, it's all a big circle of elements that affect each other and utimately dictate the longevity of an artist. ALL are challenges that can be overcome with a lot of determination and patience tho.

Raven - What does this new cd mean to you?

Tre - The new cd means the world to me. I've finally tapped into who I want to be as an artist: musical style and approach. I think the music is going to transcend a lot of boundaries and reach a wide range of people. I really wanted to capture the "feel" of 90s era of music. So, it's naturally an album centered around love, which is appropriate and falls right in line with my plight as an artist and philanthropist. Be on the lookout for the new cd this coming February--around Valentine's Day!! :-)

Raven - What would you like your legacy to be?

Tre - I want my legacy to be one of consistency and integrity. I want people to remember that I wasn't a fly-by-night "artist," but rather a genuine person whose goal was to spread God's love to the WORLD, whether it was thru my music, thru radio or community outreach.

 

 

 

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