Mike Thomas – “A Different Story”
Americana Highways is hosting this premiere of Mike Thomas’ song “A Different Story,” which is coming out June 12 via Diamond Hill Music. Mike Thomas has crafted a variety of songs ranging over an assortment of topics and human experiences but for this song, he delved into the spiritual realm. The song is refreshing, with rich acoustic guitar as it begins “I was lost, broken up and busted … I wouldn’t listen to the song in my heart, it looked like I was winning but I was falling apart.” And then, together with that special someone, they wrote a different story. We had a chance to chat briefly with Mike about the song and his processes both in songwriting and in the studio. The premiere appears just beneath the interview.
Americana Highways: Hi Mike. We’re so happy to have you back at Americana Highways. You have a new single out in June called “A Different Story.” Songs can come from so many places. What inspired you to write this song? What is the story behind it?
Mike Thomas: First, thanks for having me back and for featuring my new song! I wrote “A Different Story” in the summer of 2024. While this song tells the story of my own spiritual journey, it was also written as a message to my children, one of whom was going through some difficult circumstances at the time. The message is simple: no matter how lost and broken we may feel, there is one who never stops reaching for us. One who never gives up on us and loves us regardless of how hard and for how long we’ve run the other way.
AH: What was the songwriting process like? Did this song come to you quickly, or did you need to spend some time on it to get it just right?
MT: This one came quite quickly. I wrote it one Saturday morning at the house and did a very minimal amount of editing on it in the days that followed. When I write a new one, I usually let it lie for a few days and then revisit it to make revisions. This one was an emotional write for me, so I didn’t do much to the original after I went back and listened.
AH: What kind of theme or themes run through the song? Why are they important to you?
MT: Grace, mercy, and redemption are the recurring themes in this song. This song is the first overtly spiritual song I have ever released. I didn’t expect to release this one as a single. I envisioned it as a deep album cut or album closer, but when I shared it with my team, everyone agreed that this one needed to be the next single. Written from a very personal place, this song is a testimony of my faith and love for a Savior who has pulled me out of the darkness time and again.
AH: Talk to me a bit about the recording process. Who did you work with in the studio and what were the sessions like? How was the vibe and how did the song come together?
MT: In the studio, I worked with my longtime producer, Tres Sasser, and engineer, Joe Costa. I have worked with those guys for several years now. We’ve made two records together, and now we’re working on a third. I feel like we have worked together so much that we have really settled into a nice groove creatively. I played the guitars, Tres played bass as usual, Sten Nisswandt handled the drums, Michael Webb played piano and organ, and Joanna Cotten lent her powerful and soulful voice to the track.
The vibe in the studio was great except for a moment when Tres and I struggled to get on the same page regarding the arrangement and things got a little tense. I think we have that on video somewhere, which might be a fun behind the scenes segment! Tres had an idea for the arrangement that I couldn’t get my head around because I’d heard the song one way for about a year before I brought it into the studio. Ultimately, I got on board with Tres’ idea, and it was the right call. I feel like we work hard every time we are in the studio, but I felt we worked especially hard to get this song right!
AH: Were there any “magic moments” in the studio where everything worked perfectly or better than you could have imagined?
MT: The things that stick out to me are Michael’s keys and Joanna’s vocals. The piano and organ really drive this song. Michael did a killer job giving the tune that classic gospel feel it needed. Recording Joanna’s vocal was the last thing we did on the track. I had never worked with Joanna before but was familiar with her voice from her work with Eric Church, The Black Crowes, and some of her earlier solo work. She was awesome to work with and really took this song to the next level. There is so much authenticity and soul in her voice. I got chills more than once while she was recording her parts.
AH: We’ve been following your career for a few releases now. How has the creative process in general and your songwriting specifically – both music and lyrics – changed and morphed as time has passed?
MT: My songwriting process has not changed all that much. I will say that I have developed some techniques and adjustments in my approach that have made me more productive when I do write. For example, I almost always write in the early morning hours. I have found that it is much easier for me to focus and settle into a creative groove in the morning. I have always been a pen and paper kind of guy, but recently I’ve written a couple on my laptop. I don’t expect to shift to the laptop permanently, but at least I’ve learned I can write both ways.
I would consider myself a lyrics-first songwriter. I typically get at least a first verse and part of a chorus written before I grab a guitar or sit at the piano. Lately, I have tried varying my approach a bit – writing with the chords and melody in mind first, using some different keys, singing in a different register. I’ve always felt like a stronger lyricist than melody maker, so that’s an area of my writing that I have been intentionally working to develop.
AH: Do you find inspiration in different or unique places? What kinds of things typically inspire you to write songs these days?
MT: I am most often inspired by people and their stories, but lately I have found myself drawing a lot of inspiration from places and nature. In the coming months, we plan to release several singles leading up to an album release in early 2026. I think you will hear what I am talking about in these upcoming songs. I have found myself writing more about the place where I grew up and the places that I am drawn to now. There is a spiritual energy that permeates this next batch of songs, and much of that energy is derived from these places that have come to mean so much to me over the years.
You’ve done a lot of collaborating over the years – with recordings, with your producer, touring and live shows, etc. What does working with other artists and creative people mean to you, and are there standout collaborations that are special to you? What made them special?
It’s not always easy to secure great collaborations as an independent artist, but I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some immensely talented individuals. Every collaboration has been special in its own way – from Dan Baird bringing in the guitar and amp he used when recording “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” and taking his shoes off during the “Three Reasons Deluxe” sessions, to Tania Elizabeth’s amazing fiddle work on both my records, and now Joanna Cotten’s phenomenal vocals on this new single. Man, I have just been blessed to have the chance to work with some mega talented artists and great people. And I can’t leave out my longtime band. Those guys are the best and I hope I get to make music with them for years to come.
AH: Have you played this song live yet? If so, what kind of reaction has the song gotten from those who have heard it?
MT: I have only played this song live three times. I tend to hold them close until we get them recorded and ready to release, but each time I’ve played it, the response has been great. I think the song tells a familiar story to a lot of people.
Thanks very much for chatting with us, Mike Thomas!
You can find the music here: https://found.ee/adifferentstory and find more information here on his website: https://www.mikethomasband.com/
Enjoy our previous interview here: Interview: Mike Thomas on Hurricane Helene and “Hell In High Water”
This song was produced by Tres Sasser, engineered and mixed by Joe Costa, and mastered by Pete Lyman. “A Different Story” is Mike Thomas on acoustic and electric guitar and vocals; Joanna Cotton on vocals; Tres Sasser on bass; Sten Nisswandt on drums; Michael Webb on piano and organ.