Intro
When Thomas Csorba says he "makes music for a living," he means it in the fullest sense. He's a songwriter, producer, and artist who's been chasing songs since he was 15, building a career rooted in Americana and country soul. Based in Texas, Thomas has built a reputation as a versatile creative, who brings something real and honest to every song. Off the stage and out of the studio, you'll find him on the golf course, out in the field bird hunting, or elbow-deep in a renovation project on his old home. Through it all, he's always creating and finding inspiration along the way. We're proud to welcome our good friend Thomas to the Turtlebox family.
Q&A
What is your profession? And did you always know this is what you would end up doing, or was it something you stumbled into?
When people ask me what I do, I always say I "make music for a living." It's funny to see people's reactions. It's a pretty unclear answer — because that could mean I'm a writer, a producer, or an artist. But there's something I like about that. The breadth of what I do (and want to do) is wide and vast. When I was 15, I knew I wanted to write songs for the rest of my life. I've been working towards that ever since.
When you’re not doing your core pursuit, what else do you enjoy doing?
Playing golf, bird hunting, and renovating my very old home.
Any guilty pleasures?
I don't feel too guilty about it, but I have some strong preferences when it comes to men's clothing — and those preferences often come with a big price tag. eBay and thrift stores have become good companions.
Who is your favorite musical artist? Or what are you listening to right now?
Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed have a couple of instrumental records that have been on heavy rotation in the backyard. It feels like a relief to listen to music without words. But one artist I think everyone should listen to is Anais Mitchell — our modern-day poet, echoing the likes of Mary Oliver and Emily Dickinson.
Favorite Turtlebox speaker and why? How do you use it?
I love how much I don't have to worry about it. It works every time. Durable and waterproof, of course, but also, whenever I think the battery must be low, I'm always surprised by its longevity. I take it with me everywhere I go.
At home, it basically lives in the backyard. My wife and I have a two-year-old boy who loves being outside, so it's always setting the stage for our afternoon run-through-the-water-hose sessions.
On tour, I use it in green rooms, alleyway load-ins — you name it. When we're adding a song to a set list, we use it to learn the song. I've never had a speaker that my bass player can actually listen to and learn bass parts from.