THOUSAND THOUGHTS – AN INTERVIEW WITH ANNE ESTELLA

2022-08-24

THOUSAND THOUGHTS – AN INTERVIEW WITH ANNE ESTELLA

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With a new single out and a debut album on the way, London-based Nu Metal four-piece Thousand Thoughts are busier than ever turning their rage into music that says “no” to misogyny and “yes” to promoting positive mental health. I spoke with Ethan, Tom, Will and Adam to find out about their upcoming plans, which will certainly involve a tour, but probably won’t involve becoming Britain’s next PM … Legalised mooning, anyone??

[Anne] Take us back to the start: How and when did the band form?

[TT] The band originally formed in 2017 under the name ‘Elswhere’, as a way of being able to play the music Ethan had written, live. The name was actually based on Ethan’s name, Ethan Lewis Smith.

[Anne] What was the reason for the name change to Thousand Thoughts?

[TT] Legal action was threatened against us after our debut release, ‘This One’s… for You’, due to another artist with a similar name having a trademark in place – since their name had the same pronunciation, we had no choice but to change ours. Thousand Thoughts was a name we came up with during the name change process, that we felt summarised everything we were about.

[Anne] For anyone who isn’t familiar with your music, how would you describe your sound and who are your main influences?

[TT] Unapologetically Nü-Metal at this point, but modernised and without the misogyny. A lot of our main influences for the band come from the late ‘90s/ early 2000s – so bands like Linkin Park, Limp, Korn, Deftones. Also, a lot of old school Hip-Hop (N.W.A., Cypress Hill, Biggie, etc.) merging with modern Hip-Hop (Ludacris, Eminem, Jay-Z, Logic, Token, etc.) and a lot of Pop you hear on the radio these days.

[Anne] What can you tell us about your latest single ‘Undone’? What is the song about and what are your favourite lyrics in it?

[TT] ‘Undone’ is pretty much a big taste of the album’s theme, a huge sense of just giving up on oneself. There’s the use of the car at the beginning which is meant to be metaphorical for the human body, and overall, it’s just a whole lot of built-up internalised sadness and rage pouring out.

Ethan’s favourite lyric is: “Sightless, dryness of the iris, tiredness, lifeless…” Will’s favourite lyric is: “Driving through the city in the dark, because it makes me feel like I know how to drive and can afford a car…” Tom’s favourite lyric is: “Can I put the breakdown guitar riff instead? The one
that’s like BAOW BAOW BAOW BUDADADAAAA…” Adam’s favourite lyric is: “Running out of time, out of sight, out of mind…”

[Anne] You’re known for helping raise awareness of mental health issues through your music. In your opinion what more can the music industry as a whole do to promote good mental health?

[TT] It’s quite a tricky one because over the years I think the music industry has been working a fair bit harder to have a sense of community… either that, or it’s just a lot of the individuals involved in this industry doing better in themselves to make that effort .It’s an ongoing fight and it’s unclear whether there could ever be a day the industry consists of positive mental well-being only.

A lot of ruthless behaviour goes on, but I think the more the big dogs continue to support and listen to a new wave of artists and the more the puppies create that supportive community together, the industry will just have a lot of love and respect for each other.

[Anne] A little birdie tells me that an album is just around the corner… can you confirm whether this is true?

[TT] It’s been a long time coming but, yes, we can absolutely confirm there’s an album on its way! The album is due to be released on 23th September. Better…Late… than Never, right?

[Anne] Do you have plans to tour around the album’s release?

[TT] As it currently stands, we have no shows booked as all our focus is on the album behind the scenes right now, putting together plans and photoshoots. However, I have no doubt that within the coming weeks there will be enthusiastic talk of getting back on the road and playing this new stuff live for the first time!

[Anne] Will you be appearing at any festivals this year?

[TT] Not this year unfortunately we don’t believe but that could always change.
Next year will definitely be the year though!

[Anne] What do you all do in your free time when you’re not making or playing music?

[Ethan] Absolutely nothing else during the week. Day in day out, just living and breathing music, writing and wasting away. Worth it though… weekends are my time to let myself go, haha!

[Will] Taking song requests at twitch.tv/willfox

[Tom] Most likely just being a piece of shit.

[Adam] Cheerleading for other bands and reading poetry in coffee shops.

[Anne] If you were to become Britain’s next Prime Minister, what THREE new laws or policies would you implement first?

[Ethan] Legalise weed, banish Katie Hopkins, re-criminalise weed because one time I took a puff while watching Teletubbies late at night and got scared… I fucking shit you not – Tinky Winky was giving me dirty looks and the thought of that purple, soulless chunky boy at the end of my bed gives me the heebie-
jeebies!

[Will] Discuss with the EU to allow work visa waivers for travelling workers, declare heat and electricity a human right, make tampons free.

[Tom] Abolish height requirements for roller coasters and remove ads from YouTube entirely. I’m out here trying to watch two cool dudes build sick shit in the wild and the vibe is totally crushed when I’m faced with an un-skippable ad of some guy trying to sell me manly man soap, specially crafted for my balls. I
also can’t begin to fathom how much I don’t care about Raid: Shadow Legends. Also, everything Will said is pretty sweet, so that too.

[Adam] Legalise mooning, free education, paid holidays.