Jr. Thomas // The Eisenberg Review Interview
Photo by Ryan A Stadler Photography
Some artists chase eras, others seem born to revive them. Jr. Thomas has always belonged to the latter camp. From his early days fronting The Volcanos, the Minneapolis-born singer and songwriter made a name for himself by conjuring a rocksteady sound so faithful you’d swear it was pressed in Kingston in ’68. But his new record, Jr. Thomas in the Eraserhood, carries that lineage forward while opening a new chapter with Philadelphia production duo Eraserhood Sound.
Recorded live to tape in Questlove’s former studio, the album finds Thomas blending his timeless sense of melody with Eraserhood’s shimmering soul textures. There’s the buoyant glide of “Thank You Honey,” the slow devotion of “Waiting for You,” and the moody pulse of “Temptations.” Together they reveal an artist in stride, expanding his range without losing the feel that made his earlier work so magnetic.
We caught up to talk about the making of In the Eraserhood, finding the right collaborators, and the unique geography of his soulful sound.