Rob AOL Chat
Title:
Chat with Rob Thomas
Source: AOL Chat
Date: February 24 at 7:00PM ET
"Smooth"
vocalist Rob Thomas will be in AOL Live Thursday, February 24 at
7:00PM ET, discussing his appearance at the Grammys and his
collaboration
with the legendary Santana. Rob and his band have a second album
called "Mad
Season By Matchbox Twenty," to be released May 23. Their
first album,
"Yourself Or Someone Like You," won numerous awards and
featured singles such
as "Push," "3am" and "Real World."
Be sure to check out this unforgettable
online event!
AOLiveMC10: Thanks to each of you for joining us this evening!
Now is the
moment we've been waiting for. Everybody put your hands together
and give a
warm welcome to Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty! Thank you for
joining us this
evening Mr. Thomas!
RobThomasLIVE: Thank you guys for doing this. Ask away!
AOLiveMC10: There are plenty of questions, so here we go.
Question: Hey Rob-you did a really good job preforming last night
i was just
wondering in the future are you going to be doing any other
projects with
Santana or any other group?
RobThomasLIVE: I'll always keep writing with other people.
Because I want to
be a writer. And Santana wants to do some other stuff like
writing.
Hopefully, in the future we will.
Question: When is Matchbox 20 going to go back on tour?
RobThomasLIVE: The new record comes out May 23rd.
Question: How does it feel to be the "Golden Boy" of
the Grammys?
RobThomasLIVE: Actually, it felt good to be there with him.
Question: What will be the first single off of your new CD?
RobThomasLIVE: We're still kind of up in the air about it. I
think it's going
to be a song called "Black and White People".
Question: How long did it take you to get started in the
business?
RobThomasLIVE: I've been playing in different bands since I was
14. When I
was 21, I started being in traveling bands and traveling through
the
Southeast. In a lot of ways, I'm still working and making it. I
won't know
for another 20 years whether or not I have actually made it in
the business
or not.
Question: How/When did Santana approach you about recording for
this CD?
RobThomasLIVE: It was in February. My publisher had asked me if I
wanted to
work with another writer for a Santana song. And as soon as I
agreed, it went
full steam ahead.
Question: What's the meaning behind the title of your new album?
Is there a
reason why you included "by matchbox20" in the title?
RobThomasLIVE: Yeah. We've done the whole packaging for the CD in
the form of
a children's book. It's almost like that's the title of the book.
The content
of the book are the songs.
Question: What is your favorite song on the new album?
RobThomasLIVE: There's a song on there called "You Won't Be
Mine." As a
songwriter, it's my favorite song. I think it's one of my
favorite songs that
I have ever written. It would be that or a song called "Rest
Stop." The song
"Rest Stop" as well as "Black and White
People," I wrote 8 years ago.
Question: How will the new CD compare to your last?
RobThomasLIVE: Because I'm singing the songs, there is going to
be a
similarity, but because we are so much older now than when we
made the last
record, it's a much more mature record.
Question: Will you ever consider acting?
RobThomasLIVE: It's funny I've been offered to read for roles in
some really
big films, but right now I'm a songwriter and that's where my
focus is. In
the future maybe, but right now I don't have time.
Question: What inspires you to write?
RobThomasLIVE: Anything in life. I try and use my life as my
muse. And now we
have to pick up from anything.
Question: Why did you take so long to release "Black and
White People" if you
wrote it 8 years ago?
RobThomasLIVE: We were going to put it on the last record. But it
didn't come
out the way we wanted it to. For some reason, it came out
perfectly on this
one and so we used it.
Question: Will you ever do a duet with a female artist, and who
would you
choose?
RobThomasLIVE: That was a very good question. I might. If so, I
would do
something with Sarah McLachlan in a heartbeat. I would love to do
something
with her or any female songwriters. I can't think of any females
who are just
single singers. Women such as Mariah Carey or Celine Dion who
don't write
their own songs.
Question: What was the first song you ever wrote ?
RobThomasLIVE: When I was 14 years old, I wrote a really cheesy
song. It was
a love song called "How Long Can a Dream Last."
Question: What are some of your favorite bands that you like to
listen too?
RobThomasLIVE: Right now, my favorite record is Macy Gray. And I
also love
Buena Vista Social Club.
Question: What was the first song you ever wrote ?
RobThomasLIVE: When I was 14 years old, I wrote a really cheesy
song. It was
a love song called "How Long Can a Dream Last."
Question: Hey Rob I was just wondering how long it took you to
write the song
"Smooth?"
RobThomasLIVE: Itaal Shur wrote the track, and when I heard it,
the lyrics
and the melody came instantly. So I wrote the lyrics and the
melody in about
an hour.
Question: On the Grammy's, your performance with Santana was
almost
emotional. Did you feel a sense of departure after the
performance of
"Smooth", thinking it was you last time doing that song
with Santana?
RobThomasLIVE: Actually, tomorrow I'm filming a live version of
"Smooth" with
Santana for IMAX Theaters. And that will come out later in the
year, only in
IMAX Theaters. When we're in Europe, we are going to play there
together. Not
a tour, just a few shows. It was emotional. Because Santana, the
band and I
were very very proud of what we accomplished with the song.
Question: What advice can you give to a small band that is just
starting to
play gigs?
RobThomasLIVE: I think I would say the best advice is when you're
starting,
make sure that the light at the end of your tunnel is just
becoming a better
musician or a better songwriter. And not becoming famous or
selling records.
It should be about you and you trying to be the best musician you
can. And
everything else will fall into place.
AOLiveMC10: Well folks, it appears as though we've run out of
time this
evening! I'd like to take this moment to thank you for joining us
Rob!
RobThomasLIVE: Everyone that is there and everyone I didn't get
to talk to.
It's because of you that I won last night and I'm able to do this
as a
living. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for giving me
this chance to
play for you.
Thanks again to Andie for sending this to us! How awesome of her.