Interview: East Coast Folk Meets Christmas Magic on Robert Thomas and the sessionmen’s New Single, “Little Things”

Robert Thomas and the sessionmen invite listeners to embrace the simple joys of the season with their new single, “Little Things.” Drawing on folk, Americana roots, and the timeless warmth of Christmas music, the song is a heartfelt reflection on the small, meaningful moments that make the holidays truly special. Whether it’s the crunch of fresh snow underfoot, the joy of watching children by the Christmas tree, or the gratitude for a loved one, “Little Things” captures the magic of the season with a nostalgic and intimate touch.

Known for his storytelling prowess and evocative songwriting, Robert Thomas’s voice shines as he delivers this uplifting track. Joined by his talented acoustic duo, the sessionmen – Ray Legere and Jon Arsenault – the song melds East Coast traditional folk with the warmth of Appalachian-inspired arrangements.

With “Little Things,” I wanted to express the simple joy of Christmas. The song is about capturing the feeling of being joyful and carefree because of the small things we often overlook – and it’s also a way to express my gratitude to my partner for bringing me so much of that joy, especially at Christmas. – Robert Thomas

1. What did you enjoy most about the recording process of this new release?
What I enjoyed most about recording “Little Things” was seeing the song finally come to life. Jolene Richard and I wrote the tune about 30 years ago, and being seasonal, in the rush of other publishing commitments, we just never got around to recording it. Finally, this year Ray and Jon (the sessionmen) and I had time in our schedule to record it. Jon did a beautiful arrangement, played all the instruments except for Ray’s fiddle solo, and also tracked the song. I think Jon did a beautiful job capturing the sentiment of what Jolene and I originally wrote. As usual, Ray brings a breathtaking solo to the piece. So, seeing it all come together after 30 years, in a beautiful way, was really satisfying.

2. Share a nugget of advice that has resonated with you most over the years.
Advice that has resonated me with me over the years… Believe in yourself, but don’t over believe. To make it in this business either as a writer or as a performer or both you have to believe in the quality of your material and, in my case, your ability to perform it in a way that will leave an audience truly entertained. However, you have to be objective. There are a lot of fabulous riders and performers out there, and everyone is vying for the same opportunities to play and have the music heard. So, you have to be honest with yourself in assessing all of your skills and continually strive to improve them in the service of an audience.

3. Who would be your dream artist/band to co-headline a tour with?
Dream artist….. There are many, but I would have to say, Richard Shindell. I have followed and admired Richard’s work since he teamed up with Dar Williams and Lucy Kaplansky to form an act called Cry Cry Cry in 1998. I have admired his songwriting and delivery for over 25 years, so I was absolutely floored and thrilled to be asked to open for him at the Cedar arts Centre in Minneapolis in May next year. A real bucket list item for sure! Though we are not co-headlining with Richard, being on the same stage with him is more than enough.

4. What sets your music apart from others in your genre?
I think what sets our music part is a unique point of view and a conciseness of delivery. With my co-writers, we really try to vary our subject matter and touch on things that each audience member has probably experienced at sometime in our own lives. Once we have a topic, I try to present the tip of the iceberg in simple language and let the audience fill in the rest of the details from their own experience. I think that’s the essence of songwriting. The other thing that I really do feel sets our music apart is the musicianship of Ray and Jon. Somehow, they peer into the essence of what I’ve written and bring out exactly the right emotion in their accompaniment and solos. That’s a real gift. I’ve played with many fine musicians who just can’t do that, so I really appreciate, almost as an audience member on stage, what Ray and Jon bring to each song.

5. Tell us what your favourite song is at the moment and why.
My favourite song at the moment is “Lesser of Two Evils” by Susan Levine and Doug Kwartler of “The Lied To’s.” We were asked to play a showcase with them at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance conference in Portland, Maine recently. So, before the gig, I checked out their stuff and that song just floored me. Simple, to the point, great hook and memorable melody. They didn’t play it at our showcase but did so at another one and I was itching to get up on stage, uninvited, and sing the harmony part….discretion prevailed. But, we will to tour with them next year and I’m definitely inviting myself up for that one!