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10 Questions with ... Rob Thomas
August 29, 2016
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/robthomas Twitter: @ThisIsRobThomas Instagram: @ThisIsRobThomas YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/TheRobThomasMusic
Rob Thomas is one of modern music's most compelling and commercially successful artists. For 20 years, he has been the front man and primary composer for Matchbox Twenty, leading the quintet to multi-platinum success over the course of four albums and a string of No. 1 hits that include "Push," "3AM," and "Bent" to name a few. Thomas recently released his third solo album, "The Great Unknown" the follow up to 2005's platinum-certified No. 1 album "...Something To Be" and 2009's "cradlesong". Thomas made history with "...Something to Be" as being the first album by a male artist from a rock or pop group to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
"Smooth", Thomas' collaboration with Carlos Santana, was recently named the top all-time track on Billboard's Adult Pop Songs radio airplay chart, the #2 Pop song of all time and the #1 song of the rock-era by Billboard.
Social augmented reality company, VNTANA, recently announced the creation of the first interactive hologram karaoke fan experience to go on tour with Rob Thomas. As a part of the tour's VIP Package, fans can select one of three songs to perform as a hologram duet with Thomas' hologram, including the new single, "Pieces" from Thomas' third solo album "The Great Unknown", as well as other favorites "One Shot" and "This is How A Heart Breaks." Rob was keen to continue to offer his fans a one-on-one experience and worked with VNTANA to create a virtual meet and greet that still offered close engagement.
Thomas is co-headlining his North American tour this summer with Counting Crows. The tour wraps up in Nashville, TN on Sept. 30th. VIP Packages to experience the Hologram Karaoke are available now at robthomasmusic.com/events.
1. How's 2016 treating you so far? How's your summer been going?
I've just been enjoying being at home- seeing family and doing some writing. Now we're getting geared up for the big summer tour with Counting Crows.
2. What were some of the highlights of 2015 for you?
I've been out on the road since really since late 2014 so I've been enjoying the summer.
3. How did you first get linked up with VNTANA?
We always try to do something that hasn't been done before and to give our biggest fans an experience they won't get somewhere else.
4. Please tell us how it works?
Futuristic Karaoke! I always love to experiment with new technology and this is like nothing I've ever seen before. When we heard about VNTANA and the hologram, we couldn't wait to see what we could do with it. it's already amazing and I think we have only touched the surface of the kind of interaction that the fans will be able to have with it.
5. Are you excited to see your fans get to 'duet' with you through the hologram karaoke?
I am. In the future, I would love to do a hologram performance of my full solo band so the fan can get the experience of fronting a full band. Or maybe even do a duet with myself. See if i can hang.
6. Why do you think it's the right time and place for this kind of technology?
Over the last decade or so, the relationship between fans and the artists and music they love has gotten closer because of social media. This feels like a logical next step in letting the fan get to physically be in the performing world as opposed to just being a spectator with a three-dimensional version of the artist and not just their voice. Again, it's already ground breaking but it's really only the beginning of where it can go.
7. How did you and VNTANA go about choosing the three songs that fans can pick from?
It's really more about the experience than the song.
8. Was it difficult to narrow it down to "Pieces," "One Shot" and "This Is How A Heart Breaks"?
"Pieces" was an easy choice because it's the new single. I wanted to do something upbeat and "This Is How A Heart Breaks" is always a lot of fun live. I believe we picked "One Shot" because my manager really likes it.
9. What are some of your favorite venue to play?
Red Rocks in Denver, Jones Beach in New York and the Greek in LA are three that I'm pretty excited about.
10. Are you looking forward to your tour this summer?
I always love summer tours. There's a great energy in an outdoor concert on a hot summer night. The experience for the concert goer at those shows is about more than just the artists they go to see, it's about a fun night out with friends and the band is the soundtrack for their night.
*Special Thanks To Leah Adams Who Conducted This Interview.
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