Denny Patterson: If you have extra time, is there anything in particular you like to do while in Fort Lauderdale? 

Tom Goss: Hmm, that’s a really good question. I went to this gym last year called Bodytek Fitness, which I loved, and I also checked out Challenge Fitness. However, with Challenge Fitness, I went to their senior active aging class by accident (laughs). Everyone was like 75 and doing Cher aerobics, but I needed a workout, so I went to the back and tried to hide. Everybody gave me so much crap. People still text me from that class, and that’s what I mean by the community being so warm. I can make anything into a workout, and it was a lot of fun. So, I might go back to the aging gracefully class again. 

Denny Patterson: You mentioned earlier your latest album, Remember What It Feels Like. How has it been received?

Tom Goss: So great. People have really been loving it. I released Territories in 2019, which was a very heavy record, but in that interim period since, I got my own studio here in LA and I’ve been constantly making songs but not releasing them. Releasing music is horrible, but making music is fun. Finally, I had at least 25 tracks, and I was like, Tom, you’ve got to release something to these people. So, I put together a bundle of joyful and exuberant tracks, and it’s a really fun ride. People are enjoying it.

Denny Patterson: What do you always hope audiences take away from your music?

Tom Goss: I guess I just want people to connect with it. That connection might mean that they laughed, or that connection might mean that they’re saddened, melancholic, reflective, or they want to turn off my music, go outside, and do something else. I don’t really have any interest in controlling how somebody responds to my music, but I do hope that it connects with them in some way. My first record came out 17 years ago, so I know it’s not for everybody, and I’m okay with that. But the people that it does connect with, it means something to them, and that’s the highest honor for me. 

Denny Patterson: Are you working on any new albums right now? 

Tom Goss: Yes! I have an album done, but there’s a lot of different vibes and feels, and it doesn’t really feel cohesive yet. I spent a couple months touring and some time in Europe this past year, and I was writing like crazy. I have been honing in on exactly what this new record is going to be, and it’s much more Americana/folk vibes with lots of queer stories. Like, impactful stories. I’ve been demoing them and sending them to my Patreon team, so they’re getting a sneak peek to this new record, which I’m very excited about. 

Denny Patterson: Remind me, have you always had a passion for singing and songwriting?

Tom Goss: (Laughs) As I get older, the answer becomes more and more yes because the amount of time I’ve been doing this is consuming the amount of time in which I haven’t. I wasn’t raised musical or playing instruments growing up. I was in choir for a year because you had to be in seventh grade, or I did band just because I had to do extracurricular type stuff. I was always focused on athletics, and that’s where I excelled. I went to school on a wrestling scholarship, but when I got a guitar for high school graduation, I started writing almost immediately. I think the writing thing was always there, and I longed for a way to develop emotionally and be introspective because that wasn’t really something that was presented to me. If you’re in a family of jocks, I doubt you’re going to sit around and be introspective, talking about feelings.

Denny Patterson: How would you say you have evolved as a musical artist within this past year?

Tom Goss: In the past year, I believe I have grown a lot in confidence. I’m pretty old in terms of what the industry expects somebody to be. I’m 42 now, and I think for the majority of my career, I was always trying to do things to make big waves, capture new ears, and hopefully attract the attention of the industry. Once you’re in your 40s, you realize the idea of what a successful musician is will never happen for you. It’s like the clock for that has gone, so for me, it’s really about focusing on the people that have been there for me for the past 17 years. The fact that I’ve had a career for 17 years is astronomical, and I really try to focus my energy on the people that are good to me and invest their time, energy, and love in me. Write music that not only speaks to me, but speaks to them. I am always looking to foster stronger relationships with my fans. 

Denny Patterson: What are some other goals you hope to accomplish in 2024?

Tom Goss: I want to make this record, but I also want to make a much larger concept narrative piece. Something like Glen Hansard’s musical, Once. I would love to do something like that and continue to tell queer stories. Maybe we could perform this in a theatrical setting or create a short film out of it. I think that would be very fun and challenging for me.