Thom Hirsch opens up about blending ethereal blues and cinematic storytelling, the personal grief and surreal encounters that birthed “Strange Farewell,” and why their debut album TIME WILL HEAL YOU is a deep invitation to slow down and listen. Read below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Etheral, emotional, cinematic
Tell us a few things about Strange Farewell. What is the story behind it?
I started writing this song in late 2023, inspired by an intense personal encounter that began in early 2023 and came to an end, but which reignited my passion and desire to create and compose, as well as my father’s passing in October of that same year, following a long illness.
Unexpected encounters and departures can influence the direction we take, both personally and artistically, and I find that this year had a surreal and fantastical quality to it.
This song is a pivotal track for me in terms of the direction I want to take with my music, the band, my learning of composition, and my guitar playing. This is the first time I’ve composed a track in this style, and I wanted to bring out a strange and somewhat fantastical theme. Julien Silvand wrote all the brass parts based on my instructions—a fairly classic blues shuffle intro that quickly shifts into a “swaying” rumba and a more emotional bridge with a break in the rhythm.
I’d say it’s pretty contemporary and Scofield was one of my sources of inspiration for this track—my favorite on the album.
You’ve described TIME WILL HEAL YOU as the “first episode of a musical series.” What does this mean for the listener, and where do you see the narrative heading in future installments?
Yes, “Time Will Heal You” is a first installment; I wanted to view the creative process as a snapshot, a photo spanning a few years—you could say it’s a freeze-frame of the last three years as far as I’m concerned. It’s a serial work that calls for a sequel, and it’s also a reference to cinema—to images paired with sound. The second episode will be even more cinematic, with greater variety in sound, and will explore nature and the evolution of the world we live in, as well as more personal stories and the people I want to honor.
Did personal life experiences shape the central theme that “time will heal you”?
Yes, the title of this first episode, “TIME WILL HEAL YOU,” encapsulates the spirit of the project all on its own. It’s an invitation to embrace time as an ally—to understand that certain wounds, certain questions, or certain changes can only be resolved by moving forward one step at a time.
This approach is reflected in the album’s compositions.
Your music sits at the crossroads of different genres. How do you strike the balance between the structured narrative feel with the improvisational heart of jazz and blues?
Right from the start, I came from a blues background; I began learning guitar at age 17 by playing along with the blues songs I listened to (solos and scales), and then instrumental blues came later, influenced by artists like Duke Robillard, Tiny Grimes, and Earl Hooker…. Then came jazz. I think that, unconsciously, I’ve increasingly fused these styles, using melody and structure as the backbone of the song, and I always leave space within the song to improvise while staying true to the spirit of the track.
Is improvisation a talent or a skill?
I think it’s a bit of both! Talent and skill are interdependent; they feed off each other. Just practicing an instrument doesn’t really make much sense on its own, but when combined with one’s own talent, composition, and performances—that’s when it really comes into its own. When you improvise, you tap into your creativity and take risks, and I think having the right skills and technique helps you channel your improvisation.
Your favorite most trippy mind blending guitar riff you wish you had composed yourself?
Among the things I’m listening to again right now, Kenny Burrell’s solo on the track “Asphalt Canyon Blues” (from the album Togethering) is incredibly soulful; there’s also the theme from Julian Lage’s “General Thunder” on the album Modern Lore, which is super melodic and cinematic!
Artists and people that have influenced you?
There are so many, and they’re not just guitarists!
Electric blues—that’s where I come from—with BB King, Freddy King, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, and later Duke Robillard, Earl Hooker, Jimmy Vaughan….
The West Coast scene with Tiny Grimes, Bill Jennings, Junior Watson
Film composers: Lalo Schifrin, Vangelis, Eric Serra (a French guy), and many others
More contemporary guitarists like John Scofield, Marc Ribot, Kenny Burrell, Robert Cray…
Saxophonists like Art Pepper, Stan Getz, etc., etc.!!!!!
You describe TIME WILL HEAL YOU as “an invitation to take your time” in an era where music consumption is often really fast. In which place or state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
Yes, that’s one of the ills of this century—everything moves so fast in our social environment, but emotions, reflection, and personal growth have their own rhythm… Although very personal, this album is meant to be listened to several times; you have to take the time to lose yourself in it and let your memories and images come flooding back.
The tracks aren’t just meant to be heard—they invite the listener to journey, to imagine, and to project their own story onto the music.
Thank you!
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