Country artist opens up about mental health

Submitted Photo Zach Thomas is well acquainted with small town living, having grown up in Wendell, Minn. (population 165). Thomas currently lives in Fargo and will celebrate a three-year anniversary with his girlfriend this August. Photo from Zach Thomas.
KENMARE – Midwestern country music artist and former American Idol contestant Zach Thomas will perform at the Pioneer Village in Kenmare on Sunday, July 14, for Kenmare’s Pioneer Day celebration.
Thomas, 30, started playing guitar and writing songs while he was attending college at North Dakota State University and working through some mental health struggles. Thomas said he spent more time in his dorm room learning how to play guitar than he spent in class.
“When I was going to NDSU I actually had a battle with depression and that was one of the main reasons I was kind of stuck in my dorm room the whole time,” Thomas said.
When his depression was bad, music was a constant for Thomas.
“Music was there for me and was my outlet. It helped pull me out of a bad place,” he said.
The song, “Devil Don’t Wanna Back Down,” came to Thomas in a flash of inspiration during his time at NDSU and the lyrics represent his depression.
“It’s all about the voices and the demons we all face. They all hit you and you’re looking for help,” Thomas said. “The mind is a beautiful thing but it can also be very harsh at times.”
Thomas said many of the songs he’s currently released are breakup songs.
“I always make the joke that sad songs make me happy,” he said. Thomas said some of the breakup songs are based on past relationships and some only sound like breakup songs but are more about mental health.
After his year at NDSU, Thomas came across American Idol and got onto season 14 of the hit singing competition. He also made it on the show a second time during season 16. Thomas broke into American Idol’s top-100 both times he was on the show.
“It was a very positive experience. It was really my first introduction to the music industry, so it was like a big crash course for me. I learned a lot and made a lot of really good contacts,” Thomas said.
Since American Idol, Thomas has been performing across the Midwest, and in 2022 he began releasing original music. Thomas previously did solo-acoustic style cover shows but is now doing full band shows as well and is incorporating his own music alongside the covers.
Regarding his Pioneer Day show, Thomas said, ” The first (set) will be me on the acoustic, which will be fun because I’ll get to play some original music that’s not out there yet.” Thomas will then play a second set with his band.
Thomas said he loves playing covers from bands who embody the red dirt, Texas country music sound.
“I’ll have some Koe Wetzel in there. I’ll also have Corey Kent. So it’s mixing the current popular country you hear on the radio with a little bit more rock,” he said.
Thomas said Pioneer Day visitors can expect a couple surprises in his set as well.
In 2023 Thomas was nominated by the Midwest Country Music Organization for “Male Vocalist of the Year.”
Thomas said being recognized was both validating and surprising. Thomas was able to attend and perform at the award show at the Roof Garden Ballroom in Okoboji, Iowa, which he said was, “pretty special.”
Thomas is an independent music artist and hopes to remain so.
“I want to be able to keep as much of what I have and of what I’ve built before having to involve a label,” he said. Thomas also enjoys the freedom of being independent because he can decide which direction he wants to go creatively.
Thomas is putting together a multi-state tour and is planning on returning to Nashville to record a five-song EP in the studio.
“I have a bunch of sad songs I need to get out there,” he said. Thomas hopes to have the EP recorded by the end of the year.
Pioneer Day will be Thomas’s first time playing in Kenmare but it’s far from his first time playing in North Dakota, having previously played in Killdeer, Mandan, Devils Lake and Grand Forks. Thomas lives in Fargo.
“There’s a strong music scene here. Everybody is very supportive of each other and it’s cool seeing everyone try to help each other out and grow,” he said.