Rising country singer Thomas Mac says social media helped launch his singing career
Rising country star and Dayton, Ohio, native Thomas Mac has rich, deep voice reminiscent of Alan Jackson, a compliment he responds with a resounding, “I love Alan Jackson!”
That smooth bass will open the grandstand entertainment at 8 p.m. Aug. 15 for country music sensation — and his best friend — Cooper Alan at this year’s 178th Muskingum County Fair.
“Cooper Alan is a friendship I built early in Nashville,” said 26-year-old Mac. “I consider him my best friend. Whenever we have the opportunity to do shows together, we do it.”
He said not only is it fun for them but the overlap of their fan base makes it an extra good time.
“It’s a party whenever we get together.”
Mac said county fairs are a special place for him to tour, given their Midwest values and ability to bring all walks of life together.
“I think fairgrounds have the realest people you’re ever going to meet,” said Mac, whose third EP “90s Country Broken Heart” is expected to release later this year. “I remember going to country fairs when I was growing up. So many different people are from different age groups and the fair brings them all together. It’s a special thing. The fairgrounds are a beautiful place of unity.”
They’re also the most fun, he said.
“These are the truest country fans known to man, so it makes them the most amped shows,” said Mac. “Everybody is so pumped up to be there. For entertaining purposes, that makes it the funnest [sic] thing in the world.”
But it didn’t all start with fun and games. In fact, Mac’s country music career started with a love song and a breakup.
“When I was 13, I was dating a blonde-haired girl and her birthday was coming up and I was trying to figure out what to get her,” said Mac, who added his mom intervened and recommended writing her a song. “I’d never written a song before, but I did it, and got a standing ovation.”
And they’re still together after that, right?
“Nah,” he said with a laugh. “She broke up with me a week after that.”
But his other love — music — did stick around. Though, maybe it was a rocky relationship at the start.
“I kid with my parents constantly when we talk about when I was writing that first song and the first couple of songs, ‘Guys, why were you so supportive? This is horrible,’” he joked. “In the beginning, my sister would walk in on me, videotaping me, and making fun of me because I was doing voice exercises and trying to figure out how to sing.”
But figure it out, he did, and when he was around 18 years old his voice fully evolved into that deep bass. After graduating from Dayton’s Archbishop Carroll High School in 2017, he moved to Nashville.
“I started going to all the writer’s rounds and networking and meeting other people. It was fun and great, but I realized it was turning slow, so I started looking into different routes and getting my name out there more,” said Mac, who said the turning point was figuring out how to combine social media and his passion for music. “I was posting a lot of songs on Facebook and I got my song, ‘God Why’ to go viral, and that led to a lot of opportunities.”
He said one of the perks was getting to meet country legend Reba McIntyre at her hometown show in Durant, Oklahoma, a few years back. He got to take his grandpa, Thomas Cogan, who passed in 2023.
“Reba’s sister called me and said, ‘Me and my sister heard the song and we loved it,’” said Mac. “And that’s when I realized, ‘This is the power of social media.’ I wouldn’t have a career today without social media.”
Mac said social media is what allows him to be an independent artist using a variety of producers and teams to help him lay down tracks.
“I put out music whenever I want,” said Mac, adding Zachary Manno is his go-to producer. “And I have a fan base that will tell me if it’s good or if stinks.”
Fans can find Mac’s music on every streaming outlet available from iTunes and Spotify to Amazon and YouTube.
“I’m also doing my best to grow my own touring,” said Mac, who will start his first solo tour this year. It will be a run through Canada starting Sept. 12 at The Moose & Goose in Thorold, ON, Canada. “I’m really excited about.”
Fans can find the full tour schedule at thomasmaccountry.com.
“I love music. I couldn’t see myself not doing it,” Mac said of his career. Like most musicians, the comparison is often likened to an addiction, a virus, something so powerful as to take hold of the mind and body in a way that not doing it isn’t even an option. “At my core, I think what I’m addicted to is actually the entertaining.”
Mac said he’s a “fanatic” for the rat pack.
“I love Dean Martin. Sammy Davis Jr. Their style of entertainment,” said Mac. “Dean Martin is the epitome of entertainment. He can make you fall to the floor and laugh or bring a tear to your eye.
“I love every aspect of captivating a crowd.”
He said the key for him to entertaining is mastering the art of storytelling.
“I’ve always been obsessed with telling stories,” said Mac, who added that his roots are in writing short stories. “I think it’s a special thing to take a crowd of people, of all walks of life, and you have no idea what people are going through, but for the moment you’re with them in that room, you can help them forget about what they’re going through.
“They’re thinking about the neon stage and you’re making them smile and sing along. It’s an alternate reality where they truly aren’t in the trenches of some of the stress they’ve been dealing with. And I get to take them away from that for a period of time.”
Mac said for him, that ability to bring joy is his obsession.
“It’s such a beautiful thing.”
As he continues to build his career, he said he expects his holistic love of all kinds of country music and their sounds will continue.
“I’m a fan of all the subgenres of country music,” he said. “I write so much. I find myself writing country music that falls into several subgenres and I see myself doing that the rest of my career. I want to write whatever is right for the song.
“I don’t think there’s a rush (in finding my sound). I’m really content and happy with exploring every aspect of songwriting in regards to country music.”
A forever learner, Mac said overnight success isn’t a thing. And he’ll continue to work as hard now as he did to get to this point.
“When you love something, you have to give 100 percent of yourself to it,” said Mac. “And I’m going to work my butt off and give everything I’ve got to my music.”
Muskingum County Fair schedule highlights
WednesdayNoon: Rides Open1-3 p.m.: 2 Bike Give-Away Registrations, Tent Next to Fair Office1 p.m.: Firefighter Show, West End of Fairgrounds2-4 p.m.: Character Express Appearance, Entertainment Tent3 p.m.: Royal Bengal Tiger Show, West End of Fairgrounds4 p.m.: The 2 Bike Give-Away, Entertainment Tent4 p.m.: Firefighter Show, West End of Fairgrounds6 p.m.: Firefighter Show, West End of Fairgrounds7 p.m.: Rough Truck Contest, Grandstand8 p.m.: Royal Bengal Tiger Show, West End of Fairgrounds
ThursdayTaste of the Fair 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a cost of $58 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Garden and Antique Tractor Pull, GrandstandNoon: Rides Open1 p.m.: Supa Fun Band, Strolling Midway1 p.m.: Firefighter Show, West End of Fairgrounds3 p.m.: Royal Bengal Tiger Show, West End of Fairgrounds4 p.m.: Firefighter Show, West End of Fairgrounds6 p.m.: Firefighter Show, West End of Fairgrounds7 p.m.: Rabbit Dress Up, 3 Gables Building8 p.m.: Cooper Alan with special guest Thomas Mac, Grandstand (Must buy tickets separately at muskingumcofair.com)8 p.m.: Royal Bengal Tiger Show, West End of Fairgrounds
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Country singer Thomas Mac performs Thursday at Muskingum County Fair
