Thomas Dollbaum is a musician who seems to have mastered the art of patience. His latest album, Birds Of Paradise, arrives this Friday, offering a collection of country-inflected rock songs that feel both lived-in and urgent. Set against the backdrop of the seedier, more transient corners of his native Florida, the record captures a specific, gritty Americana that has been years in the making.
Now based in New Orleans, the 32-year-old artist brings an MFA in poetry to his songwriting, resulting in a conversational, drawling delivery that feels authentic without relying on forced affectation. His sound has drawn comparisons to iconic figures like Bobby Charles, capturing that elusive “guy you might meet at the dive bar” quality that resonates deeply with listeners.
The Making of 'Birds Of Paradise'
The path to Birds Of Paradise was anything but linear. Dollbaum recorded the project in 2023 at a studio in Water Valley, Mississippi, alongside a group of friends that included MJ Lenderman. At the time, Lenderman was still on the cusp of his own massive breakthrough with Manning Fireworks, but his influence on the record is unmistakable. You can hear his backing vocals on the standout single “Coyote,” a track that serves as a perfect introduction to Dollbaum’s brawny, narrative-driven style.
“I think it also got the amount of time it needed to be digested, even by me. Took a while to get everything in order. It’s in a good place, like it's the best version of itself it can be.”
Following a period of label uncertainty, the album found a home with Dear Life Records, a label that has become a cornerstone for the current wave of alt-country and indie-rock talent. Despite the multi-year delay between the initial sessions and the release, Dollbaum remains remarkably grounded about the process, viewing the wait as a necessary period for the music to find its footing.