Paramus Guitar Prodigy Releases Debut Album Amid Global Pandemic

PARAMUS, NJ — By the age of 16, Jake Thistle had achieved more goals than most people twice his age.

Thistle, a Paramus native, has shared bills with favorite artists like Jackson Browne, The Heartbreakers and Stevie Nicks, but now, Thistle will release his own artistic vision into the world with his debut album "Down the Line".

A virtual concert is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m., which will coincide with the release.

Of course, given that it is 2020, the process for making this album went through a couple phases, Thistle said during a Wednesday phone call.

"I was supposed to be in the studio this year recording an EP," said Thistle. That project was slated to consist of three original songs and a cover.

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit New Jersey, and the studio closed.

It was supposed to open during the summer. Then it was supposed to open during the fall.

Now, well, here we are.

Improvising as any good guitarist can, Thistle pivoted, outfitting his home with enough studio equipment to record, eventually resulting in this new album, out Saturday.

In the process of narrowing down and "finding the sound of the album," Thistle left plenty on the cutting room floor, but thinks he found the consistency he was looking for.

"It’s not an acoustic album," Thistle said, "but it’s not a full band rock album either."

Thistle’s buzz has risen to a simmer among classic rock purists, given his technical gifts and affinity for the sounds of years past. (When asked what his favorite albums of 2020 were, Thistle said one of the "newer" artists he’s listened to this year is Jackson Browne.)

He has a couple thousand Instagram followers, and a small, but consistent viewership on YouTube where he, to this point, has released covers of artists whose influence he wears on his sleeve.

In a November 2019 video, Norman Harris of Norm’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana, California called him a "disciple" of Tom Petty.

The distinction isn’t dismissive, nor is it incorrect.

Thistle considers Petty and his contemporaries among his favorite musicians, and feels lucky to have their stewardship as he continues through the early years of his career.

"I still talk with them today," he said of The Heartbreakers, who he played alongside during a 2019 memorial concert for Petty in Los Angeles. "They were willing to let me record with them and use their studios. It just really means the world."

He’s also taken in advice from his rock elders, but it’s hard to imagine any of it could have covered the best practices of putting out your first record during a global pandemic.

As he releases his debut, Thistle understands the timing couldn’t be more strange. In-person shows are all but impossible, with venues closed for the foreseeable future.

This means touring revenue, at least in the traditional sense, has taken a hit.

"I make all my money from gigs, and I play a lot of gigs, or at least I used to," Thistle said.

But Thistle, maintaining youthful optimism, isn’t allowing the circumstances to dampen his excitement.

"I am, of course, kind of disappointed I can’t be playing live," said Thistle. "On the other hand though, I’m very thankful I can do virtual shows because my fan base, for the most part, is pretty spread out."

Thistle can trace his growing fan base beyond the United States to Europe, including England, and, to his continued surprise, Croatia.

When the world eventually returns to whatever shred of normalcy it can salvage, Thistle is looking forward to playing live shows again, and touring the album.

Jake Thistle merchandise is also in the works, a growing requirement for revenue streams in a world where people hardly pay for the music they listen to, and streaming services pay out next to nothing.

As for that EP, it’s still tentatively planned, but the process hasn’t started yet.

"That’ll be a problem for 2021," said Thistle.

The virtual concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday. Find tickets here: https://danitix.com/tickets/time/jakethistle/12/

A download link for the album will be available on Thistle’s website.

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