Meet Lain Tomlinson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lain Tomlinson.

Hi Lain, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I have been singing for as long as I can remember in church and school choirs, but I remember the moment when I realized that it was going to be an integral part of my life. I sang a cover of “The River” by Garth Brooks for my high school Senior Night, and the way that I felt that night after finishing that song made me realize how much of a passion for music I actually had.

I ended up performing as a keyboardist in a band after I graduated, and a couple of years later, I started my own band while in college. I ended up earning degrees in both Mathematics and Vocal Performance while at Cumberland University, and thanks to the amazing music faculty, I started to find my voice and my sound.

Over the years, I’ve been knocked off course from time to time, but one thing that has stayed consistent is my passion for changing people’s lives through music, whether at a church, a restaurant, or even online. In 2015, I started preaching, which definitely had an effect on the type of music I was playing at my shows (I still play country music, but I try to steer towards positive and uplifting themes).

Just like everyone else, 2020 was a major setback for me in terms of momentum, but it gave me a chance to really sit down and figure out which direction I wanted to go with my music. Now, I’m currently in the process of recording my first professional album, and I’m looking forward to the opportunities ahead in the new year as we start going back out and playing more live shows.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been an easy road. One of the things that come with being any type of performer is that when you’re on stage, you’re putting a part of yourself out there, and that’s a vulnerable and sometimes scary place. I have been blessed with a strong support system that is honest but encouraging, but there have also been times when people who I looked up to were some of the harshest voices.

Unfortunately, I let those negative opinions live in my head rent-free for longer than I care to admit. Even though I am now getting compliments and booking shows on a scale that 18-year-old me would have never imagined, that fear of failure and not living up to expectations still flares up from time to time. Thanks to therapy and some really great books, I’ve been able to overcome that for the most part, and now I understand that failure is not the end, but a chance to learn and improve.

The way I look at it, you have to make sure that when you’re playing music or entertaining people on stage, you’re doing it for the right reasons. If I never headline a stadium tour across the United States, that’s alright. But if a song I write reaches in and touches even one person and impacts their life, then I’ve accomplished a lot more than I ever expected to when I started this journey.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m really excited about my upcoming album (yet to be named). We are in the middle of the recording process right now, and I love that the album has a nice overarching theme and a sound that feels like me. That’s what I think makes me the happiest.

One of the things I strive for is authenticity. Being a performer and a preacher and (for five years) a math instructor, finding the balance of being myself while simultaneously being what other people need/want me to be was another thing I struggled with. As I worked on the songs for this album (and prayed a LOT), it helped me to find that balance. I’m excited to share that discovery with the world one song at a time.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I always keep the Bible app on my phone, and it amazes me how the Verse of the Day is oftentimes applicable to my life situation at that moment. The Bible is a great guidebook and resource when you’re struggling or when everything is going well!

I’ve also been reading a book, Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck, that was recommended to me by a former Psychology professor at Cumberland University, Dr. Smith. I should have read it back when she first recommended it, but I’m happy that I am reading it now. It’s been a big help on the journey to find authenticity in my life.

Contact Info:

• Email: ltomlinsomusic@gmail.com
• Website: http://www.laintomlinson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltomlinsonmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LTomlinsonMusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LainTomlinsonMusic

Image Credits
Madison Fountain Photography, Andrea Wilke, Karen Perry, and Tammy Bolton