Page 17 - ION Indie Magazine MarchApril 2021

INTERVIEW

In a short span by music industry standards, Platinum-selling powerhouse group Parmalee has attained
numerous notable accolades in country music. They are a 2016 ACM “New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year,”
and are one of only four groups since 2001 to earn three consecutive Top 10 singles from a debut country
album, including their #1 hit “Carolina.” Parmalee has supported Brad Paisley and Jake Owen, performed on
NBC’s TODAY Show, The Late Late Show, FOX & Friends All American Summer Concert Series, MLB
Central’s Studio 21, The Queen Latifah Show, and more. Their journey has also seen its fair share of
hardship. In 2010, they were the victims of an attempted robbery where Scott Thomas had been shot and
was subsequently hospitalized for 40 days. But in true “band of brothers” spirit, this tragedy only proved to
strengthen the group’s bond.

Drawing inspiration from their own lives, Parmalee has released such songs as “Musta Had A Good Time”
and their album ”27861,” an homage to their hometown’s zip code. Parmalee’s current hit, “Just the Way,” is
a collaboration with Grammy-nominated producer and innovative genre-blurring “Trailer Trap” artist Blanco
Brown (“The Git Up”).

Parmalee is comprised of brothers Matt (lead vocals/guitar) and Scott Thomas (drums), cousin Barry Knox
(bass), and life-long friend Josh McSwain (guitar). I recently had the honor to interview Matt Thomas.