Written by Janet Orgain
A few years ago, he bought his first acoustic guitar and taught himself how to play. Today, he is one of nine musicians and bands nationwide competing in the General Mills “URock” competition.On Oct. 12, Kolton Thomas’s easy-listening acoustic style won the Harding “URock” competition hosted by Aramark in the school cafeteria. Thomas beat two other Harding bands to move on to the next stage of competition.”I was excited about winning at Harding,” Thomas said. “But as soon as I won, I found out that the next stage was online voting. I went right to work.”Thomas, a freshman business major, contacted relatives and friends to spread the word about online voting. Nine bands from across the country were vying for votes on the “Rock Your Campus” website. The top three finalists will be rewarded with an all-expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to perform at the national level of the competition in January, sponsored by General Mills.”I won’t really be excited until I’m on the plane to L.A.,” Thomas said. “Because right now, I’m just someone who won a little thing in the caf.”In the first round of competition, Thomas performed two songs solo: “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain and an original, “Breathe in Easy.” Thomas said his music falls in the rock genre, but he aims to make his music appeal to all ages.”I am really like John Mayer but with a softer, newer style,” Thomas said. “The songs that I write have a rock genre, but I put different tastes in. I try to get it where everyone can listen to it and like it.”Roommate Matt Warren said he believes Thomas’s talent is obvious.”The quality of his voice that he projects is priceless,” Warren said. “It’s like no other. He has the potential to move forward. If anything will get him to LA, it’s his voice.”The winner of the national competition will receive a free recording session at Firehouse Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Thomas said his skill for writing and his ability to play his music for the masses are his main strengths that will hopefully get him into the recording studio in Los Angeles.”I’m not the best instrumentalist; I’m not the best on guitar,” Thomas said. “But I do have a knack for writing a modern style of music. That is my ticket to maybe turning this into something.”However, Thomas said he is keeping a level head throughout all the hype of possible opportunities.”I’m really blessed to have such an awesome opportunity come at me so fast,” Thomas said. “The most important thing for me is to stay focused. I’ve always had God in my life. And coming from Harding, I will be representing the school, God and who I am. So I must keep him first throughout all of this. I think it’s a long shot, but it’s still exciting that there is a chance.”The top three national finalists will be announced Monday, Dec. 6 at www.rockyourcampus.com.
