_{Photo: Ethan Covey}

British folk/country musician Teddy Thompson came to the United States some 25 years ago and made a new life for himself in New York City and has not looked back ever since. Born to folk singer parents Richard and Linda Thompson and brother to Kamila Thompson, also a musician, music is in Thompson’s blood. He will perform at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT) this week in a show presented by Payomet Performing Arts Center. Thompson took some time to chat with us about his background, the role of music in troubling times, and why he stays in America, even now.

Provincetown Magazine: You’ve been in the States consistently for like 25-30 years, right? Are there misconceptions you had before living here about what it would be like?

Teddy Thompson: I mean, if I really think about it honestly, not even given the current climate, but I really did think of America as being just kind of this land of freedom. And by that, I mean sort of personal freedom, like the freedom to be whoever you want. Because, you know, I came from England, and it doesn’t have that feeling. It sort of feels very like you have to stay in your lane, and you’re set, and you’re who you are. And I think, like a lot of people, I came to America and thought, “Okay, I can just reinvent myself. And here I am, and I’m a musician now,” you know, rather than having to explain that to your school friends, right?

PM: And have you found that to be true?

TT: Yeah. I mean, actually, yes, it’s very open in that way, you’re allowed to just say who you are and what you want to be without sort of being embarrassed about it. People, Americans, are very good at that, whereas the Brits are sort of bad at it.

PM: So, you grew up in a very musical family, so I’m assuming that everybody was totally fine with you saying you wanted to be a musician?

TT: Well, not exactly. Both of my parents are musicians. They were really supportive, but they weren’t— I don’t know if they were that thrilled, because once you’ve lived that life—I understand it more now— it’s a lot of heartache, you know, it’s a lot of insecurity, and it’s a lot of angst, for many, many reasons. But, you know, there’s, like, financial insecurity, then there’s the sort of angst that comes along with doing the thing that you enjoy doing, but then having to make that a job as well. It’s fraught, and I think, like most parents, they probably at least a part of them would quite like me to have done something a little bit safer and more secure.

PM: So outside of your own family, who are your biggest influences, musically?

TT: That’s a difficult question, I mean, I’ll tell you, but for the most part, I think that a lot of my favorite artists or the people that influenced me, I don’t sound very much like them, and I don’t know what that means. I never really had anybody that I tried to sound like, or that I think I ended up sounding like, but I love a lot of the people that everybody loves, you know, the top of the top. I mean, starting out with Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly were my earliest influences. You know, I loved 50s American rock and roll…I mean, that stuff is still my favorite stuff. And then the Everly Brothers were a big love of mine when I was a young teenager and getting into music. And then just everything, you know, I was exposed to great music. The best thing about having parents who were musicians was that they exposed me to great music—not their music, they never played or listened to their music. That was like a job they did. But they listened to great music, and they bought me really great records when the time was right. I remember my mom buying me Songs in the Key of Life [by Stevie Wonder] when I was about 15; it totally changed my life, as it did with everybody that heard it. But just like great stuff. And then my mom took me to the opera when I was 13, Turandot, and I loved it, and, just everything—Edith Piaf and Ray Charles. Very catholic taste in music, especially my mother, and that’s the greatest gift I got from her, musically.

PM: So, with everything going on, and how afraid people are and concerned about various things in recent times, what do you think the role of music is now for us?

TT: I don’t know that it’s changed that much. I mean, I think most people aren’t writing political songs or anything…There aren’t a lot of people doing what was happening in the 60s, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez and Pete Seeger and all that stuff. There isn’t that much of that around. So, it seems like most of the time, the role of music is to just soothe people and maybe a bit of escapism. And then, you know, I guess the musicians can turn up at the rallies and help to keep people interested. That’s some sort of service to be delivered. And I think that’s important, you know? I think we all would like to be of service, and when things are not going well, and sometimes it’s hard to know how you can help. And I think it’s not the worst thing in the world for musicians just to say, “Well, look, this is what I’m good at. I have this talent. So, can I help by showing up and singing some songs,” and you know, that everybody do what they can? But I think, you know, music, it does have an, you know, it does have an incredible, undeniable kind of magic power to it, whatever type of music you happen to love. So, it’s certainly valuable when times are tough.

—RMA

Payomet Performing Arts Center presents Teddy Thompson live in concert at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, 2357 Rte. 6, Wellfleet, Sunday, May 3, 7 – 9 p.m. For tickets ($28 – $48) and information call 508.349.2929 or visit payomet.org.