Stream Thurmon Green's Tired of Being Funny

Stream the New York vocalist’s new EP and read our interview.

Thurmon Green has followed up last year’s woozy Adolphus EP with Tired of Being Funny. As we wrote when premiering ‘Only 1’, the EP draws from hip-hop, pop and 80s R&B for a collection of songs that sway, strut and swagger.

Stream Tired of Being Funny below, and read our interview with Green, wherein the singer-songwriter talks about avoiding nostalgia, the personal meaning of the title, how he shaped raw emotions into songs and more.

The new EP balances classic R&B songwriting and production without sounding “throwback” — how do you walk that line?

It was very important to me that the EP not sound like a “throwback”. I am usually turned off by anything nostalgic… music, restaurants, you name it. I only wanted to incorporate older musical stylings if and when it felt justified artistically. The music for ‘How I Remember’ has a hazy Anita Baker, Mark Morrison vibe but I think it works because it sonically contributes to the narrative of the song: thinking back to some fleeting romantic experience and reckoning with the feelings that bubble up with it.

What does the EP’s title mean to you?

Tired of Being Funny is borrowed from a great comedic film I saw in 2013 called Enough Said, with Julia Louis Dreyfus and James Galdolfini. They play two middle-aged single parents who start an unlikely courtship. After their first night together, they lie in bed and Dreyfus’s character says offhand: “I’m tired of being funny,” and the scene ends. I really related to that sentiment and was so moved, sitting alone in the theater.

Growing up as a nerdy, effeminate fat kid forced me to cultivate a sharp sense of humor. It’s actually aided me well in many respects, but the song is about the frustration of hiding behind humor as a means to avoid vulnerability. I think a lot of people can relate to that experience. I also hope that, as the EP title, it can be interpreted in broader social and political terms. It is a very intense time in the world and I think a lot of people are waking up to the reality that we need to take these things very seriously.

“It’s all actually still kind of raw and intense but at least it makes for good material!”Thurmon Green

What was going on in your life at the time that you wrote and recorded the EP?

I was very in unhappy state in the very beginning of creating this EP. I was disillusioned by a string of failed romantic encounters that had me wondering what the hell was wrong with me. My plan was for this EP to be very moody and straight R&B heartbreak songs, very K. Michelle. It turned out to be very difficult writing and singing all these sad songs because in life, I am usually pretty optimistic. Even if I was in a good mood that day, I had to get into a heavy emotional head space to effectively write and sing. It was very depressing! And painfully cliche.

Eventually, I decided the direction of the EP needed to be a journey in and out of happiness, rather than just a static emotional state. Writing songs like ‘How I Remember’ and ‘Only 1′ were me attempting to trick myself into believing that I had gained some wisdom, or perspective on being heartbroken; a “fake it ’til you make it” moment. It’s all actually still kind of raw and intense but at least it makes for good material!

What are you looking forward to before the year is over, both musically and non-musically?

I’m really looking forward to collaborating with others artists as a songwriter and producer. As far as my own music, I really want to make a more concerted effort to work with more female identified producers — if any of you are reading this, hit ya boy up!

Performing live is my first love and I hope that releasing more music will bring show opportunities here and abroad. I play fairly often here in New York City but it never feels like enough! As ham as the world is I am still very excited for the future — after all, I am an optimist.