Back to Love

Washington DC Every singer-songwriter uses life experiences to help shape their own musical style and direction. For Washington DC based Tom Goss, that method has been taken to another level on his latest album, Back To Love. Produced by Mike Ofca, Back To Love is a collection of edgy alt/pop songs that are literally about love not always romantic love, but the many faces of love. He has built on the success of his first national tour with as well as the production and release of his first video, which was featured nationally and eventually rose to number 2 on MTV LOGOs The Click List.

I wanted to create something that was instantly accessible, says Goss. Something that would touch a wide audience, and something that was fast and clean but also carried a concrete message. And he teamed up with Ofca, because, as he says, I love what he can do. He took the songs and added depth and edge -- layers of guitars, monster drums, and a real respect for each individual song at its core.

As for those songs, the months Goss spent on the road fueled his songwriting into something more personal and profound, influenced by some of his favorite artists, including Ben Folds, David Gray, Dave Matthews, Sufjan Stevens, Paolo Nutini and The Beatles. In addition, the songs are a way that Goss has opened up about his own romantic love. As a gay man, he wanted to deliver a message about societal and religious perceptions of what love means to a gay person, as well as his family s love and failed love, including the divorce of his parents. Goss also learned a lot from his recently deceased grandfather, whom he says loved his grandmother more than I have ever seen anyone love. He adds that Back To Love breathes speaks, and aches like nothing I have ever done before.

Goss, who grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, moved to DC in 2004 to enter Catholic seminary in hopes of becoming a priest. After that didn t go as planned, Goss later found himself through his charity work and through his partner, and began to make music more of a full-time ambition. His debut, album, Naked Without, was released in 2006 and was followed by Rise in January 2008.

Goss plans to hit the road in support of Back To Love, delivering the message of his new album to a wide range of listeners. I want people to listen to Back To Love and leave with a sense of hope and love greater than before, says Goss. I want to start conversations about love and loss, anger and forgiveness, hope and fear, but most importantly integration, of self and of each other. And at the same time, I want to deliver the best batch of songs that I possibly could.