With Make My Day, Thomas Marolda reaches another milestone with The Toms: his 25th release. Yet there’s little sense that he’s running out of songs—or reasons to make them. For Marolda, writing and recording remain both an obsession and a source of exhilaration. We spoke with him about inspiration, craftsmanship, knowing when a song is finished, and what keeps the Power Pop fire burning.

Make My Day is your 25th release. What still makes you want to write another Toms song?

Some people get high or buzzed by other means. My high comes from writing and recording new songs. It’s always inspiring when my fans, friends and relatives ask me when The Toms are coming out with new material.

Also, it seems that in the last ten years music has diminished in all areas, so I almost try to make up for the lack of originality, excitement, musicianship, songcraft and production. Sometimes I improve and sometimes I stay the same.

You describe the album in terms of emotion, craftsmanship and innovation. How much of a Toms song is craftsmanship—and when does the art kick in?

I’m never satisfied after spending many hours over a particular song, so I scrap numerous songs and try to outdo myself with the replacement.

I may start a song and finish it very quickly, but the production direction may take the song somewhere that’s not working for me. If I don’t get goosebumps from any part of the track, I will ditch it.

How do you keep the Power Pop fire burning after all these years without simply recreating what worked before?

That would be like asking Paul McCartney why he continues to write and record. You never know where that next gem is coming from, so you keep exploring your own talents and your own preferences in what’s out there.

I normally have to go back to my roots, as today’s new artists and songs fall short of inspiring or impressing me.

Great Power Pop can sound effortless, but there’s usually a lot of craftsmanship behind it. How do you know when a song is finished—and when to stop?

That’s an easy question: goosebumps will tell me that the track is where it’s supposed to be with me.

So, what can we expect from The Toms when Make My Day comes out?

It’s scheduled to be released October 2, 2026. There is also a preview available now.