Rising R&B singer and songwriter TA Thomas has inked a deal with Def Jam Recordings and High Standardz.
He joins the same imprint as Grammy-winning singer Coco Jones and rapper Lady London.
The Def Jam roster extends to artists such as Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Jhené Aiko, Muni Long, Fridayy, Zae France and more.
TA Thomas took to social media to share a heartfelt message about his new label home. “We made it official! I Been holding this in for a minute now. This signing is super special to me, man. I know Momma smiling down from Heaven. This is for you,” he wrote on Instagram.
TA Thomas went on to thank his manager Tosh Mac, High Standardz’s CEO Jeremy Jones, his lawyer Helen Yu, and Def Jam’s CEO Tunji Balogun.
To celebrate his new deal, the former Next Town Down member has released his new single, “Risky.”
The heartwarming ballad was produced by Eric Hudson, Johnny Thomas Jr., and Phil Lewis. TA co-wrote the track with Tiyon “TC” Mack and Dimitri McDowell.
On “Risky,” TA sings about the beauty in the vulnerability of falling in love. While it can feel scary at times, TA assures that his heart is pure. “In time you will see / I’m on your side / Lovin’ is easy, so give it a try,” he sings.
“Risky” is TA’s first musical release since his 2023 debut EP, Caught Between 2 Worlds.
The project, which was among Rated R&B’s Best R&B Albums of 2023 list, was produced primarily by Camper, with additional production by Ali Roots A16 and Ray Keys.
Speaking on his debut EP, TA told Rated R&B, “We’re coming to a moment in time where guys are becoming a lot more vulnerable. This project embodies the male perspective of being in and out of love.”
Since releasing Caught Between 2 Worlds, TA has collaborated with R&B duo The Amours (“Pick Me Up“) and MaKenzie (“Maybe”).
Stream TA Thomas’ new song “Risky” below.