BY PANKHURI BHUTANI
PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS ORTIZ
This artist recently came out with his new single “You Know It”. Having more than 10,000 Instagram followers and thousands of monthly Spotify listeners, Thomas Ortiz is an artist worth listening to!
From posting covers of different songs to creating his own music, Thomas has won the hearts of many people. He has released many successful tracks such as “To Let Go”, “Paradise”, “No Alcohol”, and “Another Chance”. Thomas has big plans for the future. Thomas took out some of his precious time to sit down and talk to Unclear Magazine about his music and share what the fans can expect from his work in the future!
Hello! Thank you for joining us at Unclear Magazine. Kindly tell us something about yourself.
Thomas: “Thanks for the interview! I’m just a dude who loves to produce music and sing.”
When was the moment you decided to start your journey as a music artist?
T: “I decided to pursue music 100% after I decided to leave my former religion. I have no problem with religious people whatsoever. However, my upbringing was very controlled. I wasn’t allowed to pursue music completely or else it would result in shunning, by my friends and family. Pretty intense stuff.”
What were the challenges that you faced during this journey and how did you cope up with them?
T: “I guess the first challenge was how was I going to learn the ins and outs of producing. Luckily, I was able to teach myself as well as get some help. My co-producer, Rob Parks played a role in helping me learn a few things about music production. Another challenge that I think all artists face is comparing themselves to others who have ‘made it’ in the industry. You simply can’t do that. Just be YOU and make music that speaks to YOU.”
Who do you consider to be the biggest source of inspiration?
T: “I would say, Michael Jackson. He was just something else. A force to be reckoned with. I think all artists aspiring to portray if only some of his performance and work ethic qualities. When he would perform, it looked like he was in a trance; nothing but him and the music.”
If you could choose one word to describe your music, what might it be and why?
T: “Ever-changing if that’s one word. Seriously, I love all kinds of music. Maybe not all in the same way, but I can definitely see myself in many genres, maybe with just a pop veneer. I really do think that all genres have something to offer to pop-culture, as they should.”
What can the fans expect from your music in the future?
T: “More of it. That’s for sure. I plan to release a song every month for the foreseeable future. I can’t wait to see how they will be received. As for the sound, some new disco stuff, trappy stuff, slow ballads, anthems, everything.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS ORTIZ
What are the things that you put into your mind before creating your music?
T: “I try to avoid thinking about other music. I sit down at the keyboard and won’t decide to proceed until I find a chord progression and melody that makes me FEEL something. My thinking is that if just the melody evokes emotion, the song will only get better with lyrics.”
Lastly, is there any message that you would like to give to your fans?
T: “Just thank you. Thanks to the ones that have been there from the start. Thanks to my new listeners. Thank you! It just wouldn’t be close to the same without you guys to share my music with!”