Hiya Thomas, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
Thanks for joining us today… Tell us bit about where you are from and how you got into music?
Thanks for having me! My name is Thomas O’Shea, the Asian with the Irish name, and I’m based in Madison, WI. I actually got my start in music 18 years ago when I was 6. That’s when I started piano lessons and my interest just started to grow from there. But I got my start in the music industry itself just about a decade ago and have been working, learning, and creating as much as I can ever since.
What’s the live music scene like in Madison, WI right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you,of course)?
Ooo, you’re asking both the right and wrong person that haha. One of my gigs in Madison is working as a live sound engineer and I work with a lot of great artists and bands. But, I can think of a few standouts.
First, and with no bias at all (like actually), is my cousin’s band The Spine Stealers. They make fantastic spooky inspired folk music. Great story telling. Cool writing and instrumentation.
The Periodicals are also really good- they make a genre blend of R&B, Rock, and Soul. Lot of talent on the stage when they perform and they can take any show and turn it into a party!
And I also have to mention Sean Michael Dargan who’s in multiple groups- all of them great. From an 80’s cover song band to a Beatles tribute band. Really consider myself lucky to be able to work with so much talent, but those are definitely the standouts for me.
Do you think its easy to become a victim of our surroundings sometimes?
Huh. That’s a pretty deep question, no? I would say yes, but in this industry it’s important that you don’t let it happen to you. Being a victim of your surroundings or your circumstances, to me at least, means you’re listening to people you shouldn’t listen to.
Whats your favourite social media platform to use and why?
In all honesty, I don’t have a favorite. I think all forms of social media are good tools until they go too far. I actually touch on this on my latest album.
We believe its essential to have a presence on Facebook, Instagram and X to introduce yourself to all the different types of audiences out there, what’s your thoughts on that?
Oh 100%. It’s a tool, but if you’re only on one platform then you’re only using part of the tools at your disposal. Although you’ll find different success rates with each, all three of those are important for artists and producers and really anyone working in the music industry. I would even include Threads, TikTok, and YouTube on that list.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
My view on the industry today… hmmm. It’s weird right now. I’d say that’s the best way to put it. We have fully independent artists dominating, but also everything is still so label central taking most of the money.
We have many many talented artists but also seem to have some who could have been developed as an artist more before blowing up. And then on top of all of that, we have AI.
Not to bring controversy into this, but there’s so much wrong with the industry but all of the things that are wrong, I see opportunities for people to potentially change it around. I hope that the industry starts moving towards music first. Human creativity first. And all the other stuff as secondary.
Whats the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
Learn the industry. This isn’t a thing that gets talked about a lot. People say to just practice, network, and collaborate but nothing about money is talked about until it’s too late. Pay attention to the other stuff if you want to go full time in music. Royalties, contracts, getting all your money, and finding opportunities- the only way to play the game in the industry is by learning the industry.
What’s currently in your ears and on rotation at the moment?
Depends on the day- sometimes I’m just listening to references and then working on beatpacks for different opportunities (can’t talk about that too much, unfortunately). But, on days that I have time to listen to music for fun, Samara Joy’s Portrait, Bruno Mars’s 24k Magic, and Jon Bellion’s Father Figure and Translations Through Speakers have been on heavy rotation. Otherwise, I just go to Apple Music or YouTube and let whatever comes up just play- as long as it’s not AI!
What was your worst experience on stage? Any funny stories to share?
I can think of two right away. Two different genres. First, when I was in college I did a two piano duet with my piano professor. I didn’t turn the page in time at one point and full on stopped during the performance. My professor stopped, stared at me for what felt like a full 90 seconds before we somehow found a spot and started again. Talk about terrifying.
Second, I had gotten too ambitious for a solo performance and tried to produce, structure, and mix a beat while also singing and doing fx after only a week of practice. Boy oh boy, that performance was bad. Mumbled every single word and came in on the off beat more times than on the beat.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
Yep! I have my debut album (since shedding my old stage name) coming out on January 16! It’s called Generation Z and is a concept album with a narrative about what it was like growing up as Gen Z. I really go into a lot- hookup culture, our addiction to the internet and our phones, AI, and a lot of other issues or problems that I’ve seen in my 24 years on Earth.
What was the recording process like?
It took a while. I started this project just about a year ago on the dot. I didn’t even plan on writing or releasing an album while working on the first songs, but saw the story develop as I continued writing. As a producer first and foremost, I mainly just had a bunch of instrumentals that were unusable for my opportunities, so I just said “screw it” and went back to those instrumentals and wrote lyrics for them myself. And I really like writing that way.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
I don’t know, honestly. I like how the original turned out, though I did write more songs that fit the narrative. I’d say that the album is just what I wanted to release, but I’m not ruling out a deluxe release or a “demos” release or something.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
There’s not a lot I can talk about yet, but I’ve got a lot planned! I would love it if you came along for the journey! Follow my socials, check out my website, and reach out if you want!
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