We were lucky to catch up with Thorb recently and have shared our conversation below.
Thorb, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Being an artist, you have to risk everything. At the start of COVID, I was working as a Remarking Logistics Supervisor. It obviously wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life but it was safe. I had a steady paycheck, company car, and not many financial issues. Despite the safety, I was considering taking a few months off from work, or even quitting to pursue music exclusively. Right around the time I was bouncing around the idea, I was laid off due to Covid. I took that as a sign. I took my severance, along with nearly every dollar I’ve saved up in my lifetime and put it towards my craft. I knew I would no longer have a steady income, so I used that go harder than I ever have. I told myself that 8 hour shifts weren’t enough to make this dream happen. This is when I gave up everything. Including vacations, nights out, sports, even relationships. Twelve hour days became a regular thing for me and still, nothing seemed to click. I was down to almost my last dollar and finally in 2022, my work began to get recognized. I gathered roughly 100 million views on TikTok alone and was able to work with amazing people (San Antonio Spurs, US Open, Spotify, Gatorade, etc.) Even with opportunities coming in and streaming numbers growing, I still live with the same mindset, because I have to. As an artist, you never know when an opportunity is coming. The struggle continues to this day and the money never comes easy. But you have to be willing to take the risks and give up every bit of normalcy you once had.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My original music has always been my top priority and my goal is always to outwork everyone in the industry. That is why I’ve already released 18 songs in 2023 and we’re only in April. The world of becoming a “content creator” just fell in my lap when I really began showcasing my skills on TikTok, IG reels, etc. I did a lot of themed based rapping, incorporating professional teams/players into the raps for example. Those really took off in 2022 and got the attention of many teams, organizations, and companies across the globe. I basically do it all when it comes to music. So there’s no box I can really be placed in. I produce, mix, and master my own my music. I produce, film, and edit my own videos. I’ve had bad experiences in the past leaving my dream up to somebody else. That is why I taught myself how to do absolutey everything. I now wait on no one and there’s nothing I can’t do.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I built my audience off of hard work and consistency. Consistency is key. I posted videos for 8 years before I had a video go viral. The problem with most creators is they will grind for a year or two, then stop once they don’t get results. I never for a second considered stopping. I knew I was good enough and something would eventually pop. Quitting is downfall of all talented people in my field.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I have to pivot nearly every day. I’ve had video concepts that work one day and fall on their face the next. When trying to make it on your own, you must adapt to any and everything. There isn’t a day I feel comfortable. You also have to be willing to fail, over and over and over again. I take 100 loses before I ever see a win. You have to prepare for loses, and still handle them better than others, and quickly. You don’t have time to dwell on mistakes or failure.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amap.to/iamthorb/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iam_thorb/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamthorb/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCETxN73GSDkRYFDgx35iM9Q
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@iam_thorb