We recently connected with TJ Martinez and have shared our conversation below.
Hi TJ, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Besides playing in bands and fulfilling my creative side in music, I was connected to a job working as a production assistant on a CW show. One of the duties I was assigned was reading lines with a particular actor and soon some of the other cast members would use me to read lines with them as well. The event that sparked my interest in acting as a career was in the middle of the basecamp where the trailers are for actors, wardrobe/hair & make-up, production, and usually craft service. I was practicing lines with an actor who encouraged me to read my character’s lines with anger, but I was not giving a believable performance. With my consent, he “helped” me to find some real anger to believably deliver these lines. Unaware of what was about to happen, I was pushed to the ground and the tranquil setting of a quiet basecamp was interrupted with my shouting of these lines. Concerned people came out of their trailers, the craft service truck, you name it. While this actor, whom I am grateful for, was standing in front of me clapping his hands in approval, I was taking in my first lesson as a thespian.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Music-wise, I was inspired to play guitar thanks to the thrash and nu-metal bands of the 90’s. Eventually I was in bands touring, recording, and partying. I played many roles in different bands from guitarist, bassist, and being the band’s frontman. All along with the rockstar ventures, many friends/roommates of mine just happened to be, and still are, hip hop artist. By association, and timing with my pursuit into a solo music career, I started creating hip-hop/trap beats and incorporating the aggressive thrash metal sound that I love. Currently, I write, produce, and record my own music under the alias Skunk M40. My goal, as rare as it may sound, is to take the sound of the metal band, Lamb of God, and mix it with the charismatic vibe of an artist like Nipsey Hussle.
As an actor, I’ve been very fortunate to work with certain talents I’ve previously known from many of their past projects. I’m happy to say that I’ll be co-starring on an episode of a Peacock Series that comes out next year. And I’m really looking forward to what’s next up for me. I also do theatre training in Hollywood at the Gloria Gifford Conservatory and have been featured in one of their theatre productions. Some of my favorite writers for scene study work are John Patrick Shanley and Stephen Adly Guirgis. Very street.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Joining an acting class for me was a huge resource for all the questions I had, and helps an actor to really strengthen their craft. But having a mentor or teacher that has gone where you want to go in the business is a big deal. Taking lessons from someone who hasn’t reached the level, career-wise, that you want to be at, can be a mistake. And with music, as well as acting, building a network is a big part of the business.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
From the beginning of my journey, I came to the Los Angeles area with an understanding that my move would mostly likely end the relationship I was in at the time. And it did. Setting my priorities by putting my career first became a big life changer. Both sides of my family are in San Diego and I’m very family oriented, but even though I’m only two hours away I can hardly find time to visit them at this point in my career. It’s not easy to get a business off the ground especially as an actor. The time it takes to audition for jobs, the amount of rejection, the constant pursuit for more opportunities, while juggling the day job, exercising, and still attending the acting classes and voice lessons, walking and feeding the dog, and the list goes on. Not to mention the LA traffic, parking tickets, and the curve balls that life seems to throw at you out of nowhere. Oh yeah, actors/artist also need to make time for sleeping, eating, hygiene. For people who don’t understand the sacrifice it takes to make a living as an artist, it’s not easy otherwise everyone would do it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_real_tj_martinez
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkunkM40
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/SkunkM40
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/SkunkMusicChannel
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2saTWzGlMeh6d65PwJPNk6?si=IXz2DNEETNKGwyIUaSubLw
Image Credits
Robert Kazandjian Casey James Knight