Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Toby Lightman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Toby thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

My senior year of High School, the school choir teacher encouraged me to audition for the solo at my graduation. It was to sing the verse of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” with the school choir backing us. I graduated with about 500 kids so there was over 1,500 people at our graduation. This would be the first time that anyone, including my family and friends, would hear me sing alone. When it was time for me to sing the second verse, I closed my eyes and sang my heart out. The whole auditorium became quiet and when I opened my eyes, everyone was standing and watching me, baffled. The choir teacher conducting us had tears streaming down her face, as did I. In that moment, I knew I had to pursue music. That moment also gave me the courage to teach myself the guitar and write songs.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I was signed with Lava Atlantic Records, about a year after graduating from college. I released my debut album in 2004 called “Little Things”. It landed on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to have my single debut in the top 20 on pop radio. I went on to making the late night talk show rounds and touring with all sorts of artists like Rob Thomas, Gavin Degraw, Jewel and Prince. I released another album called “Bird on a Wire” in 2006 which featured a song called “My Sweet Song” that was placed in the movie PS I LOVE YOU with Hilary Swank. This was my first placement of a song in a movie. I have since had songs in over 75 films and tv shows, and I continue releasing albums on my own label to this day. My newest release “After All”, which will be out on November 4, 2022, is the first album that I produced myself. I have worked with a lot of amazing producers, in all sorts of studios, but this album is my most personal yet and I wanted to take it on myself.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being a creative can be very rewarding, as well as challenging. To be able to dig down into the mystery of creating something that has an emotional connection, is probably one of the more fulfilling things I could think of. You can’t touch music or hold it, but the feelings it can bring can be spiritual. I don’t fully understand how a song enters into my mind, but when it does, it’s almost an out-of-body experience. Now don’t get me wrong, not all songwriting sessions are like that. Some are painstakingly slow and extremely hard to finish. But when a song falls out of my head, I play it over and over almost in a state of euphoria that I have produced something that speaks my truth. Whatever happens to the song after that is out of my hands, but the creation of it is pure magic.

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?

Almost every day, I have someone saying to me that they wished they could sing or write a song. I always have the same response. If everyone could do it, it wouldn’t be unique. We wouldn’t need to listen to other people’s songs because we could write our own. Non-creatives fill a void that the world needs too! We all do things that help the universe spin, but being on the creative journey is the roller coaster. Lots of highs and lows, not a whole lot of consistency, but when it clicks, it’s a jackpot. Sometimes artist wait a lifetime for that magic moment where it clicks and makes the struggle so worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tobylightman.com
• Instagram: @tobylightman
• Facebook: @tobylightman
• Twitter: @tobylightman
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3BDyPnpEAyd6kFM1Wgpdgz?si=cZfdNEWuS8S3dMHNd4_1Tg

Image Credits
Live Photo by Will Hunt Photos by Brooke Straiton