We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tom Cheshire a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

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

I have been writing songs and putting out music for years but took things into my own hands over the past few years. The timing was right and the planets all lined up. It just made sense. Now we put out everything under the name TCB as an umbrella company or conglomerate. I was always waiting for someone to help me with it or a label to give me a bunch of money and expecting big things to happen. A few years ago we decided to act as the artist and the management and things now really are happening.

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 grew up in New York City and fell in love with music and the arts very young. I moved to Atlanta in the mid 90’s and met some beautiful people who loved the same things as me. We dove into music and art. I still play music and create with that same group of people. We have performed under the names Rent Boys, Prowling Wolves, West End Motel and now Tom Cheshire Band. I have put out several records. I have toured the country several times. I have put out a few books of poetry. Since then I have lived in several places including San Diego, Philadelphia, back in NYC and most recently San Juan, Puerto Rico. Also recently I started painting.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2012 I put out a record on the Warner Bros label. I really thought I had made it and big things were coming. It was a reality check. The major labels are a business like any other business and they really didn’t do anything for us. They certainly didn’t have us, the artist, in mind. They were only looking at dollar signs and when they saw that we were not bringing in money, of course, our days were numbered. I was depressed about it for a bit. After a while, I realized that I was the only one who could do this, make something happen. I started my own company and started working from the ground up, a grassroots approach, partnering and collaborating with other people in a similar situation that were not afraid to put the time in and work. I realized that street teams work and if I push your band or label or product, I can help you, and maybe you can do the same for me. Networking works, collaborations work. We slowly built up our brand.

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

I have had people reach out to me, strangers, from other countries, on Facebook, on Instagram, sharing their stories, saying that a song of mine saved their life. I had someone come up to me a while back, I was at a Rock Show in Atlanta, and the guy came up to me and said his grandfather passed away, and that he used to listen to one of my albums all the time with his grandfather, so when he passed away, my music helped him. He listened to this record every morning for months as a way of dealing with his grief. It’s a wonderful feeling to connect with strangers like that, and then to become friends in real life with these people. It really is beautiful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Tomcheshire_tcb
• Facebook: Tom Cheshire Musician

Image Credits
Heather Vitale