We recently connected with Tommy Grasley and have shared our conversation below.
Tommy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I’m going to flip this on its head so that maybe you find a different way of looking at risk. Sure there are all kinds of risks in life. Even the ones that you don’t take. And yet, the one risk that I’d like you to really consider, is not being afraid to follow your passion, interests, or goals. It’s also knowing that it’s not a risk if you trust yourself and what you’re capable of doing. One of the worst feelings is stopping yourself from doing what you really want because fear is holding you back.
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?
I’m a Recording Artist, Singer, Songwriter, and Producer going under the name TOMMYGUNN. I grew up in a steel town in Canada. My musical journey started as a young guy drawing on the influence of a successful musically inspired family. My father, Sonny Del Rio (Saxophone) was in CROWBAR with my uncles, Kelly Jay and King Biscuit Boy (aka Richard Newell). My Dad received a Queens Jubilee award for excellence. On my mother’s side (the Stewarts), Rod Stewart is my cousin.
I, TOMMYGUNN released my first album in 2013, UNLEASH THE HOUNDS which charted #7 in Australia and had success in the U.K. My next album, I BELIEVE IN LOVE released in 2020 reflects the world around me. It tells the story of my life moving from hate to love. I had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the best artists in Rock n’ Roll – Eddie Kramer (Beatles, Led Zeppelin , Jimi Hendrix …), Dale Harrison (Headstones), Greg Godovitz (Goddo); Kim DesChamps (Blue Rodeo), and more. It felt that I, TOMMYGUNN had emerged.
CALIFORNIA WAY, is my most recent album. I was inspired by my love of the California coast. The album includes legends; Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth, Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band, ELO, Bee Gees) Laurence Juber (Paul McCartney & Wings), T Bear (Kiss, Pat Benatar, Mick Fleetwood, Cher, The Doobie Brothers …). Fernando Perdomo (Echo In The Canyon), Ryan Shore (Howard Shore, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Matchbox Twenty), Dalton Cyr (singer, songwriter) sings back-up vocals along with Mikal Blue. And other incredible musicians. The album was produced by Mikal Blue at his studio Revolver Recordings. Mikal is a Grammy award winning producer, engineer, singer, songwriter (artist include: One Republic, Five For Fighting, Colbie Caillat). Special thanks goes to Steve Hoffman (MCA Records)
It feels right. After all the struggles, uncertainty, challenges, naysayers, those that wanted to keep me down and small, I have never given up. Never. In my life now, I only surround myself with optimistic people. I find it helps bring me some balance in a world that isn’t always so kind.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Imagine creating an ecosystem that actually helps the artist. That actually puts the artist in the centre of the ecosystem, rather than the other way round. Artists get the short end of the stick oftentimes. Record labels only want you when you’ve made it. Artists pay for everything. Today you need to demonstrate on social media that you have millions of followers before anyone will even look at you. It’s a numbers game. You have to have 10 Million streams if you want to make minimum wage. Yep.
Sadly, you can have all the talent in the world and still not be considered. It’s a money-first making machine with the artist being a cog in the wheel. Unless something is done to make it more equitable for the artists, it’s always going to be an uphill battle. And, don’t get me wrong, I’m up for the climb.
The problem is, when you have platforms like Spotify that don’t give artists their fair share, trust will never be built. We’re thrown pennies to their billions.
What would be great is if those who have already reached the top could shed a (spot)light, by sharing the stage with up-in-coming artists. It has happened. Just not enough.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I am not the same person that I was, even a day ago. Growing up I was a tough kid. Lots of fights. Angry. A protector of sorts. There was a lot going on. At that time, I didn’t know that I had as many choices as I do now. You only know what you know, right! Today, I am a loving, determined, and compassionate human, that now needs to let go of negative energy and people that only want to remember me as ‘that’ guy. I am not that guy you want to keep in a box for your comfort. If you want to evolve, grow, learn you absolutely will expand your thinking and way of being. That’s what I did. And I am a much better person for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sociatap.com/TOMMYGUNN/
- Instagram: @TOMMYGUNNLOVE
- Facebook: TOMMYGUNN
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommygunn-love-78bb7791/
- Twitter: @TOMMYGUNNhound
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP5_LgTjDgc1zKgX3EgkPTQ