We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tosha Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tosha below.
Tosha, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I feel the most meaningful project I have worked on would be Gürlz-Gürlz-Gürlz! It’s an all-female Mötley Crüe tribute band based out of Indianapolis, IN..
Over the last ten years, I have wanted to be a part of a Crüe tribute so badly because I obviously love their music, but it’s so satisfying to be able to embody a worldwide male dominated band and not just be aesthetically pleasing, but we are also amazing and highly talented musicians, who just happen to be women.
Tosha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I began my infatuation with drums at the young age of three. While it slowly grew, at around nineteen, I began to turn my hobby into a career.
Growing up in a small town prior to the internet, social media, etc., has most definitely limited my progress. But that’s just hindsight. I literally dug my own trenches back then and had to figure out how to get out of them myself. And because of that, I took risks, as I couldn’t just upload a video or make a basic website like today’s model.
And by taking risks, I quit my job and moved to Los Angeles, CA.. No job, no place to stay. I went ALL in, as I knew my tiny southern town in Indiana wasn’t fulfilling my thirst to be great! And I feel that’s what sets me apart from others in my field. Taking risks. Not knowing the future, yet doing it anyway.
I feel I’m most proud of my resilience.
I have lost more than I’ve won, but I’ve won because of those losses. Being able to continue my dream while fighting drug addiction, in and out of homelessness, mental instability, and financial failure showed not just me, but others that if we put in the work, the rewards pay off.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I would say one story that came to my head first that shows my resilience would be just a couple years ago.
I was contacted by Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp to be a camp counselor for the likes of Melissa Etheridge, Nancy Wilson (Heart), and Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s). Of course I agreed! Unfortunately, literally two days before the R&R Fantasy Camp started, I broke my left hand. I couldn’t believe it. These women were a huge inspiration to me as a kid and here I am with a broken hand?!
Like I was going to let that stop me!
I showed up not only for my heroes, but I was able to connect deeply and bond with my campers! Hopefully it was an amazing inspiration for them as well. A broken hand was not going to stop me from experiencing a heaven-on-earth moment!
So playing drums for a weekend with Melissa Etheridge and Nancy Wilson with a broken hand will be one of my favorite memories boosted to my resilience and love for music!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I believe my mission was picked FOR me, ultimately, and it is to show this world that even though life throws thee absolute worst our way sometimes, only we have the power to fight thru any and all adversity that comes our way. And it rings even more true for being a women in a predominantly male field to not only WAIL on the drums, but be better than most of the men that play professionally.
Some call it arrogance. But I call it confidence and the proof is in the puddin’. :)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.toshajones.com
- Instagram: @toshajonesdrums
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18Z2YMhGKN/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@toshajonesdrums1?si=yirItqnOg0QGT7WE
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teejayplaydrum1?_t=ZP-8wNkwNFCMN5&_r=1
Image Credits
-Marlana Semenza
-Sheila Skinner Lauster
-Jay Christensen
-Ricardo Herrera