Chasing
your dreams is an act of bravery that so many people take. Staring
them in the face and not knowing whether the outcome will be what you
see in your mind is the risk that you have to take. Every day, people
around the world take that deep breath and whisper to themselves,
“I'm going to do this.”.
Those voices that speak to your soul can become so overwhelming that
they're painful. And they keep talking and talking until you have no
option but to listen.
I've
been blessed to meet some incredible people over the years. Dreamers
and risk takers, people who've given up everything to listen to their
heart and go for it.
They serve as an inspiration for when the fear of failure begins to
rise.
Tommy
Odetto is one of those people, a man whose music is so beautiful that
it makes you wonder if it's created in a place that's not of this
Earth. Like so many others, he's chasing his dreams and knitting them
into a wonderful reality.
Hi, Tommy! Please
introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are and where
you're from.
Hello! My name is Tommy
Odetto. I'm 28 years old, and I'm born and raised in beautiful
Northern California. Little about me? I'm a music freak. I love
music. I live to play guitar, write songs, and sing. As well as
listening and just enjoying music in a daily basis! I like meeting
new people, good food, and good movies.
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| Young Tommy |
What first prompted
you to pick up a guitar and start playing?
My best friend Pat, and
some older family members of friends I was introduced to the music of
Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Cream, and it literally felt like a
beautiful spell was cast on me. I knew I was going to dedicate the
rest of my life playing music upon hearing that.
Who are your musical
influences?
I'm a Beatles freak.
They're my all time favorite. I have and do, study their music a lot.
Their music is the tapestry to my life pretty much!
The first time ever in
my life where music really hit me was watching early footage of Elvis
Presley on The Ed Sullivan Show. It just gave me the chills as a kid,
and I immediately started dressing and combing my hair like Elvis
from age 8-10 years old about. That opened the door to all 50's Rock
and Roll. I loved Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, and guys like that. I
also loved all Pop from late 50's early 60's. My dad always listened
to The Everly Brothers, British Invasion groups, Motown, Bobby
Darin. Great stuff like that was my first exposure to music that
really moved me.
Now I love so much
stuff. I love all music. I love Blues, Jazz, Indian music, Classical,
60s Pop, Rock and Roll from every period. Anything heartfelt and
good!
Creative people
don't tend to have “typical” days. Some have set routines while
others just go with the flow. What's a day in the life of a musician
like? Do you stick to a routine? Or do you see what happens?
Haha! Yes I'm all over
the place. I'm a total night owl. Always have been. I love writing
and creating at night and into the wee hours. I'm sure other
professional musicians are a lot more organized. I'd forget my guitar
if I actually put it down once in a while.
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| At Conejo Valley Days 2016 |
Your life story, as
documented on your website, is one that
so many creative people can relate to. How do you feel that your life
has set you up for the road that you're on now? At what point did you
know the exact path that you wanted to take in life?
Wow good question. Well
first I have to say I'm beyond blessed to have parents that believed
in me, and knew music was my destiny as much as I did. Secondly,
growing up in Fairfax, California with some of the most talented
musicians around. Fairfax has really courted me as a community, and
help me develop my skills as a musician no doubt.
With all of that said,
There's also been a lot of trying times, and still are challenges. I
mean, I really believe music chose me. I didn't have a choice. The
passion was so strong, is so strong, that my heart would never let me
veer off that track, even for a second. That doesn't always fit in
with day to day realities, but I knew, and know that it's what I need
to do on this earth, so you figure it out! I took a leap of faith,
and never turned back from day one, and I've been lucky to get some
really great opportunities so far.
Music is your
passion and your life. Do you find that there's anything in
particular that inspires you? Are there any particular themes or
lyrical images that you find yourself returning to?
Yes! Anything that
moves me. Whether it's a song that gets my juices going, or just
life occurrences, and going through the things that you experience in
life. It's all about real emotion thought. If something moves me,
that's all I need.
Your songs are
beautiful and I implore anyone to go and listen. How do you feel about the 21st Century music
industry? Is there a big difference between good and bad days?
Thank you so much.
Another good question. Honestly, at least in what's big in the
mainstream, is garbage. Total garbage. Not everything, but most. The
biggest thing for me is a lot of it is ego based. How much swag they
have, how cool they are. It disgusts me. Artists like Jimi Hendrix,
Miles Davis, The Beatles and people like that, were about lifting
people up. Their music was real. Humanity poured out of them. Opened
people's hearts up. Changed people's lives. That's why great art, and
artists are all about. Real true emotion.
Today's artists I see
are no different then a Pepsi commercial. Not to mention, artist
originality, songwriting, production is pretty sophomoric. At least
to me. To be a major recording artist in the 30s 40s and 50s, you
truly had to have something really special to offer. You had to truly
be a great artist. That's the gold standard for me. All of the old
stuff. Whether it's Benny Goodman, or Brian Wilson.
For anyone who
hasn't heard you before, how would you describe your music?
Rock music that's
basically a combination of everything I like! Definitely some Blues,
and Funk in there too.
At the 2016 Conejo
Valley Days you fulfilled one of your dreams. Please tell us about
that and how it made you feel.
What a day that was. I
still think about almost everyday. It was truly magical, and I'm so
grateful. For those that don't know, I made YouTube video that it
was my dream to jam with Dave Grohl. Luckily, and amazingly, it
reached his attention. Through a couple of very special people to me,
I was booked for CVD. We met backstage and he was really nice, really
complementary, and just such a gentleman. On stage, it was such a
rush, and it didn't fully hit me until after the performance. But in
a way, I felt like I was jamming with the big brother I never had. It
was one of the best days of my life.
You're currently
running a crowdfunding campaign. What's it for? And what will the end
product be?
Thank you for asking.
I've been given the opportunity to record an EP, at Foo Fighters'
private studio and Headquarters, Studio 606. Long time Grohl
collaborator, and Producer of Foo Fighters/Nirvana, Barrett Jones,
agreed to Produce the EP. We will be recording on the Neve Console
that was documented in the Grohl documentary, "Sound City".
Nirvana recorded "Nevermind" on this console, among
countless other landmark albums. We still have a ways to go, and you
can donate here! https://www.gofundme.com/tommy606
Some people find
crowdfunding to be very easy, while others struggle with it. How are
you finding the process?
Interesting question. I
find it to be quite a challenge in a lot of ways. It's a daily thing.
Checking in with everyone, thanking everyone who's donated, making
sure you get rewards to those who are owed them. It's a complete leap of faith, but I'm constantly moved by how many have stepped up
to back me. So no, I don't find it easy!
Every recording
studio is different, each having qualities that others don't. You've
chosen to record your next project at Studio 606. Is there a reason
for choosing that particular studio?
Yes! The Neve recording
Console! Great room! Great engineers!
Bar the project that
you're currently crowdfunding for, if you could have one other dream
come true, which one would it be and why?
Be the opening act on
tour with Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Or Clapton!! On tour
with my heroes would be amazing!
Do you have a
personal motto that you live by?
The only thing standing
between you, and your dreams, is the bullshit story you keep telling
yourself.
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| 2017 - Photo by Rich W Chapman |
What advice would
you give to someone who's chasing their dreams?
Giving up is not an
option.
Finally, where can find
you, and your music, online?
You can donate to Tommy's 606 Recording Dream at:
