Today we’d like to introduce you to Tommy Ballin
Tommy , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I got into making music, specifically rap, at a young age. When I was around 10 years old I remember hearing my first rap song “Cinderella Man” by Eminem. This song blew my mind and really propelled me into loving the genre. Growing up, my family didn’t have the most money and a lot of times I was left to fend for myself. This drew me closer to rap and hip-hop because I was relating to the lyrics of struggle, hardship, and growing up in a difficult environment.
I started making music when I was around 12. Practicing my recording and writing skills. I had notebooks full of lyrics and random recordings. They were terrible of course, but it really set the stage for where and what I wanted to do as I a grew up.
When I was 16 years old I posted my first song to SoundCloud. I recorded probably 50 different takes of the same verse until I got one I liked. Once I posted it, I got a lot of positive feedback and since then I’ve been hooked.
I have continued making music over the last 10 years and have upgraded equipment and skill. I also started getting into other aspects of music such as vocal engineering, producing, and even learning different instruments.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road and I think a lot of musicians would agree. The first challenge is putting yourself out there and opening yourself up to criticism. It’s always nerve racking posting a new track because you never know how it will be received, especially when you spend a lot of time making it perfectly the way you want it.
On top of that, the industry is expensive. Not only the physical hardware like instruments, microphone, etc., but also software and virtual tools. All of these items cost over hundreds of dollars, and it can be tough to get all the items you want. But in order to get that top quality sound, you need to have these tools. Also, paying for studio time which is expensive and time consuming. Everything is a money grab, working with other artists, producers, and engineers all require money. And some cost more than others but it always comes with quality of delivery.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am mostly a rapper. I post tracks and features around once a month. I try not to be too serious and just have fun with it. Even my Instagram can be kind of funny with embarrassing pictures of me. My specialty, and what I am known for, is my lyricism. I love coming up with punchlines and lyrics with double meanings to make people think. My goal is to make a track you can hear 100 times and each time catch something different from my lines. This is really what sets me apart from a lot of other artists as I feel that part of the craft is starting to go away. I am definitely most proud of my dedication and commitment to my music, lyrics, and engineering. I do it all myself and spend around a month on one track from writing to delivery. One other thing that sets me apart is that I do everything for free when it comes to features, producing, and engineering. My love is for the music, not the money.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I learned that in the modern age we are not always safe from things we think we might be. I also learned that people can act crazy during times of crisis and that’s important to always pay attention to your surroundings.
Pricing:
- FREE
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hyperfollow.com/tommyballin
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommy_ballin717?igsh=Z2pzN2t5emJycWU4&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B1JqJem1n/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@legacysviproductions?si=bVkixUqVPSB9hZLF
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/31JLHVyvLwGA271n6
