Beyond the Music: How Horses Shaped Toby's Creative Journey

Alexia: "Hey there, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. We're really excited to hear about your music. So, tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in the country music scene."

Toby: "That's awesome, thank you very much for having me. I'm really excited 'cause this is my first interview actually and it's a pleasure to me sitting right here with you. Well, to answer your first question: I'm actually a musician as long as I can remember. My parents forced me to take guitar lessons at the age of six but I wanted to learn drums though. Today I'm really thankful my parents made this possible back then. At the age of 14 I was an intern on a quarter horse breeding and training ranch. One November day I headed out to the colts pasture with my former boss. On the way back, we were sitting in that huge pickup truck, the heater was on and it was dark, cold and rainy when Garth Brooks' 'The Thunder Rolls' came up on the radio. This was that one moment that made me wanna do country music."

Alexia: "That's a great story! It's clear that country music has always been a part of your life. So, what inspired you to start writing your own songs?"

Toby: "It was also the time being 14, 15 years old, when I started writing songs. It was a stirring phase of my life. My parents got divorced therefore I lost the opportunity visiting friends who where living far away. I also learned a lot about myself and finally left home. Due to being pretty introverted, writing songs has been kind of a valve for me to handle my emotions through this phase."

Alexia: "Your music definitely has a raw and honest feel to it. It's clear that you pour a lot of yourself into your songwriting. What would you say are your biggest influences?"

Toby: "As I mentioned Garth Brooks has always been a big influence for me, later artists like Jason Aldean and Gary Allen on the country music side. On the other hand I was listening to Metallica a lot at this time. They were what I'd consider being the most impact full influences throughout the 90's, early 2000's."

Alexia: "It's interesting to hear that you have such a diverse range of influences. How do you blend those different styles in your own music?"

Toby: "That's a good question. Honestly I don't know the answer. I'm just doing what feels right to me. There is no formula that I follow or something like that. When I'm writing or producing songs I'm just following my gut. I choose the instruments from the way that I feel like in this particular moment. The same is about the style that I'm singing. I don't think about that in advance. I just let it flow so to say."

Alexia: "That's a very honest and interesting answer. It sounds like you have a very intuitive approach to your music, which is great. It's clear that you're not afraid to experiment and follow your gut, and that's what makes your music so unique. Do you ever find it challenging to trust your intuition when you're working on a new song? Or do you always feel confident in your choices?"

Toby: "No, I don't find this approach challenging. I guess following my intuition is something that I learned from working with horses. I'm pretty good at just turning my head off and following my intuition and gut feeling. I'm not that kind of person who is thinking about things too much. When the time is right, I just follow my feelings and I did that almost my entire life."

Alexia: "That's fascinating. It's great to hear that you've learned so much from working with horses. That must be a very rewarding experience. It sounds like you have a very strong connection to your intuition. Do you think that this ability has helped you in other areas of your life, besides music?"

Toby: "Yes, if really learned a lot from horses. Especially about being in the moment. Not breaking my head about tomorrow or yesterday. Also being authentic and confident are things I learned from horses. They'll immediately know if someone ain't real, you know? Almost every decision I make is to at least 80% a gut feeling. No matter if it's about music, business, friends & family. This is something that affects every area of my human being."

Alexia: "That's incredible. It's clear that working with horses has had a profound impact on your life. Their ability to sense authenticity and live in the present moment has been invaluable. It's inspiring to hear how you've applied these lessons to all aspects of your life. It's a testament to the power of self-awareness and intuition."

Toby: "Absolutely I've nothing to add to this. I guess you brought it perfectly on point."

Alexia: "I'm glad we could have this conversation. It was interesting to learn about your approach to music and how your experiences with horses have shaped your perspective on life. Is there anything else you'd like to talk about today? Or would you like to end our conversation for now?"

Toby: "Let's close this conversation at this point for now to not overwhelm the audience. But I'd be very happy if we could continue this conversation soon. What do you think?"

Alexia: "That sounds great! I'm always happy to continue our conversation. Perhaps we could discuss something else related to your music or your experiences with horses in the future. Thank you for your time today. It was a pleasure speaking with you."

Toby: "Maybe we could just ask our audience what they want us to talk about. So feel free every one to drop comments below and let us know if there is anything you'd have a particular interest. Would be happy to answer your questions as well. So far for today, thank you very much for having me here and I'm really looking forward to see you again. It was a pleasure to me."

Alexia: "That's a fantastic idea! Let's open the floor to our audience. Feel free to leave a comment below with any questions or topics you'd like to discuss. I'm also looking forward to our next conversation and appreciate you joining me today."

Interviewer: Alexia Ramirez, a seasoned music journalist, has been covering the indie music scene for over a decade. Known for her insightful interviews and keen ear for emerging talent, Alexia has interviewed countless artists, from established legends to up-and-coming sensations. Her latest project involves exploring the intersection of music and personal experiences, delving into the stories behind artists' creative processes and inspirations.