--- title: blog | background description: background | This is all about the struggles of making a living as independent country music artists, music production, music marketing and my simple country living. --- [Skip to content](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/background#main-content) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TS%20Swirls%20Logo%20Favicon.png?width=24&height=30&name=TS%20Swirls%20Logo%20Favicon.png)](https://toby.schuetgens.com) [Shop](https://schuetgens.com/) | [Homestead Nation Community](https://schuetgens.com/apps/single/membership#/join) ![TSM Header 86 26 Website 2](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TSM%20Header%2086%2026%20Website%202.jpg?width=2000&height=601&name=TSM%20Header%2086%2026%20Website%202.jpg "TSM Header 86 26 Website 2") # Welcome to Toby Schuetgens Music Blog This is all about the struggles of making a living as independent country music artists, music production from songwriting over recording to mastering, music marketing and just a little of my simple country living.   [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/header.jpg)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/beyond-the-music-how-horses-shaped-tobys-creative-journey) [musical journey](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/musical-journey), [interview](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/interview), [insights](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/insights), [background](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/background), [behind the scenes](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/behind-the-scenes) ## [Beyond the Music: How Horses Shaped Toby's Creative Journey](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/beyond-the-music-how-horses-shaped-tobys-creative-journey) ![Picture of Alexia Ramirez](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/share_image.jpg?width=50&name=share_image.jpg) [Alexia Ramirez](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/alexia-ramirez) Oct 18, 2024, 8:02:41 PM Alexia: "Hey there, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. We're really excited to hear about y... [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/beyond-the-music-how-horses-shaped-tobys-creative-journey) ## By the way: do you know my merch shop yet? If you like my music and would like to support me a little bit, show some love with one of my latest items from the merch store... [Learn more](https://schuetgens.com/) ## Remember when music had a story? ### This is the part the streaming services left out. You'd tear off the plastic, open the booklet, and sit there reading every lyric and seeing every photo. It felt **real**. That feeling is almost completely lost in a world of fast-scrolling feeds and an endless digital noise. Most music today is just background sound—one song after another without a story or a soul. But it doesn’t have to be that way. I believe music should have a story, and a raw, authentic connection. That's why I've created something to bring that feeling back. I've put together a playlist that's the soundtrack to my story, along with a free digital booklet that gets you behind the scenes. It's a way to hit pause on the world and connect with music the way it was meant to be experienced. ## Get Booklet now! [Follow us on Facebook](https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/5Ke3sAcptTc59mGBlEYVjr?si=ivmcMdvgRUSGQGBFXGFe9g) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/tshomesteadnation) [youtube icon](https://www.youtube.com/@tshomesteadnation) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/tshomesteadnation) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.tiktok.com/@tshomesteadnation) --- 838 Walker Rd., Suite 21-2, 19904 Dover DE USA Copyright © 2026, Schuetgens LLC