THOM BRIDGES
Photo by Ryan Jerome, Grooming Brenda Ferrell @B Ready Beauty, Writing Alex Bonnet
Truly a jack of all trades in the music industry, Thom Bridges is the center where all music genres meet. Always jumping through sounds as he creates, experimentation is his middle name! Having had the chance to work with a variety of talented artists, he is able to take on new challenges and learn more about himself, his music, and others’. Being international, Thom is able to gain more knowledge and perspectives as he encounters people from all around the world. Truly an inspiration, we can’t wait to see where he goes next!
You truly are a jack of all trades in the music industry. Tell us more about who you are and what you believe makes you stand out?
I grew up listening to a lot of different music. I started my career as an engineer which taught me to work with various artists in different genres and adapt quickly. I think what defines my sound is the combination of genres. I’ve always been jumping in between sounds while I’m creating.. One day I’d make a ballad the next day a latin or trap/urban song. I think by experimenting with this and being open to creating any style of music your creative ideas expand and you come with sounds and songs that are unique and fresh.
You have collaborated with amazing people! Who would you say were your top 3 most inspirational ones and why?
Thirty Seconds To Mars, David Guetta and Sofia Reyes.
With all 3 artists it comes back to the different genres again… it inspires me when I feel challenged. All of these artists have challenged me to step out of my comfort zone in creating songs.With Sofia for example, I was forced to discover a whole different world of music: Regional Mexican, Bachata, Cumbia. These are genres that I had never worked in before that are also culturally so different. In order for me to create something in these genres that felt real I had to not only dive into the sound but also the culture of this music. That is what really inspires me because it expands the way you see songwriting and production.
Picture this: you have 2 hours to put a song together for THE opportunity of your lifetime. How do you go about creating the perfect song?
For me creating music is all about the vibe with the artist. There has to be some sort of connection in order to create the best possible song. As a producer you want the artist to feel as comfortable as possible so to get back to the question. I’d probably spend an hour building that comfort and an hour of actually creating the song. When the vibe is right the song will write itself.
In what ways does being International play a role in your perspective on music? the world?
It plays a huge role for me. The more I travel and meet people from all over the world, the more inspired I feel. This comes back again to combining different genres and sounds from all over the world.
How do you feel when you release a new song?
For me it’s amazing to see how people resonate with the songs I create. I love to see people do covers or dance to my songs and see their interpretation of them. I do have to force myself sometimes to enjoy the release itself because by the time a song comes out, I’m usually already with my head in the next 5 songs.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist?
I hope to create songs that are timeless and will keep inspiring people for many years. I already feel like I accomplished so much by the fact that I do what I love with the people that I love working with.
What would be an intervention you dream of to take yourself to the next level?
To work with artists like Rosalia, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Rick Rubin and Pharrell would be a dream come true.