How did you get started in music?
The earliest memory I have would be when I wrote my first song in the studio while my father was recording in the studio. I was four [years old]. I pulled him aside out of the booth and said, 'Let me perform this hook for you.' It's actually a song that I'm finishing up for my next project right now. It's kind of going full circle right now.
What's the name of the next project you're working on?
The next project I'm working on is "The Sophomore."
Obviously this is a follow up to your first project. Tell us about that.
My first project was called "College Kid Convo." It was my interpretation of a college concept album.
How many songs were on "College Kid Convo" and what are the popular songs that people like?
It's an 11-track album. The most popular songs right now to date would be "Money Junkies", "College Kid Convo", "Michael Ealy", and "Babydoll", as well as "Back to School."
"Back to School" is the song with Swordz right? Was it a remix?
"Back to School" was one of the first singles we put out and the first video we put out as well.
How did you link up with him?
Me and Swordz had a relationship since I was little. I grew up around him with me being in the studio all the time. He was a frequent customer at All Pro Studios. When we created the "Back to School" song we had him in mind as far as us collaborating. When we got together and got into the writing process and incorporating him into the song, it just made magic.
Did you record all of "College Kid Convo" at All Pro Studios?
All Pro Studios is where I record all of my songs. It's where I recorded "College Kid Convo" and where I will be recording "The Sophomore."
How did you start to grow your fan base and get support? How did you market yourself?
A lot of my fan base comes from St. Leo University where I go to school at. In my freshman year I became a very popular student so I started to use my relationships, as well as working with college promoters in the area -- working with my father who works at Cox Media. I also incorporated my relationships from high school and garnering a lot of fans in the Jacksonville area.
What makes you different from the other artists in your area? How would you say you stand out?
The biggest thing I bring to the table is I'm a positive artist. I promote for kids to go to school and get their education, as well as to be positive citizens, have fun, and enjoy the music -- not necessarily talking about just alcohol, women, the negative things going on in my city with drugs and gang violence. I'm just steering away from that and trying to make more positive music.
I know during this pandemic you've taken the opportunity to use your music as an outlet for this difficult and challenging time.
Yeah, it's been a process. Really I look at it more as poetry -- just writing my emotions, writing about what I want to do next and what I've been doing, writing my experiences, as well as writing about my story. I kind of use it as an outlet just to steer away from the emotions I may have being cooped up in the house or my dorm room -- just making something positive out of the energy that I keep inside at home.
Where would you like to see yourself a year from now? What would be your ultimate vision?
My ultimate vision would be to see myself make it onto Billboard, as well as elevate as an artist and get more of a crowd -- not just in the Jacksonville area but in the southern region -- as well as expand to becoming a bigger artist and working with multiple producers. I want to just elevate and continue to grow. "College Kid Convo" was literally my first body of work. There's so much potential. There's so much I can elevate towards. I just want to continue getting better every day.
What can we expect from "The Sophomore" project? Do you have singles picked out yet?
Definitely some bigger singles, more ambitious songs, more genre crossovers, as well as me being a little more adventurous and trying to increase my skill level. I don’t have the singles picked out, as of yet. I'm just assessing where I'm at currently and where I can be each day moving forward and keep improving. It's going to be an 8-track EP. It's going to be bigger and better than "College Kid Convo." That's what I want everyone to expect.
Do you have a release day yet?
We're still working on that but we're targeting for March. I expect it to be done by mid-semester next year while I'm still in my sophomore year of college.
Ok, sounds good. We'll definitely be on the lookout for "The Sophomore." Is there anything else that you'd like to mention before we go?
I want everyone to look out for the merch I'll be dropping on HustlevilleInc.com. Follow me on social media @90210Toriono. Be prepared for "The Sophomore" and go check out "College Kid Convo" right now.