CONNOR TERRONES

Multi-Genre Musician

We caught up with the talented Multi-Genre Musician out of Denver, Connor Terrones.

When did you first get into music? Please explain.

I’ve ALWAYS loved listening to music, but I first started playing music when I was about ten. My first instrument was trombone. I needed to pick an instrument to play in school band and I picked trombone because I saw it in a video game once. I believe the video game was Donkey Kong 64.

Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

By the time I was around 13 or 14, I definitely knew I wanted to pursue a career in music. I fell deeply in love with guitar (I still am) and just wanted to play it all the time. My favorite bands at the time were Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath, so I learned a lot of songs from those bands at the time.

How has your music evolved since you first started in the music industry?

Throughout my entire career, I’ve been searching for what style of music is right for me. There’s times that I’ve focused on rock music exclusively, but there’s also times where I’ve focused on jazz music exclusively. In the past couple years, I started realizing that there isn’t just one style of music that’s right for me. I love pop, rock, jazz, r&b, funk, soul, hip-hop and blue so much that I started writing and recording music that consolidated all of those sounds together. I’m not really sure what to label the music I’m currently making.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other, drives you to stay in this tough industry? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

I guess it’s not an emotion, but purpose is what keeps me going. I truly believe that the reason I was put on this planet was to create music. There’s nothing else in my life that has made as much sense to me as music. There’s nothing else that has made me feel so alive. I’ve dedicated my life to creating music.

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas?

My versatile taste in music certainly makes me unique as a musician. You can very clearly hear in my music that it is not influenced by just one style of music. Lately I’ve been describing my sound to people as: hip-hop beats with jazz/neo-soul chords with pop song structures and random moments of 70’s influenced rock guitar.

What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

I think the biggest challenge for me is to keep going even when you feel completely defeated. Like, picking yourself back up after you’ve had a bad gig or a bad recording session or a bad rehearsal can be so so difficult. But I keep pushing through those experiences because I love music so much.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

I think it just depends on the type of person you are. I definitely know people who don’t suffer for their art but make great art. I, however, have absolutely suffered for my art. I’m very meticulous about the writing and recording process of my songs. I get painfully picky about getting the song just right. Also, I tend to write songs that are rooted in painful experiences in my life. I rarely write happy songs.

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business?

Social media and streaming services have changed the music business forever. Social media has completely transformed how to promote for shows and new releases. Streaming services have changed the way people release and even create music. A lot of people are shifting their focus on making singles instead of full albums these days because singles are so much easier to digest in the world of streaming. It’s easier to boost your stream count with singles than with an album.

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

It’s not possible, but I wish that the people who are in the music industry who aren’t REALLY in it for the music would just go away. I definitely see people who get into music just to try to gain clout and those people don’t actually love music.

I’m sure you have shared the stage with many talented artists. Please share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us.

I was playing with The Other Black in 2017 and we opened for Thundercat at The Mishawaka Ampitheatre (near Fort Collins, CO), which was an amazing experience. I also had the chance to open for Knower at The Gothic Theatre (in Denver) when I was playing with Wes Watkins in 2018 and that was also a really amazing experience.

What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today?

Oof. This is a really tough question, but off the top of my head: -Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles -Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys -Channel Orange by Frank Ocean -Speak No Evil by Wayne Shorter -Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin

What is the best advice you have received?

“Don’t settle with letting your dreams just be dreams. Go make your dreams a reality!”

How did COVID-19 affect you and your music career?

The producer for my upcoming album lives in Nashville. So, when COVID-19 hit, I was unable to travel to Nashville to finish it. However, since I’ve been fully vaccinated, I went to Nashville a month ago to finish the album. It is being mixed right now.

What’s next for you? Please explain.

I’m currently planning out the rollout for my first full length album! I’m so excited for it to be out in the world!

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?

When my album is out, they can find it on popular streaming services: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc.