Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Tobi.
Steven, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My friends will say brevity is not a strength of mine, but I’ll give it a shot!
I grew up in Tampa FL and remained there through college where I received a BFA in Audio Engineering. Growing up, I was shy and awkward but a social chameleon, making friends with anyone willing to break the ice with me. I’ve always had a lot of interests ranging from sports, film, cooking, art, and gaming; but music took the biggest hold on me and has been my main focus since my sophomore year in high school. I took piano lessons as a child and played saxophone in the school band. Movie scores enlightened me about the emotional impact music can have but It was seeing my first live concerts that solidified I wanted to write and perform in bands. I was addicted to the energy and wanted to share that with others. I started an emo band in high school “Maelin’s Dream” and had some success locally. It was 2003 so emo was very much “In”. Being young, pressures to continue school and dumb decisions brought that band to an end. Not long after, in college, I started an alt-rock band called “Dangerflight”. We recorded a demo my senior year (2009) and decided we need to relocate in order to expand our musical opportunities and that landed me in Nashville.
My drummer, guitarist, and I moved up to the Bellevue area not knowing anyone. Everyone went job hunting while we tried to write music and get a feel for the local rock scene. I tried getting work in recording studios in the area and quickly found it was just as difficult if not more so than starting a band, so I decided to work in bars and restaurants to pay the bills and focus on music. Our singer for Dangerflight got cold feet and never moved up, so we auditioned TJ for the band and that’s how The Nearly Deads began. From here, I feel like everything in my life and career has just fallen into place through a series of opportunities and misfortunes. I’ve always had a clear vision of what I want in life, but try and leave myself open to changes. The band played out at some local venues “The Muse” and “The Rutledge” where we met a band called “Darling Parade”. We became good friends with the band and it was their guitarist Adam who saw potential in us and introduced us to our long-time producer Jon King. Jon was instrumental in helping us form our sound and identity. He recorded most of our music as well as filmed 2 of our music videos, most importantly our breakout viral zombie video for our single “Never Look Back”. He bought a camera and taught himself how to direct and shoot the video in a matter of months. We taught ourselves makeup tips from the walking dead the scenes DVDs and shot the video in the house we were renting at the time. We had no idea the video would become such a success for us. The video and first EP came out in 2011 and we have been on a roller coaster of ups and downs with success, toured the country multiple times over, and played several notable festivals. After a few member change-ups, tour exhaustion and consistently being let down by the industry, we decided to go on a hiatus in 2019.
Little did we know a pandemic was coming and so our break ended up being much longer than expected. But to be honest, we weren’t sure if the break wouldn’t turn out to be permanent. I was going through issues with my marriage at the time and felt I needed to step away from touring and the band. During that time, I decided to revisit my passion for film scores. I began connecting with local Directors and a few in other states and started composing for the indie film scene. Although my relationship troubles were tough to get through and it ultimately ended in divorce, I am grateful for the opportunity it presented. I am still composing today (currently working on two films) and don’t plan on stopping. To compound on that, another opportunity arose. While working on a film with director Matt Crouch, he asked me if I had any ideas or stories I wanted to pitch to him. I told him I had done some creative writing in college and am always daydreaming stories, but didn’t have anything written down. Well, he encouraged me to flex my creativity and start writing some of them down. I wrote two screenplays and never did anything with them, but that sparked my interest in writing and led to me writing and publishing my first novella “The Broken Man”. The story is being received well and I am already working on the next with outlines for a third.
During the band’s hiatus, I began working with Adam doing remodeling and handyman work. I learned framing, flooring, plumbing, tile, and all sorts of skills that came to good use. He ended up moving out of state and so I found work as a warehouse manager for a cabinet company. It was through that job that I became friends with a couple of installers who offered to let me work with them and learn the trade. After working with them for a year or so I decided to move on my own and started my own installation company “Tobi Carpentry LLC”. Again, pieces fell into place that I never sought out. I love working with my hands, working for myself, and creating my own schedule. It pays well and allows me the freedom to compose, write and continue The Nearly Deads.
Coming back to the main event. After my divorce and starting the carpentry business, the band began talking about writing and performing together again. We agreed that it doesn’t matter what level of success we have or the reception we get, we just enjoy it too much to not continue. So we began writing the new record we are currently in the studio recording with producer Brian Craddock (Guitarist of Daughtry) who I met through a friend Will who did remodel with me and Adam. While we were writing the album, we also recorded an EP with Moh Katiraee of Moh-saic Music Group. We released the first single “Relentless” off the upcoming album on Halloween and the next single is scheduled to release mid-December.
My life has sort of been all over the place, but I love the freedom and excitement that has come from pursuing nontraditional careers. Nashville has played a huge role in where I am today from the people and organizations I’ve met within the community. I am truly grateful and eager to see what’s next If I can actually fit anything else on my plate.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’d like to meet a person who lives on a smooth road, but I imagine their life might be boring haha.
There have definitely been struggles. Like most people in life, I found myself facing financial issues, relationship issues, and loss.
When I first moved to Nashville and was seeking work as an engineer, I couldn’t get a paid position because I didn’t have enough experience, but I couldn’t get an internship because I was already graduated and therefore wouldn’t be receiving school credit and it’s illegal to have free laborers. So a bit of a catch-22, but luckily I found a studio willing to let me, intern, until they got bought out.
It was always hard keeping a job to pay the bills when I was leaving for weeks, sometimes months to tour.
A band is like a relationship mixed with a business and so sometimes the dynamic doesn’t work. Therefore we went through several members before we landed on the solid group we have now.
I mentioned before that I went through a divorce which was tough. Fairly easy comparatively, but unexpected and it causes you to re-evaluate yourself. Luckily I had a good support system and was given the opportunity to grow.
Lastly, with any business, you run into things breaking, falling apart, and bleeding you dry. PSA: Don’t buy and tour in a used RV
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Owner of “Tobi Carpentry LLC” where I install commercial and residential cabinets.
Owner/Writer/Guitarist/Manager of “The Nearly Deads Touring Inc”.
Self Published Author “The Broken Man”.
Film Composer (Notable films “Fatherless”, “Virtually In Love”, “Family Gone”).
Song Writer “TØBI”.
What do you think about luck?
I think my life is 50/50 luck and hard work. I’m a very driven and passionate person who sets goals and knows what he wants in life, but not always how I’m going to get there and that is where luck, both good and bad comes into play
Contact Info:
- Website: steventobi.com
- Instagram: @thenearlydeadsofficial
- Facebook: Facebook.com/thenearlydeads
- Twitter: twitter.com/thenearlydeads
- Youtube:YouTube.com/thenearlydeads
- Other:sctobi.com
Image Credits
Black Owl Photography and TobiAnn Josh Lovett
