Check Out Tori Hughes’ Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tori Hughes.

Hi Tori, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. I sang in the car to every song I knew before I left the car seat, drawn to the storytelling aspect of each song. When I was seven years old I discovered Taylor Swift and immediately became hooked on her lyrics, melodies, and personality as a songwriter and artist. This is also when I fell in love with Nashville, a town I swore I would move to when I grew up.

Around this time my older brother bought a guitar, so I immediately wanted one as well. I began seriously writing my own songs in fifth grade and I’ve never stopped. Songwriting led me to attend Belmont University in Nashville as a songwriting major where I’m currently finishing up my junior year. Over the past 2 ½ years I’ve met some of my best friends and biggest inspirations, who constantly push me to be my best and contain the same drive and love that I have for music.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
For the most part, it wasn’t a bumpy road, but it wasn’t the easiest to learn about the country music industry while being in the area I’m from. Growing up in Richmond, VA I found more jazz/rap/indie music rather than a country. I didn’t have any guidance for the next steps in my career or anyone who would co-write with me; therefore, I wrote alone and dreamt of the day I would be able to live in Music City. I looked at moving to Nashville as the chapter in my life when music could finally become my job.

However, after arriving in the city I realized the next hurdle I had to overcome. I had a fear of singing in front of people and being on stage. Towards the end of my freshman year at Belmont, a friend and her dad pushed me onto a stage at an open mic night. I fell in love with the feeling of performing. This began the path that I’ve been on for two years now of playing writer’s rounds and other shows weekly.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a songwriter and artist whose main goal is to be a light in country music that people of all ages can enjoy. I write songs that tell the truth and share emotions that everybody has felt or will feel at some point. Being honest in my writing and intentions is what I would say I specialize in, as well as is something that I am extremely proud of.

For an artist to be true to who they are on stage, off stage, and in their writing is one of the biggest and most important aspects of being an artist in my opinion. However, I’m most proud of how far I’ve developed in my career over the last two years, but I’ve also never lost sight of how much further I have to go. The drive that is within me and won’t stop until my goals are met is what I would say sets me apart from others. I have never been, and will never be, content with where I am if I have bigger dreams that are unmet.

What do you think about luck?
Luck didn’t play a huge, monumental part in my life and career until my senior year of high school. This was the year that I got accepted into Belmont University and its songwriting program. It’s a competitive school academically, and even more so for the limited number of spots within its songwriting department. I was sure that I wouldn’t be accepted into either, even though my heart had been set on the school for three years.

In fact, I wasn’t sure where else I would go or what I would major in at any other school because nowhere else would fulfill my passion. However, in the fall and winter of 2019, I received two letters stating that I had been accepted into the college and the program. I would say this is the best luck I have ever been given and it was a true miracle because I wouldn’t be where I am today if either of those letters had contained bad news.

Contact Info:

• Website: Torihughesmusic.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/torihughesmusic
• Facebook: Facebook.com/torihughesmusic

Image Credits
Lexie Jane Media