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From dancey anthems to intimate ballads, indie pop jams to lo-fi grooves; Tobey Lynn’s music is the up and down soundtrack to your coming of age movie. As a twenty something singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, Tobey’s musical career began in her artistic family household, where writing and creating music came naturally. When Tobey started to write songs that touched on her experiences, her older brother, Jamin Reyes would provide the creative backboard to help manifest and produce the developing ideas she wanted to share. Within this line of production and artistry, the siblings were able to record her first two singles amidst her high school experience - BOY, which was recorded in 2018 in Jamin’s previous studio in New Mexico; and SUNFLOWER GIRL, the triumphant summer bop of 2019. Gritty and grungy with a taste of glitter, your new favorite pop star, Tobey Lynn, is just getting started. |
Photographer: Ryan Cartee (@heyitsryannnn)
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3 words to describe you:
ambitious, feisty, and whimsical
Describe your sound:
My sound teeters on the edge of angsty pop-rock and the bittersweet nostalgia that comes from a more stripped down singer songwriter approach. Upbeat guitar riffs and snappy drums that make you want to dance, all while hearing the most gut wrenching and authentic lyrics about identity, girlhood, and coming of age -- or at least I hope that's what my listeners can gather from my songs. Lyrically, I love to provide sentiment and raw emotion and I hope that comes across.
Describe the moment you knew that you wanted to pursue music:
I always tell the same story. In 2006, I watched High School Musical, and four year old Tobey watched with wide eyes and new dreams stirring in her heart. This was the first time I had seen anyone that looked anything like me on my TV, I didn't even know that was an option. Seeing Filipina actress, Vanessa Hudgens play Gabriella Montez, I was truly awe struck and knew immediately that singing, dancing, and making people feel the way I did when I first saw HSM was my new mission in life.
That spark never left me and has always ignited my passion and love for music and songwriting today. Pretty immediately after I had grown my intense obsession for Disney Channel movies and music, my mom put me into dance lessons; I started with ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop at five years old and I never stopped. Well into fifth or sixth grade is when I began singing lessons, auditioning for my school's jazz choir, writing songs about my crushes and performing them at talent shows, learning how to do bar chords on my dad's guitar. It flourished into something I never would have imagined possible, I just knew from that moment that creating and telling stories would always be the most influential and important thing in my life.
How does your heritage impact your art?
Well, I have my whole family to thank for my love of music and storytelling. Growing up the youngest and having a large age gap with my siblings (10 and 7 years), I was fortunate enough to watch them pick up instruments and figure them out for the first time. My mom and dad both knew classical piano, as well as my dad being a punk rock drummer and bass player throughout his time in college at the University of the Philippines. Music was always surrounding me: at family parties singing karaoke, going to my brother's jazz festivals when I was in elementary school, to learning basic guitar chords from my Ate and Kuya.
I am so lucky to have been deeply encouraged to pursue my passion in art. It is quite unconventional for an Asian household to so genuinely believe in the professional pursuit of the arts and music, and that is something I will never take for granted. My parents are still my biggest supporters surrounding my music career and I always use their voices of encouragement and belief as solace whenever I find myself navigating the more difficult aspects of this musical journey.
What moment are you most proud of in your music journey so far?
I'm really proud of how far I've come on my own behalf. Being a small and independent artist is all about the little victories and I am truly proud of the way that I have honed in on my unique sound, as well as paid homage to many of the musical and lyrical influences I have to this day. Whether it has been supporting artists I really look up to and getting to open for them at a sold out show, meeting people who like my music and getting to put real names and faces to people on the internet, to having a great session with a producer. There are so many little moments here and there that I have so much gratitude for, it is hard to quantify it into one single moment.
If I had to absolutely choose, it would be when I opened for Rocco at his headline show at the Moroccan Lounge. It was the first sold out show I had ever gotten to play and there were so many Filipino people in the crowd and it was the best feeling ever. I felt so welcomed and the crowd was truly electric that night. My band and I always talk about how fun that show was. It was an insane feeling to get to take photos and sign things and chat with people who came to watch after my set. I had such a blast and I hope to keep playing shows that made me feel that way.
Your next music goal:
This year, I am really hoping to open for someone on their tour and travel to cities I've never been to before! Being on the road seems like a true right of passage for any and all artists and I want to experience that more than anything. Another goal of mine is to continue growing my fanbase on TikTok and make lots of content that feels authentic and honest to who I am as a girl and as an artist. Along with that, maybe my sophomore EP will come out... just maybe.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who and why?
Of course, I would absolutely love to collaborate with Olivia Rodrigo and Beabadoobee as they have been massive inspirations to me as Filipina women in the music industry. Not only that, but their music is just some of my favorite. I am so drawn to both of their unique lyricism and the way they write melodies really draws me in. It would be such a dream to get to work with either of them down the line.
Your favourite song/lyrics:
"If you could see my thoughts you would see our faces."
(Ivy - Frank Ocean)
That has been my favorite lyric ever since I was like 17 years old. I remember finding Frank Ocean in middle school maybe, and truly feeling like I hit a songwriter's gold mine. His ability to put such simple terms into the most beautifully written stanza ever is beyond me. The way he is able to write about this person he so deeply loves still and at the root of it, all he is saying is, "Hey, I think about you all the time." Instead of saying it in such a boring way, he paints this picture of entering his brain and physically seeing that person's face every where you go. I don't know I could talk about his lyrics forever -- I just adore him.
3 songs you're listening to right now:
I Guess - Lizzy Mcalpine
I've Seen It - Olivia Dean
Drive - Audrey Hobert
Your community shout out:
Right now I'm obsessed with Francine Roulle (@franceneroulle)! She makes upbeat R&B pop songs and I am soooo obsessed with them and her whole aesthetic. I believe she is Filipina as well, and I just always love to support another Filipina poop girly or any AAPI pop girl for that matter.
Anything else you'd like to share:
New releases will probably begin in late Feb/March! I'm currently working on stuff in the studio but it hasn't reached any mixing or mastering phases yet. Still very early in the process, but hoping to have release dates and schedule soon!
