A Passion for Sound and Self-Discovery: How Tommy Woods Continues to Evolve as a Musician and Creator

Chat session 161 with Tommy Woods

🎧 Catch Up Link

Topic- From Childhood to Creative Mastery

Monday 29th June 2026 1pm https://rppfm.com.au

Jess Gunn Photography

Discovering the Guitar: Tommy Woods’ Childhood Passion

Back in Grade 3 at Boneo Primary School, eight-year-old Tommy Woods decided to pick up the guitar. What started as a simple childhood interest quickly grew into something much more meaningful. The guitar became Tommy’s personal outlet—an instrument that belonged entirely to him. For a young kid still learning about the world, the guitar offered a space of separation, identity, and purpose. It was a place where thoughts and feelings that words couldn’t always express could finally be heard and understood.

Music as Meditation and Self-Discovery

For Tommy, music became more than just a hobby—it became a form of meditation. As an introvert, the guitar provided a quiet yet powerful connection to himself. Playing demanded patience, discipline, and consistency, but the rewards were indescribable. Hours of practice, mistakes, frustration, and persistence were all part of the journey. Blood, sweat, and tears paid the price for the freedom to express emotion through music. For Tommy, it wasn’t just about learning songs or techniques; it was about releasing feelings, understanding himself, and expressing his true self.

From Childhood Practice to Performances

As the years passed, Tommy’s dedication opened doors to competitions, performances, and countless experiences that helped shape his identity. Every challenge taught him new lessons, and each opportunity revealed different facets of his personality and musical talent. Looking back, many of these moments were unplanned but meaningful. The uncertainty of what was coming next became an exciting part of his journey, making it more authentic and rewarding.

Creating Music with Depth and Purpose

Today, Tommy dedicates his energy to creating music that touches people emotionally. His focus is on depth, feeling, and atmosphere. His goal isn’t merely to entertain but to craft an experience—one that allows listeners to reconnect with themselves. His sound is grounding yet powerful, relaxed yet intense. Through layered instrumentals and thoughtful compositions, Tommy aims to create moments where listeners can pause, reflect, and find new meaning in their lives.

The Influence of Environment on Sound

A significant part of Tommy’s growth as a musician has come from studying the relationship between environment and sound. Over the years, he became fascinated with how different locations influence recording quality and emotional perception. Recording in various settings revealed to him the subtle psychological effects environments can have on music and how music, in turn, influences emotion. This curiosity deepened his understanding of his role both as a musician and a listener.

Jess Gunn Photography

From Composition to Emotion: The Search for the Ideal Sound

His evolving goal became finding the right instrumental combinations to craft immersive listening experiences. Instead of focusing solely on individual sounds, Tommy began to see how each element of a song works together to communicate feeling. His philosophy is that great music isn’t just heard—it’s felt. This belief influences every creative decision, from composition and arrangement to production and mixing.

From Guitar Lessons to Audio Engineering

Tommy’s journey into music production started after studying music theory and guitar skills under Mario at The Guitar Shack on the Mornington Peninsula. Located within the Rye Industrial Estate, The Guitar Shack provided the foundation for his musical development. Through disciplined study and countless hours of practice, he gained a deeper understanding of both technical skills and emotional expression in music.

A Shift in Life and Music

In 2020, Tommy pursued a Bachelor Degree in Audio Engineering, despite not having an ATAR. His natural talent and perfect pitch helped him gain entry, but life had other plans. After just three months, he made the difficult decision to leave university and work as a bricklayer alongside his father to prioritize financial stability. While this path seemed to steer him away from music, the passion for sound only grew stronger beneath the surface.

Music During Challenging Times

During the uncertain years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tommy’s obsession with music and sound production intensified. Creating music became a necessity rather than just a passion. He was deeply invested in understanding not only the technical aspects but also how his music was perceived by audiences. This perspective led him to explore different styles, identities, and directions in his work, each reflecting a stage of personal growth or emotional challenge.

Music as a Reflection of Life’s Journey

Every song became a mirror of Tommy’s struggles, growth, and experiences. The creative process was sometimes overwhelming, filled with overthinking about purpose and identity. Yet, this mindset also became one of his greatest strengths, allowing him to craft music with intention and depth.

Embracing the Process and Loving the Journey

Through all the highs and lows, setbacks and successes, Tommy remained deeply connected to the process of creation. His pursuit of understanding and expressing himself through music has been a continuous journey—sometimes unpredictable, always rewarding. Most importantly, he has loved every second of it.

Jess Gunn Photography

Stay connected and experience more of his musical journey!

Follow Tommy on social media https://www.instagram.com/grub.bunny/ for updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and new releases. Discover his unique sound and emotional performances by listening to his music Grub on Spotify

Join the community and be part of his ongoing artistic adventure—your support means everything!

My hope is that when you’re looking at yourself in the

‘The Daily Mirror’

YOU SMILE

EMBRACE BEING YOU

AND FIND 10 MINUTES IN YOUR DAY TO NOURISH YOUR SOUL!

To get in touch with Cathy email smileinthedailymirror@gmail.com 

'The Daily Mirror' acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.