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We’ve been steeping in some spiritual vibes lately – could be the times, could be the headlines – we've wanting celebratory vibes as of late. Tenroc, already a well-established studio musician and producer at 25, went deep into his faith on a truly amazing artist project that feels very right place, right time in its delivery. On God Is A Person, Tenroc explores his faith, the sense of purpose and values it derives, and buoys it with a varied melodic experience that literally hits all the right notes. It’s been joyful to dig into and we wanted to help spread such a wonderful message regardless of individual beliefs. To that effect we dug in with the thoughtful architect and let his word do the explaining:

OnesToWatch: Why are you a creative? You're more than an artist, although you are on an artist journey, which I definitely want to touch on more later. What got you into being a creative? 

Tenroc: In my household growing up, I was always surrounded by art and creative things. My mom was a singer, still is to this day, and my dad was a DJ. He also dabbled in video editing, he would always just create stuff. It felt natural to me to also create things. 

It sounds like you had an amazingly fun childhood. Was anything else other than music competing for your interest? Or did you always gravitate toward music? 

It was always music.
I started producing when I was seven, so I spent all my younger years focused on production and songwriting. I tried to play sports at some point. It just didn't work. It wasn't as interesting as music was. 

Let's dig into producing, since you started at seven. 

I remember being at a family barbecue in the year 2007, and my family would always play the current hits of the time. On the radio was Justin Timberlake's “My Love.” When I heard it, it just blew my mind because of the sounds that I was hearing.
I didn't know how to put into words what I was hearing. And I asked my dad who was beatboxing. 
And he told me like, it's the producer Timbaland. Before that point in my life, it hadn't dawned on me that a Justin Timberlake song wasn't solely made by him. There were people that were involved in the creation of these songs. So that just kicked my interest and from then, I was dead set on finding out what production was and how I could do it. 

You have a lot of experience in composition and creation, both for yourself and others. Do you have a creative flow? Is there a way you go about producing? 

It depends on the artist that I'm working with at the moment. Typically what happens is I'm starting with a production element. Either it's keys or drums, and from there, I just keep building on it, building and building. After I have a little palette of production, what I typically do is what I call a melodic scan. So essentially, I'll just sing gibberish, and find the catchiest melodies. Then, I listen to it again and I pick the catchiest ones. Then, I arrange the entire song just melodically. Lyrics are last. That's my typical process. 

Interesting. What would you say you've learnt most about the writing and composition process since you've literally been doing it since you were seven. 

Honestly, my process since I was 7, is essentially the same. All of it is just figuring out piece by piece what I think sounds cool. One thing that has changed for me over time, especially having worked with more popular, bigger producers and songwriters in the pop space, is that nobody really knows what they're doing – for lack of a better phrase. By that, I mean, everybody is also trying to figure it out. The biggest songwriters and producers don't go in the room knowing exactly how to make a hit. It's just piece by piece, trying to put it together and trying to find the catchiest, best, most fun thing that we think people are going to want to sing. 


What made you want to start becoming an artist or putting out music under your own name? 

Yeah, it's funny. I actually never really had the desire to be an artist. I was always pretty content with just staying behind the scenes, producing and writing for other artists, but there was a special event in my life that happened to me where I felt God speak to me and tell me to make this album. I was honestly pretty hesitant because I liked where I was just being behind the scenes. No one knew who I was. I liked that sort of thing. But after receiving this commander from God – I audibly heard him speak to me – I felt like I had to obey him. I'm so glad that I did because I was able to make this body of work that's about to come out. I feel like it's really special and it's really going to help a lot of people. 

Tell me about that experience, especially since the title of the album is God as a person. 

You know, the title came directly from God too. I was on vacation in Orlando one day and he just gave me the title. What I'm trying to convey is that a lot of people think of God or Jesus and they sort of think of this entity in the sky that is sort of academic or distant. A lot of people will conflate God and the universe. That's language I hear a lot, especially in the music industry. Things like, “Put it out in the universe and like the universe will work for you.” That sort of thing. What I'm saying about God as a person is that God isn't the universe. God is the creator of the universe and he's also not just an energy, right? Biblically, God has emotions.
He has a will, he has desires for us as his creation. And so the entire album is just looking to prove that and looking to demonstrate God's personhood in each of the songs. 

Fascinating.
Definitely brings me back to my college philosophy classes. How did you relay this message in the album? 

I'd say that there are a great number of songs on the record that are me speaking to God, whether it's a message of gratitude or thankfulness. There are other songs where I'm crying out for help from Him, and on the other hand, there are a few songs that are from the perspective of God speaking to us. So I think with each song, as I was making the album, I just tried to demonstrate God's personhood. Whether that's demonstrating His willingness to be there when we're feeling depressed or sad, or just showing how much control He has over situations in our lives, it's really about just demonstrating His personhood, the personhood of Christ. That's what the album's about. 

Love that. Very beautiful. Gonna pivot to some less existential questions.
But before I do, what are your – which might mean what are God's – intentions for this album? What do you hope for it? 

One of my main goals as a Christian, is to sort of dispel the idea that Christianity or church is boring or corny. I think Christian music gets a bad rap. So what I sought out to do with this album is, especially sonically, just really make records that are fun to listen to. Records that people, whether you're Christian or not, whether you believe in Jesus or not, you can listen to these records and get something from them. You can listen to them just because they sound good, just because you like the melodies. That was the huge goal for me. Also, I don't want people to think that I'm trying to say that we're God or I'm God. The album is really supposed to point people to Christ. 

I think upon listening to the album, people will get that message. On to the personality questions. I’d love to know if your friends and family ambushed you and you had to whip up a meal, could you make something, and if so, what would it be? 

Yes, I can. The first meal on my mind, I've been making for my wife just this week. She's been craving it, because she's pregnant. It's called arabiata. It's this Italian pasta dish based on a red sauce. The thing about arabiata is that it means angry in Italian. So you put chili flakes in it, so it's got a kick to it. I top it with a little Parmigiano reggiano. It's incredible. 


Love it. Also, congrats, man. If you could invent or recreate a concert, with anyone dead or alive, what’s your dream lineup? 

I got the answers, dude. I would have loved to perform with Michael Jackson, just in his band, playing guitar, that would be insane. I'd love to sing with Chris Martin, perform with Coldplay. They’re one of my favorite bands, but I also love the way they are able to sort of mesh alt rock and pop. 

I can always tell when people have thought of this or not. I would love a non-music recommendation. So it can be an activity, a place to visit, a way to relax, anything. And then next, I would love a music recommendation. 

Ooh, okay, this is gonna be tricky. My whole life is music. Look, I'd say, man, go to Disney World. Not enough people are going to Disney World. Disney World is incredible, dude. If you want to go somewhere and just feel like a kid again, run around, eat to your heart's desire. Just go to Disney World, dude.

As for music, I’d say Daryl Johns. He's insane. He's signed to Mac Demarco's label. 
He makes this insane diffusion of jazz and pop, but it also has some yacht rock influence and glam rock. It's really unlike anything I've ever heard. Very inspiring. 


I’ve gotta check this out! I would love to end on your words. It can be affirmations, advice, shout outs, some promo callouts, whatever you want to do. 

My single, “mourning 2 dancing” with Tori Kelly and John Keith, I hope is able to bring people joy, if they're ever in times of mourning, if they're ever in times that are down. That’s also the goal of the record.

Thank you so much for your time, man. Continued success.