Interview: Tomar & The FCs

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What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today? 

A mutual friend, Nikolas Bouklas, introduced Tomar (lead singer) to the FCs, who were an instrumental band at the time. In addition to music, we all have day jobs. Tomar is a flooring contractor, Andy and Eric are music teachers, Paul is an insurance agent, and Chris works in logistics.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity? 

We all enjoy spending time with our families. Their support and love keeps us strong and inspires us to create.

How long has music been your career? 

We've been a band for 6 years.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music? 

We're based in Austin, TX. Austin has a vibrant music scene and some of the best soul bands in the world. It's a rich environment that inspires us to try new sounds and get better as a band.

Tell me about the best and worst shows you have played. 

One of our highlights as a band was playing the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2017. We're lucky to have one of the premiere music festivals in the world in Austin and it was such a pleasure to play for a hometown crowd. Can't think of any show we could describe as our worst show. We did have to sit in a field for 6 hrs before a wedding once.

Tell me about your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already? 

We're fortunate to have 4 world-class clubs in Austin: Antone's, The Continental Club, C-Boys Heart & Soul, and the White Horse. We'd love to do a West Coast tour.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket? 

We'd love to open for Clarence Carter and Otis Redding.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into music? 

Don't be afraid to seek advice from older musicians and play along with your favorite records.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would it be? 

Spend more time in the studio working on new music.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why? 

Day by Day is the first song that achieved some success. It's also a deeply emotional tune about perseverance.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most? 

Foot Down is always a fun one to play and a crowd-pleaser.

What is the creative process for you, and what inspires you to write your music? 

We have a few different creative processes. Tomar and Andy are both individual songwriters and we write some songs as a collective group. We're mostly inspired by relationships and our favorite soul artists.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music? 

We explore all kinds of themes and messages. Rise Above is a tune off the last album about overcoming adversity and social division.

Do you ever have disagreements when collaborating and how do you get past them? 

Yes, we're a boisterous group when it comes to songwriting. We often argue like brothers. The key to get past the disagreements is to try every idea and keep the discussion open about what works.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up? 

We've got some exciting dates in Texas this year and we're working on a Fall tour. Stay tuned!

Social Media Links: 

@tomarandthefcs on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. www.thefcs.band