Today we’d like to introduce you to Thor Sigurdsson.
Thor, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a 1st generation American. My mum is from England, and my dad is from Iceland. My dad moved back to Iceland when I was 18. I have been visiting Iceland at least once a year since I was born. I speak some Icelandic. I was born and raised in San Diego, California. I have lived my whole life by the ocean. Skateboarding and Surfing have always been a big part of my life and have also inspired my music. The two biggest inspirations for my music, are Nature, and Love. The ocean has been such a huge part of my life since I was very young, and has always been extremely therapeutic for me. I wrote my first song when I was five, and I have been writing music ever since. I am a multi- instrumentalist and am completely self-taught. Both music and acting have always been a huge part of my life, but eventually, music won over, resulting in me changing my major at University, from screen acting to music. I have always been a sensitive and empathetic person, which fuels the songs I write.
Has it been a smooth road?
Ever since I was a child, I have struggled with anxiety and panic disorder, but in November of 2018, my anxiety and panic attacks got so bad, I ended up having to take a leave of absence from my university, and left L.A and moved back home in San Diego. Things started getting better, until my grandma passed away, and my mental health took a turn for the worse. As my panic attacks started increasing daily, my world began to get smaller and smaller; however, during this time, I ended up reconnecting with a childhood friend, which quickly grew into a relationship. While this was a huge light in my life, the panic attacks continued to get worse, and I began to become extremely physically sick.
Within three months, I had lost 30 pounds and spent every hour of the day in constant nausea barely able to keep any food down. I was losing myself and the spark inside of me, but I decided not to lose hope and to keep fighting any way I could. I began to write, and write, and write! Rather than write about my suffering, I wrote about what was good in my life, separate from the daily suffering. I wrote about love, Nature, and a brighter future. These songs became a focal point for me, and began to fill me with a sense of propose and meaning, reigniting that spark inside of me. I made the decision that I was going to make an album! No matter how sick, anxious, or exhausted I felt each day, I worked little by little on the album. About months since I first started getting sick, I was diagnosed with IBS, and given a strict diet to follow. After cutting out all of the inflammatory foods, my stomach quickly started healing itself, and I experienced relief from symptoms for the first time in four months.
As I began to feel better, I devoted more and more time to writing and recording and soon the entire album was complete. This album is proof to me, that no matter what obstacle and level of suffering could be thrown at me, through music, I was still able to experience love, joy, and happiness. The album is a testament to that and a testament to how far I have come in the last year.
We’d love to hear more about your music.
My music is a beachy twist on a folk vibe. I draw inspiration from acts ranging from Mumford and Sons to Bon Iver to Tom Misch. I am well read and well traveled, and both of those greatly influence the music I make. When I sing live, I sing what I feel, and my music resonates with people. It’s natural for me to creatively interpret what I see and feel into my music. I have a sound and playing style that is familiar, but distinct at the same time, and I think that is important when it comes to performing in front of new audiences for the first time. My proudest moment so far would be writing, recording, and producing my first solo album!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think San Diego is a perfect place to start playing live as well as creating a solid foundation and following. While L.A may have larger venues for once your careers has really taken off, San Diego is the perfect place to start. The musicians around San Diego are a very close community, and everyone who is willing to perform and put their hearts and soul out there are always welcomed and respected. While there are lots of venues downtown, I would love to see more music venues open up in North County, as well as some more open mics!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thorsigurdsson.com
- Email: thorsigurdssonmusicofficial@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thorsigurdssonmusic/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/20ZvCSC1EYzXxdqJMsmfAL?si=Z_A_D5VJTaq0phUppO1Okg
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