Tobias Russell

"A favorite of the Annapolis club, bar, and coffee house scene, Tobias Russell is a local artist that is worth watching in the next few years. Just take a look and listen..." - Eye On Annapolis

"As historically significant as Annapolis is, this city has much more to offer than just what has happened here in the past. The Annapolis of today and tomorrow is a vibrant place filled with bright and talented people young and old. Today we spotlight one of our city’s rising stars, musician Tobias Russell..." - The Annapolis Sound

"With multi-instrumental chops, matching vocals, and charisma that take over the room, it’s small wonder Russell was able to win over fans aplenty and earn this year’s top performer accolade..." - What's Up? Media

"With multi-instrumental chops, matching vocals, and charisma that take over the room, it’s small wonder Russell was able to win over fans aplenty and earn this year’s top performer accolade..." - What's Up? Media

"When he began thinking about a career as a musician, Russell admits he had a more glamorous idea of what it entailed. He knows better now. He has a full-length album and three shorter recordings out, and looks at marketing himself as a musician with the same savvy as someone starting a business."

- Theresa Winslow (The Capital) - The Capital Newspaper

He’s working incredibly hard to put Annapolis on the music map. In just three and a half short years since he graduated from St. John’s College Annapolis, Tobias Russell has evolved into one of the most entertaining musicians in town; and he has aspirations to expand way beyond the 21401 zip code. At 25 years old, the budding musician is, perhaps, in his creative prime, crafting songs that blend a variety of styles including rap, folk, pop, rock, electronic, and dub; he could be the next poster child of the roots-rock-reggae movement, long popularized by a talented family with the last name Marley. “I listen to a lot of music, and anytime I hear something new or innovative that really catches my ear, it makes me want to work harder,” says Russell.

Russell’s live concerts are the proving ground at which he’s been winning over new fans with each performance. He’s prolific on the piano and guitar, has writing and rhyming skills that rival the region’s best, and polished vocals. Altogether, Russell brings energy to the stage and has been featured on several bills as the headlining performer.

Long before this hype, Russell took piano lessons at an early age (about seven years old), picked up the guitar by age 12, and played percussion in the high school band at Archbishop Spalding. The second oldest of four brothers (each musically inclined), he cites his family and music teachers as lifelong inspirations and Paul Simon as a profound musical influence. “His grasp of music is something I’ve always admired, and worked towards,” says Russell. This past fall, Russell released his first record, Flesh.Bones.Teeth.Words, which has received airplay on local radio stations such as WRNR.This year he plans to record a wealth of original music and begin expanding his horizons on a tour. His credo, “Let the music set you free,” is a fitting way to describe Russell’s passion and potential. (tobiasrussellmusic.com)

—James Houck (What's Up? Magazine) - What's Up? Media

He’s working incredibly hard to put Annapolis on the music map. In just three and a half short years since he graduated from St. John’s College Annapolis, Tobias Russell has evolved into one of the most entertaining musicians in town; and he has aspirations to expand way beyond the 21401 zip code. At 25 years old, the budding musician is, perhaps, in his creative prime, crafting songs that blend a variety of styles including rap, folk, pop, rock, electronic, and dub; he could be the next poster child of the roots-rock-reggae movement, long popularized by a talented family with the last name Marley. “I listen to a lot of music, and anytime I hear something new or innovative that really catches my ear, it makes me want to work harder,” says Russell.

Russell’s live concerts are the proving ground at which he’s been winning over new fans with each performance. He’s prolific on the piano and guitar, has writing and rhyming skills that rival the region’s best, and polished vocals. Altogether, Russell brings energy to the stage and has been featured on several bills as the headlining performer.

Long before this hype, Russell took piano lessons at an early age (about seven years old), picked up the guitar by age 12, and played percussion in the high school band at Archbishop Spalding. The second oldest of four brothers (each musically inclined), he cites his family and music teachers as lifelong inspirations and Paul Simon as a profound musical influence. “His grasp of music is something I’ve always admired, and worked towards,” says Russell. This past fall, Russell released his first record, Flesh.Bones.Teeth.Words, which has received airplay on local radio stations such as WRNR.This year he plans to record a wealth of original music and begin expanding his horizons on a tour. His credo, “Let the music set you free,” is a fitting way to describe Russell’s passion and potential. (tobiasrussellmusic.com)

—James Houck (What's Up? Magazine) - What's Up? Media

Tobias Russell appears to be a contradiction of terms. A dreadlocked twenty-something that considers Paul Simon as his biggest influence? An MC that doesn’t curse? But it’s this dichotomy that makes his musical approach so intriguing. “Flesh.Bones.Teeth.Words” is the first full-length from this Annapolis native and it’s as rooted in folk as it is in hip hop. Russell says he’s unafraid to drastically change styles from song to song and while he holds true to those words, it’s not at the expense of cohesiveness.

A prolific songwriter, he had a multitude of songs to choose from for his debut but he told Underground Wednesday that he found common lyrical ground in the songs that worked their way onto the record – regardless of whether he was singing or rapping. It’s hip hop that’s refreshingly free of misogyny and braggadocio. It’s rock with an ear for hooks and a way with words. And it’s folk that’s introspective without being self-absorbed.

Not hurting matters is the stellar production, subtle guitar work and backing vocals by Annapolis musician Casey Hean (of local bands Ethics Committee, newstravelsfast, and the forthcoming Diving Horses.) From the ebullient pop of first single “I Woke Up” to the soul-inflected hip hop of “This Ain’t Music” (featuring former Jepetto and Victory Party MC Dave Richardson), it’s a promising debut that’s only accentuated by his passionate live performances. He might not use profanity in his music, but we’re going to go ahead and call Tobias Russell a badass anyway. - Underground Wednesday