From Bedroom Recordings to Emmy Wins: Tone of Little Hurricane Reflects on His Journey
Tone has worn many hats in the music world (engineer, songwriter, producer, frontman) and through it all, he’s built a sound that’s both raw and refined. From recording in his old high school bedroom to working alongside legends like Neil Young and Andrea Bocelli, his journey with Little Hurricane has been anything but ordinary. With multiple San Diego Music Awards, an Emmy, and five albums under his belt, Tone opens up about his evolution as an artist, the lessons he’s carried from the studio to the stage, and what’s next for the band.
LET’S GO BACK TO 2009. WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU STARTED LITTLE HURRICANE? WAS THERE A MOMENT THAT MADE YOU SAY, “YEP, THIS IS IT”?
“It's more like what happened in 2008, I was working in recording studios for many of the world's top producers and artists. I loved my life, and I knew that I wanted to be involved with music in some way from a young age, but I never thought putting out my own music would be sustainable. I had been writing songs all along but never sharing or releasing them, but in 2008, there was a recession of sorts, and my time went from being 100% busy with other artists' music to having more time to focus on my own songs. There also was a lack of creativity with working on the technical side of things that I was missing. So I made a decision to find a drummer and record my own music.”
HOW HAS YOUR SOUND EVOLVED ACROSS THE FIVE ALBUMS? IS THERE A SONG YOU THINK DEFINES WHERE YOU’RE AT NOW AS AN ARTIST?
“My sound started a bit more raw and lo-fi, I suppose. I still try to tap into that vibe here and there with newer material, but I would say the evolution sonically follows the natural progression of life, maturity, and trying out new sounds. I can't say there is one song that defines me! But I am happy with the mix of musical influences, sonics, and melody on ‘That Woman’ / ‘Poor Me’ from the Love Luck album.”
WHAT’S SOMETHING ABOUT THE EARLY LITTLE HURRICANE DAYS THAT YOU THINK NEWER FANS WOULDN’T BELIEVE?
“I recorded some songs on Homewrecker in my old high school bedroom! (10 years after I moved out!)”
YOU’VE WON MULTIPLE SAN DIEGO MUSIC AWARDS. HOW DO THOSE MOMENTS FEEL COMPARED TO FINISHING AN ALBUM OR PLAYING A GREAT LIVE SHOW?
“All of those things are great in their own ways! Finishing an album is always the hardest because until it's ‘finished’, it can still be molded and changed, which is my favorite part. My favorite moments are meeting people who were impacted personally in some way by my songs, I didn't expect this aspect, but it's the most rewarding part of putting out albums and playing shows.”
YOUR COVERS ALBUM WAS SUCH A SHIFT. WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO REINTERPRET OTHER PEOPLE’S MUSIC, AND HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE TRACKS?
“The covers album Stay Classy was basically just a purge of various songs I've rotated through the live shows over the years. Just certain songs jump out at different spots in life, and to reinterpret other songs in my own voice is such a fun challenge.”
YOU’VE ENGINEERED FOR ARTISTS LIKE NEIL YOUNG AND ANDREA BOCELLI. WHAT’S ONE LESSON YOU PICKED UP FROM WORKING WITH LEGENDS THAT YOU CARRY INTO YOUR OWN STUDIO SESSIONS?
“Hmm, I've always known this to a degree, but having something be imperfect can be perfect in its own way. Basically, just let honesty shine through so the soul of the song is translated.”
HOW DO YOUR SKILLS AS AN AUDIO ENGINEER INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU WRITE OR PRODUCE LITTLE HURRICANE’S MUSIC?
"I feel that being an audio engineer is 100% critical for being able to control how people enjoy your music when listening. From having a concept in your head all the way to the listener's ears, the many links in the chain are all important."
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YOU’VE WON AN EMMY FOR YOUR WORK ON THE GRAMMYS. WHAT’S SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE ABOUT THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES AUDIO WORLD OF MAJOR TELEVISED EVENTS?
"There are so many people working together to make sure a live event goes off without a hitch, and it takes everyone working in unison efficiently to avoid a train wreck! Some shows use shortcuts for 'live audio' but some don't, I'm not sure if the viewer realizes or appreciates when it is actually 'live'."
WHAT’S YOUR SONGWRITING PROCESS LIKE? DO YOU TEND TO CHASE A FEELING, A LYRIC, A GROOVE, OR SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY?
"Ya, usually a feeling or groove, sometimes a lyrical idea to build around. No matter what the catalyst is, the birth of a song has to connect at a deeper level with my soul, even if it's a silly song!"
DO YOU WRITE WITH LIVE PERFORMANCE IN MIND, OR DOES THAT COME AFTER THE SONG IS FINISHED?
"There were a few songs that I wrote and released early on that I didn't think about how I was going to perform live, by having two guitar parts, etc. I just couldn't play those songs live as a duo. I am now working towards adding more members to the live show to not be limited in that aspect anymore."
HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE RAW, BLUESY GRIT THAT DEFINES YOUR SOUND WITH NEW INFLUENCES OR EXPERIMENTATION?
"I think this goes back to being self-produced; any song can be reduced to a raw feeling or energy. I love experimenting with different styles and sounds, but I try to avoid sugar coating."
AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF MAKING MUSIC, WHAT STILL SURPRISES YOU ABOUT THIS CAREER?
"Nothing really surprises me anymore, but the endless possibilities with music creation, culture, and audio technologies keeps me hopeful for the future!"
IS THERE A DREAM COLLABORATION OR GENRE YOU HAVEN’T TAPPED INTO YET BUT WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE?
"Not really a 'genre' per se, but I used to be very against tracks being used on stage in conjunction with a live band, I felt that it was cheating or inauthentic. However, now after seeing a few shows that used tracks in a tasteful way to enhance the concert experience, I've started to visualize a project using some playback to bring the live show to the next level sonically."
HOW HAS BEING BASED IN SAN DIEGO INFLUENCED YOUR SOUND, YOUR MINDSET, OR THE WAY YOU APPROACH YOUR ART?
"Well, I started Little Hurricane in San Diego, and that overall vibe and culture definitely influenced me in ways both known and unknown. More importantly, I would say that the San Diego music community was very encouraging for new music and bands, that support was the most influential for a new artist to keep going and have the confidence to succeed."
WHAT’S NEXT FOR LITTLE HURRICANE, AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE LISTENERS TAKE AWAY FROM WHATEVER COMES NEXT?
"After a long hiatus from the Covid times, nearly dying in a motorcycle accident, having my drummer quit, finding/training a new backing band, and going through a heartbreaking divorce, I'm really ready to play music again and have a bunch of new songs to release in 2026, hopefully. This time I'm playing shows as a trio instead of a duo, with plans to add even more players in the future. The thing I'm most excited about this next go around is having Hattie Craven join me upfront singing and playing instruments, having vocal harmonies finally is a welcome addition!"
Through career highs, personal setbacks, and everything in between, Tone has continued to let honesty and grit guide his music. What started as a bedroom project in San Diego has grown into a decade-plus journey of resilience, experimentation, and connection with listeners around the world. As Little Hurricane enters its next chapter, with new songs, new collaborators, and a renewed sense of purpose, Tone reminds us that music’s greatest power lies in its ability to keep evolving right alongside us.
