No Longer Driving Blind: LIFEOFTHOM’s Growth in Motion

Driving Blind was created in motion, a project born during a period when LIFEOFTHOM was pushing forward without complete certainty. Each track documents a moment in his life, some with pressure, self-reflection, and emotion, all showing LIFEOFTHOM learning to take his time and to see the road ahead.

LIFEOFTHOM, a creative who is inspired by the greats, “guys like Biggie, Kanye, Big L, Flying Lotus, Earl Sweatshirt, Jay Z” are his biggest inspirations. He even loves bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, and Green Day, as well as anime like Yu Yu Hakusho and Naruto. All in all, THOM describes himself as “Overall nostalgia....this is who I am!" pointing to the music, stories, and worlds he grew up with as the core of his creative identity.

Growing up in Washington Heights, THOM was surrounded by Hispanic culture. He says “Washington Heights is the best place in the whole entire world” and how his environment “has made me a super strong individual aiming to become the greatest artist of my generation, so what I create gotta be GREAT." THOM aspires to be great, and let's work from his childhood embody who he wants to be today. When asked how he stays authentic and true to his roots, he said the key was “STAY TRUE, KEEP IT REAL, ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FOUNDATION, BE OPEN TO CHANGE, and FOLLOW THE GREAT SPIRIT.” THOM’s authenticity is the root of his music and shines bright throughout his sound.

Driving Blind was a change for THOM. He linked up with the legendary Plain Pat and had room to experiment with his sound while staying grounded in who he is. One of the most experimental songs he has done is “Overthinking,” which sonically is so different then anything else on this album. It perfectly captures the feeling of someone who is stuck in their own head and when asked, THOM supported this by saying “I WAS WORKING A JOB, WEARING MULTIPLE HATS, SLEEPING ON A BROKEN COUCH IN MY ROOM WHILE GOING TO MULTIPLE SESSIONS, GOING ON TOUR, FINISHING AN ALBUM WITH PAT, ANXIOUS ABOUT WHERE AM I DRIVING BECAUSE ALL I CAN DO IS OVERTHINK.”

Plain Pat’s influence extends far beyond the production, shaping THOM’s writing and overall approach to his craft. Throughout Driving Blind, THOM expresses himself with a new level of clarity and intention, as he absorbs lessons learned from Pat along the way. Driving Blind finds THOM slowing down, trusting the process, and refining his sound, resulting in some of the strongest tracks of his career. Songs like “Cadillac” and “Hands” are instantly memorable, built on thoughtful songwriting and deeply rooted lyricism. THOM credits his pen to storytelling, noting that it has become “a staple to my style.” Working alongside Pat taught him to take life slower, perfect each record, and trust his instincts. He describes the experience as “a movie,” emphasizing how he learned to “actually give space between the inspiration and the urge to get this song off, as there’s something really special when it all just flows.” He leaves Pat with a simple message: “#plainpatWADDUP.”

In 2025, THOM poured himself fully into Driving Blind, investing an immense amount of time, energy, and intention into the project. That dedication paid off, resulting in a body of work that showcases his masterful lyricism supported by immaculate, intentional production from Plain Pat. Looking ahead, music is THOM’s sole focus. With collaborations alongside Powers Pleasant, Supah Mario, and Plain Pat on the horizon, he’s entering a new chapter with purpose, including plans to write and produce an entire album on his own. No longer driving blind, THOM is moving forward with vision.