The Story of Thorne Empire

Songwriting wasn’t something I initially set out to do. Honestly, I never thought I’d be where I am today. I started with poems; scribbling down thoughts, emotions, and observations. It was my way of processing the world. Then one day, I thought, “Why not try lyrics?” That idea felt like a dare to myself, and I took it.

That challenge led to the birth of Thorne Empire, a Chicago based project I founded in 2016. I didn’t have a band or a plan, just a desire to tell stories; my stories, and those of the world around me. Through Thorne Empire, I explored everything from love and heartbreak to war and politics. Sometimes the lyrics came from personal experience, other times from a deep empathy for struggles I saw in others.

In the early days, I had no idea what I was doing musically. I wasn’t a trained musician, and I didn’t have the gear, or the budget to record anything properly. So I got creative. I connected with independent ghost musicians who could interpret my lyrics and bring them to life. Hearing one of my songs recorded for the first time was a powerful moment. It was raw, imperfect… but it was mine. That moment lit a fire in me.

Still, the path was rough. I struggled to find collaborators who understood my vision, and when I did, they were usually far outside my price range. I felt like an outsider in the music world, fumbling through chords I didn’t understand, clinging to words I did. But I never stopped writing. No matter how many setbacks I faced, the songs kept coming. And somehow, I managed to record and release several full length albums. I put them online, and slowly, people started to listen. Some even connected with what I was saying. That meant everything.

Then, in 2024, everything changed. I discovered I could now record my songs using artificial intelligence for a fraction of the cost and with massively improved quality. It was like finding a door I didn’t know existed. I took all my old albums down and began the painstaking work of re-recording them with AI. It was liberating. Finally, I could match the sound to the emotion, the lyrics to the atmosphere I always heard in my head but didn’t have the tools to create before.

What started as a hobby has grown into something far more meaningful. Thorne Empire is no longer just a side project; it’s a platform, a voice, and a reflection of everything I’ve learned and lived through. It’s about making music that connects people across emotions, experiences, and perspectives. Whether someone relates to a line about heartbreak or a verse about political unrest, that connection matters. That’s why I do this.

I’ve learned that you don’t need to be classically trained or have a big budget to create something beautiful. What you do need is persistence, passion, and the willingness to evolve. I’m proud of how far Thorne Empire has come, and even more excited for where it’s going.

There are still challenges, of course. But I’ve stopped seeing them as roadblocks. They’re part of the process. Part of the story. As I continue this journey, I’ll keep pushing myself to create music that resonates; music that speaks to people the way only true, raw honesty can.

Because in the end, it’s never just about the lyrics. It’s about the connections they create, the emotions they stir, and the stories they dare to tell.