The Tony Rich Project

To call Tony Rich “multi-faceted” would be an understatement. In addition to being a Grammy Award-winning artist and producer, Rich is also a skilled painter, photographer and writer. And if you listen to him or his forthcoming Hidden Beach Recordings debut Exist long enough, you might think he's a motivational speaker as well.



Given Rich’s years in the industry, his positivity is surprisingly refreshing. He began his career as a songwriter and producer, penning songs for Elton John, Boyz II Men, TLC and Johnny Gill, before scoring Grammy gold in 1997 with his LaFace Records debut, Words. The album not only won Rich the coveted “Best R&B Album” award, it also garnered two hit records—“Nobody Knows” and “Like A Woman.” Since then, Rich released three critically praised albums: Birdseye, Resurrected and Pictures.



While each album defines a distinct moment in his career, Rich says it was his experience of releasing Pictures that really inspired his Hidden Beach debut.

“Most artists would be depressed if their project didn’t work because a lack of label support,” Rich says. “But because I had been there before, what I did was channel those frustrations and misunderstandings I had into a new record. Creativity is what brings me sanity.”



It wasn’t simply frustration that fueled Exist. Even with great success, Tony Rich never lived an excessive life as most would assume, houses, cars and all the other material possessions that come with it, but prior to the release of Pictures, Rich realized that he needed to simplify everything in his life. He let go of his car and house and rented a small apartment that served as both his home and his studio—it was in that apartment that he learned how to truly “exist.”

The result is a melodic 11-track set that blends elements of soul, jazz and funk into what can best be described as a moving masterpiece. “There was a woman who crossed my path and our interaction also inspired this album. The whole phrase [and requisite song] ‘It would be a sin,’ was inspired by the fact that I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like if I had not crossed her path. Through some very chaotic moments, the most calming thing in my life was her and I was able to draw off that energy. At that point, I was accepted and appreciated for who I was, and that was very inspiring to me.”



Inspired by this newfound freedom, lead single “Part The Waves” speaks directly to the delicate courtship dance that men and women do as they become acquainted with each other. “I’ve found that most women that I’ve encountered all have a before and after response to my ways and concepts,” Rich explains. “Before they experience me, they would say that I’m cool, sweet and interesting. Then afterwards, when their emotions have been developed and inspired by our unique moments together, their view of me becomes clouded by the complexity of potent reality that tugs at their conventional ways of thinking and relating. The ‘parting of waves’ signifies the point within where we realize the definitive difference of our before and after of an experience that has obviously altered our way of thinking, our way of being.” With that kind of complex spirituality, it’s no wonder the single is currently in top 50 rotation at Mediabase.



Rich not only found acceptance in his personal life but he also found it at Hidden Beach, a label known for letting an artist be true to themselves. After reconnecting with Hidden Beach CEO and Founder Steve McKeever (“One day, I just decided to call Steve to see how he was doing—I hadn’t spoken to him in 10 years;”), Rich not only had a new label home but also a team that saw and believed in his musical vision.



“Tony Rich has come full circle since his epiphanous 1996 debut and is making music once again purely for the love of it,” says McKeever. “Not that he was doing anything but, down deep in the years in between, however it is well documented the type of pressures and distractions that can come with the type of out of the box success that Tony experienced on his first try. Playing and singing every note of his latest offering, Exist once again showcases the modern miracle of the recording process enabling one human being to become a full orchestra. Tony takes his orchestra and creates a symphony.”



From the sensual tones of “It Would Be A Sin (Without U)” to the familiar comfort of “Days,” Exist features Rich-penned songs that speak both to the heart and the mind. He was so inspired that he not only crafted an album, but also a book. Conceived as a collection short stories and poems that express his philosophies of life, love, spirituality and more, Rich used the book to influence Exist, and vice versa.



“Some artists can’t explain their songs, because most have not written those songs,” says Rich. But it is that type of creativity that makes Rich’s minimalist R&B so deep. He truly proves that a little truly goes a long way.



“Last year, I decided that I was going to do all that I can do and I am going to do it all to the best of my ability,” says Rich. And with Exist, he has done just that… and then some.