Tora WoloShin - A Victim of Physical Abuse Turns Into Star Singer (Singer from USA)

I experienced the death of a loved one for the first time and took it pretty hard. She was a dear friend of mine whom I had spent most of my childhood in a dance program with. Soon after that, when I was 14, I was raped by my first real boyfriend. 

1.Tell us more about your background and journey.

I was born in LA and raised by my mother in Arizona as her only child and met my father when I was 7. My father and I always had a back and forth complicated relationship and my mother is my best friend who has done everything and anything to support me. I grew up doing 4-H and being around animals and horses. 

I had a few traumatic experiences growing up. At 13, I experienced the death of a loved one for the first time and took it pretty hard. She was a dear friend of mine whom I had spent most of my childhood in a dance program with. Soon after that, when I was 14, I was raped by my first real boyfriend. 

At 15 I put together my first band. We played alternative rock music and toured. I then got my GED and auditioned for American Idol. Around that same age, I got my first jobs; one at a music store and the other as a cook in a cafe. I began dating a guy who played guitar and I started another alt.

 Rock band and toured again. After he became abusive and broke my wrist, I moved on. I signed my first record deal at 18 and moved back to LA. After getting screwed over by the manager, I signed with a different company and they attempted to steal my music. So, I went back to AZ and back to school full time and got a job as an animal trainer.

 

During this time it became quite a habit to do singing competitions. After winning multiple local competitions, I was invited to audition in front of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger on the T.V show, X Factor; and being mentored by Simon Cowell, I made it very far in the competition. 

After X Factor I wrote and produced an album and a sold out album release show; then was immediately contacted by several labels wanting to sign. I chose to sign a one year contract with an indie label in Miami and moved there for a year. I worked with The Fliptones and did a song with Jim Jones produced by Timbaland. 

During that year, my music hit top 40 radio stations and spun across the nation. 

I did shows opening for Flo Rida, Pink and Method man After that contract ended, I moved back to AZ and became a chef and student full time for a couple of semesters and was offered an international tour by a booking agent. 

I found dancers and choreographed 4, 10 minute shows, made costumes, taught the dancers and we flew out to China for 3 months. After the tour, I went to LA again with acting opportunities and did some work in T.V., film and commercials.

After a big modeling gig, I found out that my dad had a heart attack and had to have surgery so I moved in with him in Alameda, CA to care for him. He married a crazy lady who became abusive towards me so I left back to LA to work on more music and acting.

 I worked with an engineer on this project for about 5 months before he decided that he wasn't going to work with me anymore because I wouldn't sleep with him. When he sent me the hard drive that was supposed to have all the music I wrote on it, it was empty. I then made my way back to AZ. 

My dad left the lady and I moved back with him to help out. I started going to the San Francisco Art institute for painting and performing and they shut all the way down when Covid hit. I am now attending the University of Arizona online and going back and forth to LA doing a lot of acting and stand-in work. 

I have several music projects releasing soon and am re-branding for the New Year!

2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue music and how did you start?

I always knew I wanted to do music no matter what else I was doing. My mother says that my first words were in song; mimicking people singing on the radio.

 

3. Who is your favorite artist and why?

Mariah Carey. Not only did I listen to her music my whole life, but I relate to her childhood and her life. 

4. Can you throw some light on your journey as an actor, artist & a chef.

It is all very thrilling. There is art in being a chef but they are very different from acting. 

5. Is format training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?

No formal training is required for anything. I became a chef by talking smack to chefs and making them taste my samples of their dishes improved.

 Dance is probably where the most formality is needed. But, I am also in law school lol. 

6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?

Never give up and always create art with positive meaning and purpose.

7. Which is your favorite book and why? 

The thesaurus. I love finding different ways of saying something. It provides different perspectives and viewpoints of understanding if used correctly. 

- Tora WoloShin

   Singer | Actor 

    Instagram: Tora WoloShin

Interviewed by - Sriram Grandhisila