Thomas O'Shea's Stunning New Release "Did I Make It Worse?" Shows a Bold New Depth
- STAFF
- Jul 31
- 9 min read
By: Staff
“Did I Make It Worse?” showcases Thomas O'Shea’s brilliance—raw emotion, creative mastery, and unmatched authenticity.
New music alert! The rising artist Thomas O'Shea has just released a track that’s already getting everyone talking. "Did I Make It Worse?" is a refreshingly introspective take on the classic breakup song, but with a twist. Instead of diving into the usual realms of anger or sadness, O'Shea takes a more vulnerable, self-reflective approach that challenges the listener to rethink the emotional complexities of a relationship.
What happens when you question your role in a breakup? Is it possible that just being part of someone’s life can leave lasting impacts, even if unintended? "Did I Make It Worse?" poses this very question, offering listeners a raw look into the artist’s emotional journey.
We recently spoke with O'Shea to dive deeper into the inspiration behind the song and what makes it stand out in a sea of breakup anthems. From how his unique vocal style evolved to the creative risks he took with production, the conversation was packed with insight. We also explored the influences of some of his favorite artists and how they’ve shaped his sound in surprising ways.
With "Did I Make It Worse?" being a deeply personal reflection on a real-life experience, O'Shea shares the artistic process behind blending vulnerability with innovation, giving fans a deeper connection to the music.
Curious to know more? We’ve got all the details in our full interview. Keep reading to find out what makes this track so special.
BEGIN INTERVIEW:
Hello Thomas O'Shea, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more excited to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. How did you land on Thomas O'Shea as your stage name? What inspired you to choose that for your artist persona?
A. I started my career as “TY’O” and just recently switched to my legal name: Thomas O’Shea. I know, I don't look Irish at all! I was adopted at 6 months old into an Irish American family. After I graduated college, I decided I needed to be as authentic as possible in everything I do for my career. No more fake stage names, no more hiding behind the music. So, I did a full rebrand back in January 2025 and have been focused on authentic story telling and putting real feeling into my music ever since.
Q. We loved the unique vocal stylings. From your powerful opening to the softer, more personal moments, it felt so refreshing and new. When did you discover your voice, and what was the turning point in your life that led you from singing in the mirror to recording for professional purposes?
A. I started singing as a theater kid, actually. I started acting at 7 and continued singing all throughout childhood and high school. I’ve always loved singing but didn’t really sing my own works until well into high school. After producing beats for a few years, I decided I should sing or “rap” (I can’t rap lol) over what I make and release it.
Q. As a teaser description, what would you tell someone about Did I Make It Worse? to intrigue them about its meaning if you only had one sentence to get them interested in listening to it?
A. There are too many breakup songs that put the blame on the person it's about or on the writer- I just wanted to write something about the emotion and not put the blame anywhere.
Q. Did I Make It Worse? is a very reflective and introspective breakup song. How important is it for you to express vulnerability in your music, especially when dealing with something as personal as a breakup?
A. I used to hate being vulnerable in my music. I would write music mixing fact and fiction and would hide behind that. I got tired of that and wanted to stop writing about being a person I’m not. I also had a change in perspective about music after
I graduated college- all music is emotion- the only question is if the emotion is real and genuine or fake and just made for views. I want all the music I make to be genuine. Even if the topic is hard to write about, it should remain true to the artist’s experience and story. Otherwise, the audience can tell if the music being released is just an act.
Q. Unlike many breakup songs that dive into anger or sadness, yours seems to take a more self-reflective approach, questioning personal responsibility. Why did you feel that was the best way to convey your feelings?
A. Honestly? It was the lingering feelings for the girl the song is about. I do still have the sadness, but it’s not her fault. What happened, happened and life moved on. I have zero anger towards her- I just wanted to put what I would tell her out into the world. Neither of us did anything- it just wasn’t the right time or maybe we weren’t meant for each other. Either way, there didn’t need to be negative emotions in a song about her.
Q. You mentioned that Jon Bellion, Robert Grace, and Sickick influenced your sound. Could you share some essences or styles that you feel you wound up reimagining into your style? (Which we loved, by the way!)
A. Well, comparing my sound to those artists is kind of an afterthought after I’m done writing the song. I’m not thinking about what my style sounds like when I’m writing. The reason why I say those artists are similar to my sound is based on what I hear when I listen back to what I made. I find myself writing about similar topics as Robert Grace who writes about mental health, breakups, and heartbreak. I noticed I approach production and songwriting in a similar way to Jon Bellion- experimenting with sounds and trying out ideas until everything locks into place. I also have a similar writing process as Jon. And then with Sickick- I was first inspired to start sampling the world around me and turning whatever I found into music from Sickick’s shorts that he made during the pandemic. I would also say that I have been influenced by Andrew Huang from YouTube as well for the same reason.
Q. The unconventional beat structure in your song—where claps and snares don’t align with typical pop rhythms—is a unique choice. What made you want to experiment with this approach, and how do you feel it enhances the emotional impact of the song?
A. I am so so tired of producers being so copy paste from each other. Claps always on 2 and 4 or on 3 and snares always used to add bounce. It gets predictable. That’s no shade on the producers that produce like that- I just think that drums can be used in different ways for both added groove, emotion, and more symbolism. Plus I like adding extra details to play off melodies or phrases with the drums. For other songs I’ve worked on, I sometimes shift claps and snares so that it gives a unique groove. I like to play with percussion in a way that enhances the meaning of the song or brings out unique elements in the rest of the production and songwriting. This song, for example, the drums are meant to represent a clock- I just didn’t want to use a real clock sound just to mix it into the other drums.
Q. You’ve stated that every aspect of the song, from production to mixing, is intentional. Can you share some of these nuances with us? Because they really felt great to us, but we don’t know the story behind the final product.
A. It’s kinda hard to explain, cause it’s all happening in the moment while I’m producing. When I’m writing songs for myself, I’m focused on every detail- how I sing the melodies, if I should add harmonies, and how I should do adlibs. Usually, the topic of the song guides the whole process. Did I Make It Worse? is a very vulnerable and personal song, so I decided to only double the vocals with an octave below instead of more thought out harmony- to make the song feel more intimate. The drums, as I talked about before, represent a clock. I don’t know how that connects back, but I started with the drums with that idea in mind and built the whole song around that idea. The initial inspiration was thinking back about if I did something wrong or not- like using “going back in time” as the inspiration for the song.
Q. Did I Make It Worse? is not just a breakup song—it asks a very personal question. How do you hope listeners connect with that central question, and what kind of response are you hoping to inspire in them?
A. Once I release a song, it’s out of my hands on how it’s received. I would love it if people connect with it or see themselves in the lyrics I wrote. My hope is that my music finds the right people- the overthinkers, the emotional people, the people who are always there for others but feel alone themselves. I want my music to help people like it helps me when I write.
Q. Do you have a favorite song from your early years of listening to your favorite bands—one of your favorite artists you'd love to cover in the studio because it still feels deeply connected to who you are today? (Just to clarify, we’re talking about a song from another artist or band, not your own!)
A. I don’t really do covers much, but should get into it more! I do enjoy sampling and making my own versions of songs however. I’d say a song from my childhood that left an impact on my professional career would be anything by Bruno Mars. I actually recently uploaded a remix/ sample of Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars on my YouTube.
Q. Many artists hit a few walls along the way. Have there been times you questioned continuing with music? What helped you stay committed to your path?
A. So many. So so many. Basically ever since I started building a career in music, I’ve had a setback or something happen to make me question my career choice at least a few times a month. I’ve been screwed over, I’ve signed contracts that backfired, I’ve done hundreds of hours of work only for the client to back out. I could go on. I could quit, but I look at what other artists and producers had to go through then look at my own situation and I just tell myself that I don’t have it anywhere near as bad as huge artists who had a hard come up. So I pick myself up and keep going. I’m in a place where I can give this my all and show the world what I’m capable of. I have the chance so I take that chance every day regardless of the outcome for that day.
Q. How does making music make you feel? Does performing Did I Make It Worse?—whether in the studio or live—allow healing of the feelings that created it, or does it make them resurface?
A. I love all aspects of music- listening to it, writing it, performing it, studying it, producing it, even just talking about it. It’s just a different feeling for whatever I’m doing. I actually have yet to perform Did I Make It Worse? but when I do, I think it will kind of be a mix of both. I’ve written and performed songs that brought up a lot of emotion. I think part of the outcome will depend on the setting, who’s in the audience, and the type of show.
Q. What are your top 3 dream venues to perform at? Is there a particular stage that’s always been on your bucket list?
A. I mainly want to produce and write for other people and release my own music as a side project. So, I would say I don’t have a bucket list of potential venues to play but if opportunities arise, I would definitely take them.
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or artistic perspective?
A. This feels like a cop out answer, but it’s true- my day job as a sound engineer and light tech. As a sound engineer, I’ve worked with bands, solo artists, comedians, magicians, drag queens, and even traveling motivational and keynote speakers. I’ve seen and worked with many different creatives and see how they are themselves 100% of the time. That was one of the biggest reasons why I did my rebrand- when those performers and speakers would go through their set with me then go onstage, they would not change who they are at all. I, on the other hand, had developed a sort of character when I was working on my music or producing for other artists. I realized how i was acting was hurting my brand because it wasn’t genuine, so I decided to be 100% authentic when I went all in on my career.
Q. And finally, what’s next? Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be excited about? We'd love to be the first to share the news!
A. I have so much I’m working on all the time! I’m producing for a bunch of artists (idk what release schedule is for them but I hope the songs I produced are released soon!) I have music that sampled weird sounds that are coming out soon- Fireworks and Beer Bottle are the two I’m most excited about releasing. And I am working on multiple digital products for producers and artists that I’ll be selling on my website including loop packs, drum kits, vocal kits, trainings about how the industry works, and more. I know that’s not specific, so keep watching my socials!
Thomas O'Shea, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Thomas O'Shea’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
