Rising Stars: Meet Jim Trotta Davis (suburbanoid) of Venice

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Trotta Davis (suburbanoid)

Hi Jim Trotta, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in New York and started my musical journey at a young age. My grandfather was the one who introduced me to music, and my father, along with the various instruments around our house, helped fuel my passion. I played music throughout my school years and into high school, but after graduating and trying my hand at teaching, I soon realized it wasn’t my true passion. My heart has always been in composing and creating music. I’ve had the chance to travel across Europe a few times, sharing my music along the way. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to receive a few awards, with the most recent being during the pandemic when I was honored with a Responsive Artwork Award from the Santa Barbara Bowl and the Arts Commission for my Virtual World Tour music concert films in 2020. With the prize money, I could purchase my Fusion Sitar from McCabes Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. I spent two years visiting the shop to play and try it out. Winning that award was such a blessing, allowing me to finally get it.

I first arrived in California in 2007 after fleeing from one of the most devastating hurricanes, Katrina. The friendly town of Ojai became my new home, where I began working on my first meditation music album, “Lite Roast.” Once that was finished, I traveled extensively across the country, sharing my experiences at yoga, meditation, and spiritual centers.
Currently, I live in Santa Barbara, where I host sound bath meditations weekly in Ojai and monthly in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles (Venice).

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Displacement has presented significant challenges, but it has also opened up new opportunities. My journey began when I was displaced by Hurricane Katrina, having to leave everything behind in a matter of moments. This experience eventually brought me to California, where I found a warm welcome. Since then, I faced several displacements due to wildfires, the most recent being the Malibu (Woolsey fire in 2018). However, this, too, turned into a chance for growth. We managed to evacuate to the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts in Ojai, where we were offered a month-long residency. This experience inspired my first solo piano album, titled “Malibu Fire Sessions at Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts.” Then came the pandemic, which transformed the social and business landscape. During this time, I decided to embark on filming a Virtual World Tour concert series, creating concert films dedicated to different countries. This endeavor earned me an award from the Santa Barbara Bowl and Arts Commission, which helped me purchase a new fusion sitar. With this sitar, I was able to develop my latest sound bath meditation experience, which I started in 2021 at Meditation Mount in Ojai CA, and runs every Sunday and continues to this day. Now starting its fifth year. Thus, while obstacles and challenges have arisen, they have also paved the way for new opportunities.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My artistic journey in music has transformed into a harmonious blend of sound and meditation. It all began over two decades ago in New Orleans when I enrolled in a meditation course at a local college. This experience sparked my passion for composing music specifically designed to enhance meditation, and over the years, it has shaped my current path.
For the last four years, I have been hosting Sunday weekly Sound Bath Meditations at Meditation Mount in Ojai, California. Recently, I introduced a new Deep Resonance Sound Bath Meditation, which I offer on the second Saturday of each month at Meditation Mount, concluding with a collective meditation for peace guided by sound. Additionally, I host a monthly full moon Sound Bath Meditation at the Santa Barbara Yoga Center and regular sound bath sessions at Thrive Health and Wellness Collective in Venice, Los Angeles.
In 2023, I was ecstatic to finalize a deal with APM Music, a leading production music library company under the ownership of Universal and Sony. Their head office is in Hollywood CA. The journey was nothing short of extraordinary. It all began when Adam Taylor, the company’s president, attended one of my Sunday sound bath meditation sessions at Meditation Mount. He enjoyed the experience and my music and chose to purchase my album package, an album download card and a pair of hand-dyed socks from Betties Baked. Later that day, I crossed paths with him again at Libby Park during the Ojai Music Festival. Sensing a meaningful connection, I decided to reach out the next day to see if APM might be interested in my music. Adam graciously forwarded my work to Edwina Travis-Chin, the VP of music content and strategy, for her evaluation. Within days, Edwina contacted me, expressing genuine enthusiasm for my sound bath meditation style. She suggested curating an album for their library, intended for use in films, television, and various visual media projects. After a thorough review of my music, Edwina selected and organized a 22-track album titled Suburbanoid Sound Bath Meditations. This album officially joined their library in January 2024, making it available to industry professionals in production and film. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity, especially since I had often been told that my serene sound bath meditation music would be ideal for film soundtracks.
Currently, my greatest inspiration comes from witnessing the profound impact that my sound bath meditations and music have on individuals, helping them unwind and alleviate stress. Over the years, many participants have shared their gratitude for the music and its ability to foster a more tranquil environment, allowing them to feel deeply connected and at peace. I feel truly thankful that my music resonates positively with others. It brings a sense of relaxation and peace, allowing individuals to connect with themselves in a deep, calm, and natural manner. I appreciate the opportunity to offer live sound bath meditations, which provide a space for people to unwind in these meaningful ways. The fusion of music and meditation creates extraordinary experiences, and I am grateful to be part of that harmony.
I recently released “Meditation in a Bottle,” a complete collection of my sound meditation music conveniently stored on a USB drive. Now available at my website, Suburbanoid.com. This compilation showcases my newest album on APM, called Sound Bath Meditations. In addition, you’ll discover my fresh Crystal Bowl Chakra compositions, along with the albums Lite Roast, Sound Bath Mediation Volume 1, and the Virtual World Tour concert for Japan, complete with a film. As a special treat, there are also bonus sound and visual meditation films, including “Tranquility”, my newest short film that was featured at the 2024 Ojai Underground Film Festival.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Some of my favorite books are, Ravi Shankar Raga Mala, The Tao of Willie, Freedom from the Know,

Pricing:

• $49.99 Meditation in a Bottle (Suburbanoid music collection on USB Drive. Available at www.suburbanoid.com
• $30 Tickets to the Monthly Suburbanoid Sound Bath Meditation at Thrive LA in Venice, and Santa Barbara Yoga Center, California
• $27 Tickets for Suburbanoid Sunday morning Sound Bath Meditation at Meditation Mount in Ojai, California

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.suburbanoid.com
• Instagram: @suburbanoid
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCi-qZSesfxUn2dnSQ-o1tzw?si=_Z5OtttTIWBzHEuD

Image Credits
Karina Arcia
Michael Lindfield
Jim Trotta Davis