For Rocky Sandoval, the next stage of an independent music career begins with a different definition of success. The Tacoma artist is focused on ownership, creative freedom and songs that continue to matter after a release campaign ends. As he looks toward new music this fall and a larger project in 2027, that outlook connects his recent work to the experiences that shaped him.
In written responses supplied to Variety Press, Sandoval describes a musical upbringing that brought classic R&B, hip-hop, soul, island music and Filipino music into the same environment. Rhythm and melody were never separate interests. They became the foundation for an approach that makes room for both emotional storytelling and movement.
Keeping the emotion while opening up the sound
That combination is central to “All To Myself,” which Sandoval describes as an expansion into Afrobeats and dancehall influences. His aim was to keep the emotional honesty he values in R&B while placing it in a warmer, lighter rhythmic setting.
“I didn’t want to force a trend — I wanted to expand my sound in a way that still sounded like Rocky Sandoval,” he explains.
The distinction matters to an artist whose writing returns to accountability, reflection and growth. Sandoval says vulnerability does not require abandoning confidence. It can mean accepting responsibility, acknowledging regret or showing listeners the work involved in moving forward. He sees that perspective in the connection listeners have made with “ITS MY FAULT.”
A Northwest work ethic
Sandoval credits Tacoma and the wider Pacific Northwest with shaping his persistence. Creating outside the industry centers he names — Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York — has meant building with the resources around him. He describes that experience as a source of both hunger and humility.
After more than two decades in music, his priorities have changed. Early ambitions centered on industry recognition; today, he emphasizes a sustainable career and direct relationships with listeners. Fans who buy music, return to releases and attend performances have helped him measure progress beyond a single chart position or outside endorsement.
“Now success means sustainability, ownership, impact, and legacy,” Sandoval says.
Looking toward the next releases
In a September update to Variety Press, Sandoval said “Without A Throne,” featuring ILLOQUINT, is planned for October, with Monarch targeted for the first quarter of 2027. Those plans extend a period in which he has been thinking beyond individual singles toward connected music, visuals and live experiences.
Visual storytelling is part of that direction. Sandoval wants imagery to communicate tension, nostalgia and human conflict, giving a song a setting rather than treating a video as only a performance clip. On stage, meanwhile, he values the immediate connection that lets an audience experience the emotion behind the recording.
The work of an independent artist also includes the less visible responsibilities of marketing, budgets and release planning. Sandoval acknowledges how difficult it can be to protect creative time while managing those demands. For him, learning the business is also part of maintaining ownership of the work.
His long-term aim remains straightforward: to make music that outlasts the moment and to show younger artists from places like Tacoma that a lasting career can be built through consistency. The forthcoming releases are the next steps in that continuing effort.
Based on written artist responses and release updates supplied to Variety Press. Release plans are subject to change.
Photography: Antoine “Hayday” Hayden.
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