After more than a year’s work of writing and recording the tracks at his home in Carrboro, the Shelby native has finally completed his first album, Plastic Lenses .
“ Plastic Lenses is a name that encapsulates how I look at the world,” Thornburg said. “The name comes from the idea that everything isn’t always as it seems.”
While the album was officially released as a free online download Sunday, Thornburg gave listeners a preview of Plastic Lenses in a release show Friday at Local 506 with guest performers The Koolest, SkyBlew and DJ DCM.
Thornburg said he tries to bring an authentic and eclectic style to hip-hop, but he also uses lyrics that recount his personal experience with depression to connect with listeners who have dealt with similar struggles.
“My end goal with music is to help other people feel connected by me being as real and personal as I can be, without it being too emotional,” he said.
Thornburg said he hopes to achieve his goal by fusing his musical talent with his other passion — education — in order to enlighten others about mental health issues.
“His contributions that he is making as an artist are not only musical, but they are also social,” Thornburg’s former academic adviser Carolyn Covalt said.