Grammy-nominated producer, songwriter, and emerging artist Tenroc has spent years shaping the sound of some of music's biggest stars, crafting hits for Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, Jon Bellion, Jon Batiste, Tori Kelly, and many more while amassing more than 3.6 billion streams worldwide. Now, the New York City native is stepping into the spotlight with his own music, driven by what he describes as a clear calling from God. Ahead of the July 17 release of his debut album, God Is A Person, and the arrival of his inspiring new single, "Walk on the Water," Tenroc opens up about leaving life behind the scenes, the biblical message behind his music, how faith transformed his career, balancing artistry with becoming a new father, and why he believes God is far more personal than many people realize.
Listen to the new song here.
Q: You've spent years crafting chart-topping music behind the scenes for artists like Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, Jon Bellion, and Jon Batiste. What ultimately led you to step out from behind the console and release music under your own name?
I never really planned on becoming an artist or putting music out under my own name. I'd built a whole career just being behind the scenes, and I was totally happy there-but I was personally called by God to do this, and once I heard His voice, I just trusted He had a plan. I dove into the album full-force and ended up self-producing the entire thing at my home studio in Queens.
Q: "Walk on the Water" draws from one of Scripture's most memorable moments. Why did Peter's story resonate so deeply with you, and how does it reflect your own walk of faith?
There's that image of Peter stepping out of the boat, and he can only stay up as long as his eyes are on Jesus. The moment he looks at the storm, he sinks, and really that is the Christian walk to me. I hope listeners understand that wherever they're at in life, Jesus is present at every point, and He will do the impossible when it seems the most unlikely.
Q: Your debut album is titled God Is A Person-a statement that's both provocative and deeply theological. What inspired that title, and what do you hope people understand about God after hearing the record?
What it doesn't mean is that we're God-let me be clear about that. It means God isn't a distant force or something solely academic. In my daily life, I hear people personify the universe as if it were a person, but as a Christian, I believe that the God of the Bible, Yahweh, created the universe. God is the person who brought the universe into existence. Biblically, He has a will, emotions, and desires for His creation. He's a person. Across the entire record, my goal is to display the personhood of God, showing how He's present in our moments of need and expressing gratitude for what He's done in my life.
Q: Having collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, what lessons from those experiences shaped the way you approached your own debut album?
Working with so many different artists gave me a great understanding of what an album should look and sound like, but also how it should move emotionally. The biggest takeaway was seeing that every artist had a clear vision of who they were and what they wanted to communicate. That helped me keep my own record focused, cohesive, and true to its message.
Q: Launching a new artist career always involves uncertainty. How has your faith given you the courage to embrace this new season, even without knowing what the outcome would be?
When I started, I had zero guarantee that any of this would work. I wasn't planning on signing to a label or releasing the music with any help at all. My faith in God has fueled this entire journey because, without faith, I probably wouldn't have taken any meaningful steps forward, musically or practically.
Q: As you prepare to release God Is A Person on July 17, what excites you most about this next chapter-both as an artist and as a new father?
Making new music is something that never really stops for me, but right now my biggest priority is becoming a new father. I'm focusing all of my energy there. At the point of writing this, I've already begun work on my second album, and I'm also putting together my live show. Performing these songs live is something I'm incredibly excited about, and that's probably what's next for me.
