We recently had the chance to connect with Tom Bender and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tom, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
The main thing I am most proud of is that I am staying true to what I want the songs to become: Songs of inspiration, hope, and encouragement.
As a songwriter, my vision and mission are to write songs relatable to areas of life that are sometimes hard to discuss. One of the most rewarding, if not the best, aspects of being a songwriter is receiving email responses, comments, and posts from listeners. Usually expressing how the song lyrics came at the right time and how they could feel a connection to the song’s story. Almost as if, somehow, I knew their personal stories.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Certified by the NACC (Nation Association of Christian Counselors) as a Board Certified Christian Counselor/Life Coach. I continue to use music as a way to connect with others and through “Therapeutic songwriting”. Therapeutic songwriting is the process of creating, notating or recording lyrics and music with a client. This therapeutic relationship is used to address social, emotional, cognitive and communication needs of the client.
I have completed the NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Associations International) Certification in the music industry fundamentals and etiquette of the songwriting profession. I was a 2024 InterContinental Music Awards & Global Music Award Winner, and a Josie Music Awards, Elite Music Awards, USA Songwriting nominated songwriter.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Trust and Forgiveness: Trust and forgiveness are closely related but distinct concepts in relationships. Forgiveness involves letting go of resentment or anger toward someone who has wronged you, often as an act of personal healing or a step toward reconciliation. Trust, however, is about relying on someone’s reliability and integrity, and it’s often earned through consistent behavior over time. In relationships, both work together. Forgiveness clears the emotional slate, while trust-building restores connection, but each follows its own timeline and process.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Believe in yourself! Listen to advice, don’t be afraid to take chances, it’s ok to make mistakes and even fail, don’t let anyone tell you can’t, stay humble, believe in the bigger picture, only you can define what your success looks like, and Never Give Up!!!
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Helping others through counseling or music.
Counseling, this offers a structured way to support people through challenges like grief, anxiety, or relationship issues. Counseling provides tools like active listening, cognitive behavioral techniques, or goal-setting to guide clients toward mental and emotional clarity.
Music, on the other hand, reaches people emotionally. Songs which touch everyday themes like Love, Heartaches, Faith, and Liberation show how music can tell stories and evoke feelings that resonate deeply. It’s a creative outlet that can heal through shared experiences.
And both can intersect beautifully!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Tom’s love for music: Tom was involved in music since playing the saxophone in 3rd grade. Music has always been a passion of his, especially songwriting. Music has helped him get through some of his darkest times, and in turn, he wanted to be able to use the songs he wrote to bring others some of the same hope that music gave him. The songs he wrote were inspired by years of personal life experiences, mentoring, counseling, general storytelling, and poetic writing.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tom.bender.5099
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tombender_songwriter
- Other: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t6WClp9u1WVwOt7hXod4q?si=1kYLzDWzQ3C7Hg3yCfW90A
Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tom-bender/1516748535
Image Credits
Tom Bender
