Who Is Ricky Jamaraz:
Ricky Jamaraz is Thomas Ison’s stage name. Thomas is from Nottingham, United Kingdom, and has been writing music for the last 5 years. His debut LP titled Tunes From Deep Within was released on September 3, 2021. Since then, he has been very prolific in his music, only increasing in skill. Boasting a discography of over 240 songs (including unreleased songs), his main account, Ricky Jamaraz, hosts 146 of them. He also has other aliases: Sammy Phase (10 Songs), Ross Wonder (26 Songs), Sweat Glass Halo (5 Songs), KiNG HERTZiE (8 songs), Crashtune Megavex (5 songs), with more aliases to come.
You may wonder why he uses all those different aliases, though. As it turns out, Thomas has begun storytelling as one of his main goals with his music. Every artist also follows a different genre, except the main account, Ricky Jamaraz. Sammy Phase is alternative acoustic folk, following its central character, Sammy; Ross Wonder is hip-hop-based instrumentals, with sampling (some rapping); Sweat Glass Halo is indie-punk; KiNG HERTZiE is psychedelic-rock; and Crashtune Megavex is synth-pop. You can find the wiki for the lore here: https://jamarazia.fandom.com/wiki/Jamarazia_Wiki
MUSIC LINKS:
Ricky Jamaraz:
Sammy Phase:
Ross Wonder:
Sweat Glass Halo:
KiNG HERTZiE:
Crashtune Megavex:
Ricky Jamaraz Patreon (all music, including some unreleased):
https://www.patreon.com/RickyJamaraz?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan
INTERVIEW
Last year, I hosted an online interview with Thomas! We talked a lot about his last record on Ricky Jamaraz, and most recently, at that time, Return To Zero. Here’s that interview:
Who are your favorite artists/bands?
Thomas: The Strokes, The Cure, The Smashing Pumpkins, Passion Pit, Crowded House, Elliott Smith, Alex G, Johnny Foreigner, Mac DeMarco, OMD, Pinegrove, Pavement, Tommy Oeffling. Not in any order.
Favorite Genres:
T: I like everything but I mainly listen to anything with the word indie in it.
Were there any bands you participated in before creating Ricky Jamaraz? (including what genre, were are they now, and if they are still working together)
T: Apocalyptic Training Program, July 2019 – September 2022.
We were pretty rock-y. We had a saxophone, though, so it was unique-ish.
The drummer in that band is the drummer in my current Ricky Jamaraz backing band, and his brother (the saxophonist) is currently getting into doing live sound engineering. The guitarist/singer I haven’t spoken to in ages. I think he makes his own music, but I haven’t heard it. He’s in a few other bands in Notts. For the most part, we’ve all gone our separate ways.
Did you always believe that you would go into the music industry?
T: I mean not since I was born, no. Not even when I first started recording music. I only started recording music to enter a music competition… even then, I didn’t really know what I wanted my music to be. I kind of just kept doing it, and I didn’t think too much about where I was heading, and poof, I accidentally “made it into the industry.” I can’t lie, I hate that phrase though.
How do you feel about the current state of the music industry, in general pop music that follows a distinct format?
T: I don’t really give a fuck about it, I don’t know what’s going on, I don’t know what the trends are, and I’m not bothered. I like to be in my own world; it keeps me happy. Pop music that follows a distinct format: I mean, I don’t know, that’s just the definition of pop music, I guess. I’m not insecure enough to get upset at things being popular. At least that’s what I like to tell myself…
Following up on that, would you want to see a return to more 80’s and 90’s styled music with some of today’s content like in your album “Return to Zero”?
T: No, not really. I don’t care what other music sounds like; the only music that matters to me is my own. Plus, if other people started making music that sounded like mine, I’d suddenly blend in with everyone, and part of what makes Ricky Jamaraz, Ricky Jamaraz is that my music doesn’t blend in with normal shit.
As of this moment in time, can you list off what instruments you play?
T: Piano, bass, drums, guitar, banjo, ukulele, accordion, lyre, kazoo, and a bunch of other meaningless things like tambourine, etc.
RAPID FIRE
Favorite colour:
I don’t know, it changes. Orange from age 0-9, blue 10-13, green 13-16. Now I’m in my red era I think.
Favorite condiment:
Mayonnaise above everything, anyone will tell you that.
Favorite Meal:
Chicken burger.
Favorite piece of clothing:
I have this real leather jacket that makes me feel good every time I wear it.
Favorite movies:
Momento, Baby Driver, Back To The Future, Johnny English
Favorite TV show:
The Office (US Version). I don’t watch TV shows much at all, though. Too much commitment.
Favorite books you’ve read recently:
I’m a nerd, I read nerdy music books. “Recording Unhinged” is great. I also actually read the book version of an anime film called “Your Name”, it was amazing.
Favorite filming style:
Camcorders, I guess, since that’s kinda my signature look.
Favorite instrument not owned by you:
Omnichord
Favorite instrument you do own:
Recently it’s been my Behringer Pro-800 synth. It’s beautiful. But overall, it’ll have to be my Yamaha APX600 acoustic guitar, which I got for my 15th birthday.
END OF RAPID FIRE
Any advice you have for aspiring musicians:
T: You probably won’t get anywhere. Now, if you believe me, then it’s true, you probably won’t get anywhere. But if you were suddenly filled with even the smallest desire to prove me wrong, then take that feeling and run with it and prove me wrong.
What inspires you to write the most out of everything you’ve seen, read, or listened to?
T: Um… kind of hard question. Literally, everything about my existence and everyone else’s existence inspires me.
What makes a Ricky Jamaraz song, a Ricky Jamaraz song?
T: The fact I made it
Favorite thing you’ve ever written?
T: “Ricky Jamaraz was here on 19 May, 2022. Just kidding, I honestly don’t know.
If there is any dream in the world you can accomplish with your music, what would it be?
T: My ultimate goal is to make music for film. So when you hear my voice in some Hollywood movie, you know, somewhere in the world, I’m gonna be smiling my face off.
If you could send one song from any given point in human history to aliens, what song would that be?
T: True Love Will Find You In The End by Daniel Johnston
If you could choose one of your own songs to send to aliens what would it be?
T: Torture (Return To Zero), I feel like it’s the most alien-like song I’ve ever made.
What’s next for Ricky Jamaraz?
T: Well, I plan to have 10 albums out by the time I’m 18, which is just under a year. Return To Zero is my 7th. Return To Zero (Deluxe Edition) will count as my 8th, since there will be enough demos to count as a full album. Albums 9 and 10 are in the mind factory as I write this. I won’t tell you anymore, though.
CONCLUSION
A huge thank you to Thomas for being the first musician we have ever interviewed. I know it’s taken some time for this to finally get posted, but I am forever indebted and grateful to you! Truthfully, you are what has started my path towards music journalism, and I hope that I can continue making more artists like yourself more connected with their audiences.
CREDITS:
Interviewee: Thomas A. Ison
Writer: Caleb Hysell
Editor: Caleb Hysell
Interviewer: Caleb Hysell
© 2025 DID YOU KNOW: MUSICIANS PUBLISHING
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