Tobias Urban’s music career began at just nine years old, when he started taking classical music lessons. Over a decade later, his love for music hasn’t faded. On Oct. 29, Urban released his first extended play (EP), “First Language,” on all streaming platforms.
The EP’s title holds a special meaning for Urban, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’27, who was raised in New Jersey after being adopted from Colombia as an infant.
“I initially had Spanish as my primary background, but growing up in an American school … I quickly lost touch with that. So I always felt like I was kind of in this in-between space. And the first thing that I really kind of grabbed onto in terms of an identity was music,” Urban said.
Childhood is a major theme of “First Language,” as Urban reflects on his upbringing on the opening tracks “Comfort in You” and “Letters to my Past.”
“I’ll be sitting in class or I’ll just be walking on the street and I will just hear a melody in my head. I couldn’t tell you where it comes from. And it happens multiple times a day, most of the time I just forget about it. But (when) I’m like, ‘Okay, this is actually really cool, I like this,’ I’ll take out my phone … and take a voice memo.” Tobias Urban, FCLC ’27
“A lot of the themes … and the meanings behind a lot of the tracks on the record are about growing up, and … finding peace and finding myself in music. And so it’s like looking back, reflecting on my past in childhood … it was a celebration of that,” Urban said.
In “Letters to my Past,” he sings, “These are the letters to my past. I dreamed when I was young, having fun, of the endless hours and days. And I hoped I would just grow old, I never learned to rest day by day.”
Urban describes his songwriting style as “unorthodox.”
“I’ll be sitting in class or I’ll just be walking on the street and I will just hear a melody in my head. I couldn’t tell you where it comes from. And it happens multiple times a day, most of the time I just forget about it. But (when) I’m like, ‘Okay, this is actually really cool, I like this,’ I’ll take out my phone … and take a voice memo,” Urban said. “And then I try to work on it. Listen to it again and just sing. And so the melody comes to me first, and the hard part is actually putting the lyrics to it, because I have almost like a full instrumental piece, almost like a karaoke track.”
Urban mentioned the significance of learning to play the piano as a child, which inspired him to write the track “A Boy and His Piano.”
Soulful, jazzy, and upbeat, the song contrasts with the softer, emotional ballad that opens the EP.
Urban passionately sings, “It’s just a boy and his piano, chasing songs he’s never heard. Lookin’ deep into the shadows, findin’ life in every word. Countless hours at the ivories, trading sunlight for a song. Making up some crazy stories, where the broken souls belong.”
Urban draws inspiration from Billy Joel and Elton John, capturing emotion and nostalgia through piano-driven melodies and timeless lyrics.
Urban balances majors in both economics and music, while still making time to write, record and perform music. He is also the president and co-music director of the F Sharps, Fordham Lincoln Center’s only student a cappella group.
He describes his sound as an “experimental” mix of “pop and soft rock, with elements of jazz and classical,” influenced by his “jazz-oriented” music education at Fordham — which also allowed Urban to meet musical collaborators and close friends, some of whom were even featured on the EP.
In “First Language,” Urban blends several genres in just five tracks. He describes his sound as an “experimental” mix of “pop and soft rock, with elements of jazz and classical,” influenced by his “jazz-oriented” music education at Fordham — which also allowed Urban to meet musical collaborators and close friends, some of whom were even featured on the EP.
“Jazz is a genre where you’re constantly collaborating, meeting and playing with new people,” Urban said. “You have to be open, you have to be social, and that really gave me the connections and the friendships to eventually … have them play on the EP.”
Urban credits his professors, collaborators and resources at Fordham for much of his success with the release of his EP. Several new music rooms opened on the Fordham Lincoln Center campus in 2024, including a recording space for student musicians. Urban was able to record a portion of his EP in the studio.
“Having that space and being able to have rehearsals there, record some of the EP there, it wouldn’t have been possible without it. So, I’m extremely grateful,” Urban said.
Though balancing his leadership position in the F Sharps, musical career and two majors with no course overlap may seem daunting to most, Urban said staying busy helps him avoid burnout and boredom.
“It’s easy to lose the passion and the drive. I think that having the balance and being able to not solely focus on (one thing) in my academic journey is what makes it all the more fulfilling,” Urban said.
Urban’s school days are far from boring, thanks to a jam-packed schedule of both music and math.
“I’ll go to a class and be singing and clapping my hands, tapping my foot, and then I’ll go to a strict lecture where I’m rapidly taking down notes and math formulas … It’s definitely a lot, because you’re working out both sides of the brain with the creative element … and the other side where it’s very analytical,” Urban said. “But I think overall, besides being overwhelming at times, I found it to be very rewarding, because I’ve been able to do both, (and) I’ve been able to learn a lot.”
When Urban began college, his biggest musical goal was to release an album. One obstacle he didn’t expect was the need for a social media presence to be successful as a smaller artist.
“I think the best thing that we can do as listeners and supporters of musicians is to try to take away the credibility of the follower count, and just listen.” Tobias Urban, FCLC ’27
“For musicians these days, you need to kind of be an influencer, and that’s just how it is. You need to have a backing of fans before anyone will even look at you,” Urban said. “It’s unfortunate, but it forces you to kind of catch up with the times”
Despite the challenge, Urban was not deterred and quickly began building a following on Instagram and TikTok, where he gained thousands of followers after a video he made singing a popular Disney song went viral.
He was also featured on the official Instagram of the Broadway musical “Hadestown,” after he posted a cover of the popular song “Wait for Me.”
Urban explained that in 2025, a musician must be more than just an artist — they must also be specialists in marketing and advertising.
“I think it’s somewhat unhealthy because it takes away the passion. Musicians just want to perform. They just want to create. And I think that the industry hasn’t been that accepting of all these musicians starting out,” Urban said. “I think the best thing that we can do as listeners and supporters of musicians is to try to take away the credibility of the follower count, and just listen.”
“But once you break in, (the opportunities) just keep coming. It’s been a grind, but once you play, especially if you put on a good show, you’re going to get called back, you’re going to get more opportunities.” Tobias Urban, FCLC ’27
Beyond social media, Urban has also utilized the performance opportunities available to him through Fordham, such as open mic nights and jazz concerts, to gain experience and establish himself as a performer. After building his connections, Urban began reaching out to venues around New York City for more opportunities to perform.
Urban described the initial difficulties and slowness of this process, which consisted of “a ton of unanswered emails,” he said. “But once you break in, (the opportunities) just keep coming. It’s been a grind, but once you play, especially if you put on a good show, you’re going to get called back, you’re going to get more opportunities.”
He has performed at New York City venues including Birdland, 54 Below, Lincoln Center, Green Room 42, and Carnegie Hall, and currently serves as a live pianist at Sid Gold’s Request Room, the only live piano karaoke bar in New York City.
His love for performing live started young, through musical theater, piano recitals and even national competitions throughout middle and high school.
Now that he has released his EP, Urban has his sights set on releasing a full-length album in 2026, which he has already started writing.
You can keep up with Urban’s latest releases and performances on Instagram. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement coming in December — you won’t want to miss it.
