By: Bethany Myers, Photo Credit: Thomas Barsoe

Orange County Recording Studio is a "Hit" Success

Making his way from the bustling town of Copenhagen to the coast of California, the owner of OC Hit, Thomas Barsoe, says he’ll never look back. And as a NO. 1 International, platinum-selling Recording Artist, devoted father to two beautiful boys, and hard-working music producer, our Newport Beach community is happy to welcome him with open arms.

Early Life

During his younger years, Thomas originally planned to pursue a career in soccer, but when he received unfortunate, irrevocable news about a knee injury, he knew he had to pivot. It was in the quiet hours of grief that his love of music emerged. Feeling the comfort from soothing melodies aided in a quick recoveryRecording Studio is a "Hit" Success and also ignited a newfound passion within. Around the age of 13, Thomas began performing and singing for bigger audiences than just his family. Eventually, his talent catapulted him to travel around the world, performing massive concerts with two successful tours and releasing well-known record albums. This all transpired before the age of social media, which is bittersweet for Thomas. On one hand, he wishes he had more videography to share with his children but also is thankful he was part of the music industry when it was more old-fashioned.

Fast forward after living in London for 10 years and touring in Asia, Thomas met his lovely wife and they made the joint decision to relocate to sunny Southern California. They’ve been living in the same, cozy home for over fifteen years now, with no plans of leaving, and often host their family who loves visiting from Denmark.

OC Hit History

OC Hit Record Label and Recording Studio was never something that was planned. Thomas had been a solo artist for 15 years and knew he needed to escape his own bubble and give back to other artists. He remembers fondly the first high school he ever visited, Tesoro High School, to share more about the music industry during their career day. It was there that he met a teacher, Keith Hancock, who was united with Thomas in the belief that music is not only magical but a powerful element in children’s growth. Unfortunately, the music curriculum in schools at the time was anything but robust, and Keith was well aware of this deficit. Keith graciously lent his classroom to Thomas who had a vision to provide more challenging music lessons and creative direction to several select, talented students. Before he knew it, this endeavor grew from just a few kids to over 30 young artists who were ready to take their talent to the next level. Thomas was faced with the decision to continue casually lending his talent and expertise, or turn it into something more serious. Now, ten years later, Thomas’s vision has evolved into an incredible recording studio, OC Hit, with its first location in Tustin, CA. Since then, OC Hit has expanded to Newport Beach when Thomas discovered a spacious warehouse that he knew was the perfect place to design and create an incredible space for his clients. With four recording studios, and a stage for open mic nights and music showcases, OC Hit in Newport Beach is the perfect central spot for Orange County and Los Angeles talent alike, with its official grand opening in 2015. The new location was designed to help young artists grow and develop their skills

The “Why” Behind OC Hit

Thomas’ deep passion for music served as the catalyst that inspired him to launch his own business. With no fallback plan, he persevered through his high school years, driven by an unshakeable love for the art form. He firmly believes that resilience sets apart those who simply enjoy singing from those who simply cannot live without it. Through his business, he’s fortunate to collaborate with exceptional talent, and in doing so, is able to rewrite some of the missteps from his younger days and harness all he’s learned to help others succeed

Success Stories

Thomas facilitated a young woman named Zhavia’s stardom when she made a debut on the TV Show called The Four - a reality music competition series on Fox with notable hosts: Sean Combs, Meghan Trainor, and DJ Khalid. After her appearance on the show, her fame sparked and grew like wildfire. Thomas met Zhavia when she was just 15 years old living out of a car and had the exciting role of managing and developing her talent until she eventually signed a record deal with Columbia Records and went on to record “A Whole New World remake” with highly renowned ZAYN. Thomas also helped put together and develop the fabulous Country duo, Temecula Road, who now is the opening act for Rascal Flatts.

OC Hit Motto:

“Talent will only get you so far, but hard work will beat talent every day of the week. I try to instill serious work integrity in our artists. There’s always someone even hungrier out there. Unfortunately, this TikTok generation doesn’t understand, it’s not easy. My purpose is to prepare these young artists so they can be fully ready to sing live and go on tour without faking a single note. I still believe in good old-fashioned talent,” says Thomas.

Life Beyond Work

Thomas and his wife enjoy spending quality time together, along with their two very vibrant sons, Noah and Jude. When Thomas isn’t coaching their soccer games you can find him and his sons surfing, riding dirt bikes in the hills, or just enjoying time together while traveling as a family. When asked about whether his children follow in his talented musical footsteps, Thomas humbly admits that while they love music, they are embracing different genres and cultivating their own relationship with it. He’s pleased to see them staying true to what feels right, and enjoys watching them develop their personalities and interests, happily supporting them along the way.

Giving Back

OC Hit in collaboration with Olive Crest - a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse by strengthening, equipping, and restoring children - has taken up the noble cause of empowering children and their families. OC Hit recently partnered with five families who adopted children through Olive Crest, by capturing their moving and inspiring stories, transforming them into beautiful songs. These heartfelt melodies were then showcased at a fundraiser, with all the proceeds donated back to the families in need. Furthermore, OC HIT has continued to show their unwavering support by hosting a yearly toy drive, ensuring that these families are not forgotten during the festive season.

OC HIT | 853 W 17th St Ste A, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 | (949) 649 - 7006 | www.oc-hit.com