Where is Tony Rich?

After 15 years in the music industry Grammy winner Tony Rich is still nationally recognized for his 1996 classic ballad, "Nobody Knows". Now coming back with his fifth album Exist under the independent label Hidden Beach Recordings, Rich has managed to stay true to himself and make music that touches the soul.

So tell us a little bit about your new album Exist. How is it different from all of your other albums? I would say it's based on evolution. When you’re 15 years old you think differently than when you were 21 years old, you think differently when you're 30…I always pride myself on making music for people not to dance to but to make people think about themselves. It is about understanding the difference between the perception of a person and experience of a person.

How is the music industry different today? We live in a world of trends. Anything that they [music industry] turn into a trend, they get on it and they spread it out so thin. It's a lot of quick melodies, a whole lot of words but they're not saying anything. As an artist our job is to put out content. In my embracing all of the changes, it really all depends on the kind of artist you are and the deal that you want to have.

Speaking of deals, you started your career with LaFace Records and now you are on the independent record label Hidden Beach Recordings. What made you decide to sign with Hidden Beach?

Labels tend to do so much that when it’s time to do your project artists are disconnected to what is going on.

You are currently on a promotional tour how have the responses been? Responses have been really interesting. People love what I've done over the years. They remember what I've done. This album is pleasantly surprising to them.

So what are you doing now in your career that you may not have done before? I always pay attention to as much detail as I can and I ask questions. Labels tend to do so much that when it’s time to do your project artists are disconnected to what is going on. I went from having nothing to potential. I spoke my success into existence.

Exist will be in stores on September 23.