TROY Uy is a dentist by profession who recently released two music videos of his own compositions: “I’ll Take You to Tomorrow” and “Christmas Miracles.” For one who has had no formal music training, how was he able to accomplish this? And is he giving up his profession?
In an interview, the dentist revealed that when he was young, his hobby was to compose songs—both the tune and the lyrics that went with it—but they stayed locked up in his cabinet because there was school to attend (Sacred Heart School/Ateneo, University of the East and then UCLA in the US for short courses) and then there was his profession to practice so he could make a living and provide for his family: wife Sheila and children Lance, Anton and Mico.
During those days, he did release one song—his wedding song—which he sang himself when he and Sheila got married.
During this pandemic, he said: “I observed that a lot of people I knew died. Life is too short. I am past 50 and I am old. In life, you do what wants to be done, to live it to the fullest without regrets. I felt this time I wanted to write my songs, not just write and compose but also create it and produce it. And release it.” And so he has.
He explained that he is very much involved in the process of the production of his songs. He sits with the arranger, picks out the instruments that go with the song, selects the singer whose voice must fit the mood of the music and the message of the lyrics, and selects the visuals that go with it.
Asked if he would produce any of the songs he composed when he was young, he replied that he might do one song: his wedding song. Since he plans to release a song if possible every month (his January song will be “Live Love” which will have a livelier beat than his two other songs), he revealed he just might sing some of the songs himself.
It is expensive to produce these songs and upload them on the internet (his music can be seen/heard on Troy Martin Music in YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and other platforms) and he is lucky he can afford to do so without abandoning his profession.
Besides self-fulfillment and self-satisfaction, why does he persevere in doing these songs? He replied that it is to inspire others, to give hope. “I’ll Take You to Tomorrow” is about undying love and “Christmas Miracles” is about giving hope that miracles happen every day even when it is not Christmas.
He also wants to inspire others, to urge others to do what they really feel like doing other than the work at their office desks that has kept food on their tables; and if they are retired, to go back to their dreams of childhood. Did they want to paint? To write or sing songs? To learn how to play the guitar, the piano, the violin? To write a book? To swim, surf, travel, dance? To run, to meditate? He urges others to do so because ”life is short.”
For one who experienced a near-death experience in a car accident about a decade ago (his doctors expected him to die or, if he survived, be permanently paralyzed, neither of which happened), Troy knows what he is talking about.
He said he is happy that some of his friends and acquaintances have reached out to him after seeing/hearing his music, and some of them have been inspired to do what they really want to do. As for him, he said: “Writing songs is a form of art for me. It opens my soul to endless possibilities of beauty beyond imagination.” He hopes his fellow Cebuanos will follow him on Troy Martin Music, to be inspired, to have hope: Life is beautiful!