Hometown Talent
Carl Stokking is a hometown talent from right here in Medford with ambitions to give back.
“Ever since I got a guitar at 10 years old, I knew music was what I wanted to do,” Stokking said. “I would just get lost for hours and hours writing and playing music.”
He was given a cherry red Washburn electric guitar by his parents, a day he says he will forever be grateful for.
His parents Nancy and William both played the cello, so he was naturally influenced by them when it came to music.
He used to try to emulate leads by Kirk Hammett of Metallica and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd in his early playing days.
After he was done with school, he moved over the bridge to Philadelphia where he would team up with a few friends to form the band, Close To Good.
“I’m very proud of what we accomplished in only about five years. We produced two or three albums and even covered the soundtrack to the MegaMan 3 video game,” Stokking said.
Stokking has been driven by music his entire life and has recently decided to chase his dream and move out west.
He packed his bags and moved to Los Angeles where he would be living with an old friend, Ricky Ryba.
In search of a fresh start where there was much more opportunity, Stokking was motivated to take his music to the next level.
Seven months later, after looking back on his decision, he is very pleased with the success he has endured.
“I got much more than I bargained for. I was serious about the move and all, but the projects that I have created and the people that I have met have definitely been a blessing,” Stokking said
Stokking teamed up with his friend Ricky who originally started as an actor. They both shared similar passions for bands such as Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top.
Shortly after, Stokking was playing his acoustic guitar outside one day and was heard by the right man. A representative from Iheart radio who was looking for someone in Stokking’s situation approached him with some opportunities.
A gig at the House Of Blues is where the band name “Rebel Souls” was created. Before getting on stage, they were throwing together some creative ideas on paper and the idea for the name took off from a three-letter acronym Stokking had jotted down.
Being born and raised in Medford, Stokking knew he would face some challenges out west, especially with the amount of competition in his line of work.
“I knew the amount of competition would provide some obstacles, but the biggest challenge I have found is constantly being faced with the question of, is this for passion or for business?” Stokking said. “I’ve learned that it has to be a good balance of both, and you need to know when to tap into each side.”
Unfortunately, Stokking has recently returned home for a bit due to his father’s memorial service. He passed away early morning Dec. 14. While home, he performed at Ott’s in Medford on April 10.
Before he moved, he booked a gig at Ott’s to collect non perishables for the homeless, and it ended up being very successful, so he was able to book another gig there when he contacted them about returning home.
“It has kind of turned into home base for me over the years when I return to Medford,” Stokking said.
As far as the future goes, Stokking will return to Los Angeles to chase his dream and make music. A specific dream he has always fantasized about is performing, headlining and hosting a festival in a castle and giving the proceeds to charity.
“The stone walls would make the acoustics sound epic, and I’ve always dreamed about giving our earnings to hungry or thirsty kids. I just want to give,” Stokking said.
