Singer-songwriter Theocles has built a music career rooted in a simple philosophy. Music from Virginia, for everyone. That phrase guides everything from his songwriting sessions to his street-corner performances, and it has carried him from intimate house shows in Charlottesville to amphitheater stages along the East Coast. His music on Spotify reflects years of folk, bluegrass, and Americana influence shaped from childhood.
Raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, he grew up in a household where melodies came naturally. His mother, a singer-songwriter herself, recalls him humming tunes before he could form words. By the time he reached the College of William & Mary, where he studied Economics, music had already become the center of his world.
Early Years and a Discovered Calling
College gave Theocles room to explore. He taught himself guitar, joined choir and a cappella groups, and spent late nights writing songs at parties and jam sessions. The school eventually funded the recording of his debut EP, “Short Stories,” which marked his first formal release.
After graduation, work took him to Philadelphia and then Minnesota. Neither move slowed him down. He played open mics, booked bar gigs, performed at festivals, and turned street corners into makeshift venues whenever he could find a quiet spot and an open ear. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when traditional venues shut down, he invited neighbors to gather on their porches and front lawns while he played from his driveway.
A Full-Time Leap and a Return to Charlottesville
In December 2020, Theocles made the decision to pursue music full time. He moved back to Charlottesville and partnered with The Front Porch, a community music organization, while releasing new singles including “Pressure,” “Suburbia,” and “Johnny & Me.” The return reconnected him with the folk and bluegrass scene that first shaped his ear, and he quickly built friendships with local players who pushed his craft forward.
His debut full-length album, “Roses,” followed soon after. The record balanced hook-driven melodies with deeply personal lyrics. Songs ranged from “Don’t Blame It,” a New Orleans-flavored track confronting harassment at music festivals, to “Wait For You to Wake Up,” a quiet ballad written from the perspective of a beloved family dog. The album earned him slots at the historic Southern Music Hall and the Ting Pavilion, two well-known venues in central Virginia. Followers can keep up with daily moments and tour clips on his Instagram page.
Richmond, Tours, and New Collaborations
In 2024, Theocles moved to Richmond to engage with the city’s growing music scene. There he reunited with old friends and met new collaborators, eventually recording and filming a music video for the single “Fiddle Baby.” The song resonated with listeners, picked up regular local radio play, and helped launch his first East Coast tour. He shared the stage on that run with saxophonist Jake Vanaman of the jam band group Kendall Street Company.
“Fiddle Baby” was followed by the X.O.S. EP, a four-song collection that traced the arc of finding and losing love. The shift between the tender “Moonlit Windows” and the sharper, hip-hop influenced “Miss Independent” demonstrated his range as a writer. The EP carried him into his second solo tour in the fall of 2025.
During the same period, Theocles connected with Charlottesville-based artists and producers McGwire, ASTRSK*, and Wülf Boi. The three are recognized figures in the Nerdcore music community, and they invited him to collaborate within their growing brands. He has since performed at 1,700-capacity sold-out shows opening for platinum artist The Living Tombstone. His co-written, arranged, and performed song “MAIN ATTRACTION!!” with McGwire gained notable online traction. Video from those performances lives on his YouTube channel.
New Releases for Theocles in 2026
The year ahead brings new chapters. He recently introduced his backing band, Theocles & the Muses, which is making its first Virginia appearances this year. In July, he heads back into the studio to record a folk-leaning EP titled “Grow,” featuring intimate yet hook-driven songs that reflect his earliest influences.
Two more releases are planned before the year ends. A holiday original called “Gingerbread Home” is scheduled for December, and a dramatic ballad recorded with McGwire is also in the works.
Community at the Heart of the Music
For Theocles, music has never been just a career path. It is a way of connecting with the people around him. He continues to organize fundraising shows in Richmond and Charlottesville, offer stage time to newer artists, and play unannounced sets on street corners just because the day calls for it. Fans can follow his community work and event announcements through his Facebook page.
Whether the audience is one neighbor on a porch or a thousand people at an amphitheater, the goal stays the same for Theocles. He wants to make the world a little brighter, one song at a time. From Virginia, for everyone.
