ANNA THOMAS PREPARING FOR TAKE OFF!
ANNA THOMAS is just fifteen however when she sings, a certain maturity can already be heard in her voice. Once can almost sense the direction she will take.
“I have been immersed in music even before birth, says Anna. My grandfather played trombone in the legendary Stax record sessions in Memphis for Elvis, The Box Tops and Isaac Hayes. I began my own musical journey in church, where I began singing in musicals at the age of 8. Shortly thereafter, I began writing and arranging my own music.
I was born in Memphis TN but now live in Little Elm Texas right outside of Dallas. I have been here for the past 8 years. I love to write music to tell stories. A lot of my original music is based on characters I have created for stories , or from stories I love. I have written some songs as a collection that I intended to use in a musical I wrote. This summer I am working on a musical that I would love to turn into a short film some day. I usually write the melody first and then arrange the song on piano, adding lyrics later…
I write all the time and hope to continue to pursue a full time recording career. I also hope to attend the University of North Texas majoring in vocal Jazz.
Anna, thank you and welcome. I appreciate your participation in this project and I’m certain you will inspire other young people to pursue their dream. Let’s go straight to your answers t
o these questions:
No.1) What is music to and for you? (generally and personally)
1. Music is a way to let out whatever it is I’m feeling. Whether I’m listening to someone else’s music or trying to write my own, songs always offer a new perspective on things. Writing music is such a therapeutic way of trying to convey whatever it is that you’re dealing with.
No. 2) What inspires you?
2. I take a lot of inspirations from books and movies. I might see a character I really like or someone with an interesting story and feel the need to write about them. Other times, I’ll write about what’s been on my mind, my mood. If something’s been annoying me lately, or if someone’s been acting a certain way, or if something’s made me really happy, I tend to want to write about it.
No. 3) When did you first become interested in singing?
3. I’ve grown up around music, and I’ve really been singing all my life, but it was in around 2nd grade that I actually started trying to perform. Up until that point, I was always very shy about it, and I still am sometimes.
No. 4) When you sing, where does it take you? Where does your mind (spirit)
4. When I sing, I start thinking about the story of the song. I try to put myself where the characters are or where I was when I wrote it.
No. 5) How do you feel when you are singing?
5. I feel really comfortable when I’m singing, like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. I tend to really over analyze things sometimes, so singing is a nice break from all of that. There’s no over thinking and no real way to mess it up, because it’s whatever you want it to be.
No. 6) Do you identify with your songs, if so, on what level?
6. That sort of depends on the song. A lot of them were written about personal experiences, so those I can really relate to. But for the ones based off of other people or stories, I kind of have to put myself in another mindset, which in some ways I enjoy more.
No. 7) Do you identify to your music or songs and if so, on what level?
7. I identify with my songs in one way or another. A lot of what I write about are things I haven’t experienced firsthand, but I can still relate to them. I like trying to convey someone else’s story through my own words in the way that I see it. So even though the song isn’t always about my life or my own struggles, they’re told through my point of view.
No. 8) Does singing help 
you connect with your Higher Self, whatever that is for you?
8. I definitely feel at peace when I’m singing. That’s not to say that I’m never nervous or anything, but just that I’m able to block it out for the most part and enjoy the moment. I’m generally a very awkward person, so singing really helps in getting over that.
No. 9) How do you feel about the use of creativity in the public school system?
9. I feel that, in some ways, music is very overlooked in public schools. It’s not taken as seriously as I feel it should be. In my experience, public school systems are very memorization-based, which doesn’t transition well into the more creative areas.
No. 10) In your opinion, what could be a simple solution to improving creativity in the public school system?
10. I feel that public schools should allow a little more freedom creatively. Activities like band are great, but they don’t offer any outlet for writing or creating music.
No. 11) How do you feel about jazz?
11. My family has always been very into jazz, so I’ve sort of grown up around it. My grandfather was a jazz trombonist and session musician, and 
other family members played jazz as well. Most of my music is jazz-influenced. My grandfather was a music teacher and studio musician and he lives in Memphis TN. He has played on a lot of records including ones with Elvis, The Box Tops, Neil Diamond, BJ Thomas, and many more!
Anna, once again, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us and inviting the reader into your world. I want to wish you all the best in your future endeavours. I’m certain we will hear more about you in the not so distant future. Until our paths cross again, keep well and be blessed!
TO THE READER :
You are cordially invited to visit Anna’s links to get to know more about her and her music. Your comments are truly appreciated, thank you so much, enjoy!
http://www.annathomasmusic.com
My latest EP is called “Break Apart” and is available on iTunes here: 
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/break-apart/id396344036?uo=4
Here is a link to a lyric video of my original song “Eloise” from my EP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJUnzcXQSPU
Here is a link to my original song from my latest EP called “Within the Flame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1JKvr6iMIw
Also here is a link to me singing Nature Boy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9clAwQlJxsQ
With my teacher, Matt Gaskins on guitar…
Here we are doing The Book of Right On – a Joanna Newsom cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxCh2Kz5ObM
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Comments
So, so happy to see this, I’ve been a fan of Anna’s for some time now, her songs and her singing leave me humming her tunes all day long. I look forward to seeing what more this beautiful young composer and songstress will bring to our world of music!! Kudos, Anna, and thank you, Michele Andree. 🙂
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