We recently connected with Thea The Band and have shared our conversation below.

Thea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I suppose there’s layers to what and how I learned what I’m doing; I taught myself how to read music and play the piano when a family friend gave us an upright for free. Turning it into a habit came naturally- I anticipated going home after school everyday to lay it all out on the piano. That aspect wasn’t learned at all. It was more of an answer to a prayer.

I auditioned for an art school in Denver, Colorado (where I was born) and embarrassed myself pretty well….play a scale?…what’s that?…I suppose that’s an example of not learning how to do what I do….deciding I wanted it so bad I was going to do everything I could to come back next year and try out again…and get in?…that was learned from my siblings, from my parents, from my support system. You don’t give up. You work harder.

How could I have sped up my learning process…well…not having to life would’ve probably helped…if I could have all day to play my piano and guitar and sing and write??? Oh my!!! Would I have anything to live for or write about if that were the actual case? Who the heck knows- I have faith I am exactly where I’m supposed to be and everything is happening the only way it could. I wouldn’t trade a single person I’ve met, moment of heartache or struggle, twinge of bittersweet thankfulness to be alive, or opportunity of discomfort and learning what kind of person I want to be.

Perhaps that faith, patience, and work ethic is part of the essentials for me. Dreaming. That’s huge. That’s what this country is all about, right? And making that definition purely genuine to you and no one else. Freedom to make your own rules and pave your own path. When you do that, every rock and hill and hole is an obstacle, but that’s how you make the road your own. Or rather, that’s how you own your road?

Thea, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
You know, I came into the singer-songwriter game late. Late enough that every voice in my head and body and soul was yelling at me, telling me how I was setting myself up for embarrassment and failure. And that I should be afraid. And where the hell do I get the nerve? You know what it reminded me of? Falling in love. And had I failed at that before? Every single time I attempted it! Did it keep me from jumping on in? More like it made me close my eyes free f$%^&$#@ fall. I’m a glutton and a masochist, so I suppose it was what the doctor ordered. That said, it has been the most gentle, supporting, encouraging, and intriguing teacher of love for the last decade of my life…and knowing it’s nature, I don’t think it will stop any time soon. But, I try not to hold on too tight. That’s usually when it teaches me a lesson in letting go.

I hope that my own journey and my efforts to write songs as genuine and honest as each experience has been can offer something for the other dreamers I know are out there. Dreamers that know happiness and fulfillment is an ever-changing and complex beast. Dreamers that blur the lines between what’s real and what is impossible. Dreamers who know each and every thought and emotion they have is not for nothing. When I play a song and it makes the listener emotional- that is so extremely rewarding. You’d be surprised how many people have that reaction and it makes them want to turn away. That is rewarding and sad for me at the same time.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
At one point I was working 4 jobs (that paid me) and putting about 30hrs a week towards my instrument/ singing/ writing (that was not paying me). I was extremely depressed. And run down. And felt like I was drowning. And like I should give up. But the love for my craft did not fade or go away. And that meant something.

I’ve never had something that challenges me so much, pushes me to expand my limits and boundaries, and keeps me always wanting to learn more and be better. Be stronger. No matter how slow or small the steps are. It feels like the beauty of free will and the power of surrender all wrapped into one. If that means anything to you- do not walk away from that!

For me this is going on a 14 year relationship with my craft…I didn’t know I had it in me!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Before I started writing songs I thought there was a right way to live life, a set of rules that was the same for every person; If you failed, it meant you weren’t smart enough or strong enough or pretty enough or….whatever else enough. I’m one of eight children, so there wasn’t a ton of room to go veering too far outside of too many lines. Maybe I’m a rule follower by nature- unlearning that was the most difficult and rewarding lesson of my life to this date. I didn’t know I could make my own rules. Oh, don’t get me wrong- that has also been the scariest lesson of my life. If you make your own rules, you can’t blame anybody else when things don’t turn out how you want them to. Whether you follow the rules or not, in the end, it’s just you and your maker. In my humble, still alive not at the end yet opinion anyway.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theatheband.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/theatheband
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/theatheband
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCICDen263pYJAeUmid1H3aA

Image Credits
John Hancock, Jen Rubin, Lauren Blagg, Rob Knauff