We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shelley Thomas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shelley below.

Hi Shelley, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is the one I’m working on right now! I’m making my first full studio album of original music, creating a new genre called World Chamber Pop. Blending my passion for spirituality and healing through creativity, alongside elements from Balkan, Arabic, Pop, Soul, African, and Classical music styles which I’ve studied and performed over the last twenty years.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a mystic artist, composer, producer, intuitive tarotist and astrologer. I’m a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. I write music for the soul that’s deep, cinematic, and divinely inspired. I produce my own music and write custom music for media, and I also do spiritual coaching and creative photography.

Whether I’m composing and working on my craft, or coaching clients, I receive “downloads” of inspiration and information. I’m clairsentient, so I can feel what people are feeling and help them understand it. This intuitive skill translates directly to writing music. I love to express emotion through music, and I believe music is inherently spiritual. I live in rich worlds of creativity, curiosity, feeling and magic. My purpose is to uplift and inspire others through my work and my healing journey through creative expression.

I’ve traveled to 18 countries and studied with over 45 teachers in diverse styles of music from around the world. I’ve worked with artists like Equanimous, Residente, and Yo-Yo Ma, and have been featured on two Grammy-winning albums. I received my B.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts (World Music Performance-2008) and I’m graduating in June from Berklee College of Music with an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Music Studies (Music Business, Production, Scoring & Songwriting.)

As a female producer, I’m proud to inspire and represent women working in the music industry. In addition to teaching, writing and performing music, I have my intuitive coaching business, Stars With Shelley. I’m passionate about spiritual growth, creative confidence, and connecting with others in meaningful ways, supporting them to fulfill their dreams.

Learn more about me here: https://linktr.ee/shelleythomas

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I went through a devastating double-heartbreak that floored me. I spiraled into depression. I went through a dark night of the soul, and all but lost my passion for music and creating for months. Then, a multitude of health issues ensued and it was a year filled with tears and Dr.’s appointments. It was a really difficult time, and I was afraid that I’d never create again.

But somehow, I found my way back to writing a *tiny* bit at a time. I still had song downloads coming through me (meaning, I hear melodies or lyrics in my head that won’t go away unless I put them somewhere), which I would just record into messy voice memos. And then I convinced myself to sit down and open up my DAW to create a track. When I went to record vocals, I would start crying at the sheer power of energy moving through me, and the emotional processing. My story being told. A weight lifted.

I realized a simple truth: Art = Good.

I feel better when I make art. It is the best therapy. It’s truly alchemical. It’s THROUGH the process of making art that I become truly healed, and the pain can move through me — and I can move on with my life.

On the other side, I found my true self. I came out of it stronger, wiser, fully confident and capable – because I had nothing to lose anymore. I re-ignited my passion for music, and for healing through creative self expression, even greater than before. And I realized that knowing my own self-worth, no matter who rejected me, was the key to my success.

I realized that fully believing myself and having true confidence is actually the most important thing I can do for my life and career. That’s what opens doors, magnetizes the right people into your life, and gets others on board with your vision. And that’s what I want to share with other young creatives, and help them to cultivate. Creative confidence.

Imagine what you could do if you didn’t succumb to Fear?

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Crowdfunding is a beautiful way to gather community around a creative project. I’ve just launched a crowdfunding campaign to make my new album! Which you can learn about + contribute to here:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/shelley-thomas-creates-world-chamber-pop-album/x/29452207#/

If my work resonates with you, please do make a contribution to help bring this album to life! I cannot do it alone, and the campaign is running only until May 19th. I’m offering awesome perks like 1:1 coaching, tarot & astrology readings, voice lessons, a photo shoot, and a custom song written for you.

I also think it’s great to purchase from musicians on Bandcamp! And supporting artists on Patreon is cool for ongoing support for their creative work. (you can also find me on there.)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shelleythomasmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelleythomasmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelleythomasmusic/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleythomasmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShelleyThomasMusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/shelleythomasmusic
• Other: Shelley is a mystic artist, composer, producer, intuitive coach, and multi-instrumentalist (voice, oud, percussion, piano, guitar). She blends inspiration from her multicultural experience with a passion for alchemical healing into an ethereal blend of World Chamber Pop. She has recorded with artists such as Equanimous, Residente and Yo-Yo Ma on two Grammy-winning albums. She produces her own music and is signed to Möonbabe Records, helping transform lives through the power of music, spiritual growth and creative expression.

  https://linktr.ee/shelleythomas

Image Credits

Tom Awender