We recently connected with Tamara Mechael and have shared our conversation below.

Tamara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I have always been a word-fanatic. As a baby who played with books like they were toys, I always pretended to be reading and flipping through the pages, as I had seen others do in person and on television. I became too impatient to wait until I was old enough to go to school to learn how to read, so at age three I actually taught myself how to read. By age five, I had written my first short story about farm animals with illustrations, using my dad as the inspiration for the story. In fourth grade, I have a vivid memory of writing my first song on a piece of paper and singing along with the melody. From there, I continued writing songs on blank sheets of printer paper and compiling them into mini “catalogs.” Throughout this time, I received classical training in music theory from places like church choir to joining the Michigan Opera Theater Children’s Chorus at the Detroit Opera House. There, I performed in operas like Carmina Burana, Don Giovanni, Tosca, H.M.S. Pinafore, and more. When my sister (who is a gifted singer) started recording her own music in the studio, my mom found it fitting to bring me in as a songwriter. This was when I was just starting fifth grade, and I have been professionally writing songs both in and out of the studio since then. Along the way I picked up other professions in the writing category, including screenwriting and poetry. I released my first poetry book “Utopia Poetry” at age 16 which is available online.

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 always had a desire to make an influence in people’s lives, much before the word “influencer” was coined as a term used for social media careers. I’ve always made sure I got my messages across to as many people as possible and was heard by everyone. I knew I wanted to be an influence in people’s lives on a larger scale than the middle school lunchroom. In second grade, I decided I wanted to be an actress; and, using my “get-it-done” qualities, I went on the internet and submitted for acting gigs across the Midwest. In fifth grade, I booked roles as paid extras in the Paramount film “Fun Size” filming in Ohio for my mom, sister, two baby cousins, and myself. Just as I was beginning to get serious as an actress, my sister began recording her own music. We had both always felt a calling towards being in the public eye for our own respective reasons. My path as a writer and hers as a singer ultimately led us together to The Disc. Ltd. Recording Studio in Detroit, Michigan in 2011. I didn’t know writing in itself was an actual career you could professionally have, let alone writing songs to make a living. When my mom supported me to begin writing songs, I didn’t hesitate or think anything of it, and I never looked back. Looking back, I realized that as much as I loved acting, I felt truly at home while I was writing. To this day, the best (and only) medicine I need when I am struggling is to open my notes app, grab one of my many notebooks with at least one spare page left, or even compose poetry in my head that will never again be transcribed, and write whatever it is that comes to my mind. As a young-in writing such eloquent and passionate lyrics with no musical history in the family, people always asked me how I came up with my lyrics or what the inspiration behind my songs were. My answer for years was simply, “I don’t know, I just do.” However, growing up and listening to songs I wrote years before, I realized my subconscious is what creates the lyrics before my conscious self scribes them. I can hear a song that years ago I did not know the inspiration behind and assumed was just creativity, then realize I was actually writing about feelings and thoughts I did not yet know I even consciously possessed. On average, it takes about two-four years for me to become self-aware enough to realize and be able to explain the true meaning behind a song I wrote. I still don’t know what the inspiration behind my songs are as I write them now. I rarely think of a certain instance, feeling, or occasion and decide to write a song based off that. Instead, I just write whatever comes to mind, not really knowing the context. Listening back years later, I’ll be like “oh, that’s what that was about,” or “no way; that even actually hurt/affected me way more than I thought it did at the time.” It gives me comfort knowing at least my subconscious is aware of feelings I may not yet know. Upon learning my “style” of inspiration was really a way for me to learn things about myself and how I truly feel in life, I began thoughtlessly writing as a form of therapy and shadow work. This actually uncovered so many things about myself I did not know, and put me years ahead of where I’d ever thought I’d be in terms of healing and self-awareness.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Words are my passion, I live in Word-World, and I truly believe in the power of words. People do not realize how much weight songwriters hold when it comes to making a difference in the world. There are many professions filled with people who are heroes and save hundreds or even thousands of lives during the span of their lives. I believe writers should be considered heroes, too; in a different way, but on a larger scale. Words are at the foundation of the soul; they form belief systems in people, decide people’s fates, determine people’s moods, and more. When someone feels the weight of the world pushing them down lower than they feel they can rise, they may very likely listen to music to get their mind off things. On a less crucial scale, someone may get home from a long week of work and simply want to relax. A firefighter may have just put out the biggest fire in years, and on the way home from work, music is played during the ride. Music has the power to save people’s lives, change their mindsets, heal their hurts, deter bad decision making, provide comfort amidst the loss of a loved one. A single song can be heard by billions of people worldwide. That is why it is extremely important for songwriters to make sure the lyrics they are writing and the tones they are singing promote positivity, happiness, goodness, and overall, love. That is not saying songs shouldn’t be made sad or about negative topics. Music brings out all types feelings in those who listen to it. I strive to provide the general public all over the world with music that will heal their souls and give them hope. I want to change the world with my words on the largest scale possible. As it is willed by God, I will continue to do so for the rest of my life!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I am a first generation American citizen whose parents hail from Baghdad, Iraq. I was blessed enough to be born in Detroit, MI and avoid growing up experiencing war and genocide in my homeland. For this, I have always remained grateful and close to Jesus, leaning on Him in times of overwhelming adversity and soul-crushing sadness. I did not read the Bible cover to cover until I was almost 21, and just recently finished. I can single handedly say the Bible changed my life and whole understanding of it; since then, I have seen immeasurable success in my career. The passing of my best friend at the end of 2022 would not have been bearable if I did not have the strength of the Holy Spirit I felt while reading the Bible to lean on. If one is not of the faith but love reading/writing, I recommend reading the Bible or a synopsis of it simply due to its exceptional literary makeup. If nothing else, the Bible is a great book that can have one finding themselves wondering “what happens in the next chapter!” just as one’s favorite fiction book may have them do. I was shocked in winter 2022 at the way I felt like I was reading another exciting tale like the books I grew up reading, staying up all night trying to finish the book as fast as I could (though in the Bible’s case, rushing was pointless because of its length). It is a super good book that not only changed my life but introduced me to many new literary practices and devices that I will most definitely adopt while writing novels for the rest of my life. Another book that changed my life was the Lord of the Rings (specifically the Fellowship of the Ring). J.R.R. Tolkien is a Godsend of a writer. He created his own world written from its beginning to the present day, with its own creation/history chronicles, different species, and multiple languages- essentially, an entire universe. This is a marvel that I study often, from things like Middle-Earth study books written by him first-hand or approved by his estate, along with Tolkien study books on the life and practices of the genius. I want to create my own world one day too, which I will do when Father Time sees fit! Lastly, the philosophies of Saint Thomas Aquinas changed my life indirectly back when I was in eighth grade. First learning about his 5 proofs that God exist in 8th grade gave me a stronghold of faith that I would need a few years later. If it were not for St. Thomas Aquinas so logically explaining a humanly-illogical concept in worldly terms that actually made sense, I do not know if I would have kept the faith. Years later, I read a shorter version of his catechism, and my eyes were opened to a whole new world of God living on earth- he made connections that were explainable and irrefutable. When people ask me how they can start believing something they cannot psychologically get themselves to believe, I direct them to Aquinas and his teachings! Truly otherworldly and divinely inspired. I believe God is love, which is all goodness, and that is why I admire the words Aquinas used to explain the faith in ways that are understandable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tamaramechael.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamaramechael/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-mechael-513bb2161