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

Hi Terrence, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on was a meditation album I produced, “Song.” I believe that there’s an essential human need to rest and reflect, a moment to take self inventory of our lives. A moment to re-member and re-gather. A necessary break from and for ourselves. The ultimate truth is that we ourselves are our greatest priority. It proves quite difficult to share and give to any other, if in fact we are empty. Yes, our family, friends, careers, professions, need us; further, we need us as well. In keeping with this, I’ve composed an album of meditation and prayer music; no lyrics just sound. Ultimately, it’s a bridging of beliefs and ideals pushing the essential human need to rest and reflect, neither dogmatic nor religious, but interpretive. This is my attempt to satisfy what I feel lacking in our lives. For we know, what we think is reflected in our environment.

Terrence, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

What describes me most accurately, I think, is a creative. I’ve been a musician and singer pretty much my entire life. I grew up surrounded by music of various genres. According to my parents, I had a natural talent and understanding of the piano. My father bought me a little keyboard for Christmas when I was 3. He plucked out a tune and ask whether I could mimic what he did. According to him, I played it back verbatim, thus beginning of my music journey.

As for how I got into the music industry, I always say, I didn’t choose art, it chose me. I come from a musical heritage in my family. I’m mostly proud that my artistry has taken me to foreign countries to perform. Also, I was fortunate to be on NBC’s The Voice S14 as not only a contestant, but also a music director.

What I provide for clients is a wonderful memory. I perform for a lot of weddings, corporate events, all at their request. I can only hope to assume my music brings a sense of home and peace.

Also, I’m a published author. My first work Just In Case “Embracing the Pilgrimage to Self-Awareness,” is a modern day Chicken Soup For The Soul. One reviewer wrote, “Where each page starts out with the phrase “Just in case” and is followed by a situation and/or life moment we may encounter and how to handle it. Meaning. Execution. Context.
There is a bigger benefit for the reader than you think. Ultimately the aim here, is to help you identify a sense of self-worth. It will ask you to hold yourself at higher standard. It will ask you to think bigger of yourself, it will ask you to throw away self- doubt and embrace everything that you are.”

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is freedom. Freedom to express what’s in your mind and heart unabashed. There’s a tremendous amount of courage to be fully transparent in ones craft and often leaving it up to others to judge and weigh. There’s nothing more rewarding than putting oneself out there and people respond positively. We indeed live and survive off of the affirmations of others, our livelihood being in the hands of the consumer. Every creative is terrified their work isn’t good enough, yet we surmount our fear nevertheless. It’s all apart of being a creative.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Firstly, I don’t believe in “non-creatives.” Ken Robinson once famously said, “It’s not of matter of if you’re creative, its of matter of how.” What I think may be a struggle is understanding the amount of uncertainty along the journey; money isn’t always good in the beginning. Personally, I had to couch surf for about 3 years. But, it was worth it to follow my passion. Anything worth holding on to takes a certain level of determination and in some ways sacrifice.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afriendtotheworld/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrence.cunningham
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tlc88keys

Image Credits

Studio 40E