Today we’d like to introduce you to Tia.
Hi Tia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey to becoming a music artist started as a kid for me, with my dad and our electric keyboard. We downloaded songs and learned them by ear on the piano. We even labeled the keys with duct tape to make it easier. Growing up, I loved singing. I sang to my Celine Dion Greatest Hits CD and to Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway album everyday. I’d always sign up to sing at my elementary school’s talent shows and I remember doing public karaoke any time I had the chance with my mom usually there. My mom and I were shopping at one of the local malls once. There was some kind of stage & karaoke going on there that day and we were able to sign me up to sing that same day. Theres a news paper laying around somewhere with a picture of my mom holing her flip phone up to the stage with my dad on the other end listening to me sing. They’ve always believe in me and supported my dreams of performing. I’ve always wanted to be a singer and a dancer, but life took me away from music and performing for most of my adult life. Now, with a child of my own, I’m a very talented singer-songwriter. I write and sing my own songs, and release them for the world to hear on streaming platforms. I’m even starting to perform my own songs on stage now! It’s truly a childhood dream fulfilled.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I lost sight of my dreams after graduating high school, and went on to live a million different lives it feels. I went to college twice, graduated with a bachelor’s in political science, graduated beauty school with a cosmetology license, worked a hundred different jobs that I hated, I had a baby, got married, and then got divorced.
Post divorce was when the true struggle started. I lived with my parents along with my sister and my daughter, in my dad’s childhood home. It was an 800 sq ft, three bedroom, one bathroom, concrete-slab house. For 3 years my daughter and I lived there in a bedroom that paired as our clothing closet. So all of our clothes hung above our bed when we first moved in.
One of my biggest struggles living there, was not being able to get a job. I didn’t have a car, or even a working cell phone with service at the time. That was a never ending circle that kept me stuck and frustrated for years. Adding to this, I didn’t have a mattress at one time. My mattress from my marriage got destroyed while living with my parents, and we had to throw it out. My 4 year old daughter and I had to sleep on our concrete, bedroom floor for a few weeks, with couch cushions and blankets, because I couldn’t buy a mattress. It was one of the lowest points of my life. But I am forever grateful for the years I struggled post divorce. Those experiences ended up being the most valuable pieces of who I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work as an artist comes from my heart, soul, and life experiences. I can write songs completely from scratch using my piano and my words. I can tell a story through lyrics and music so clearly, and powerfully. I am also able to write, rap, and sing over someone else’s music and tell a story that way. I write anthems for anyone in the world going through the same hard stuff I’ve gone through. I’m relatable and real and I think that’s what makes me different from other artists. I also believe that I make music that is completely unique and unlike anything else in the world. The songs come completely from my heart and my brain. All of my songs start from nothing and then I have an idea for a melody, or a bar, and a whole song generated from that idea. It’s the coolest most fulfilling process from beginning to end.
I’m most proud of being able to do this all on my own. Yes I get so much help and advice from all of the amazingly talented sound engineers and producers I work with at the studio, but, the fact that it’s just me coming up with these songs, and it’s just a one woman show, writing, releasing, funding, rehearsing, filming and editing music videos, doing my own photoshoots for cover art, etc. THAT is truly so powerful to me and I’m so proud of myself for being so independent in the industry. And I hope it inspires others to do what they can with what they have to just get their dreams started.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I think the more you put yourself out there the more the universe will align you with your tribe and the people who are meant to reach you on your journey.
I got lucky. My music mentor is my sound engineer. I got connected with him just by chance. He was the engineer I got booked with when I made my first studio session appointment. After recording and mixing the first song I released, we said was destiny we got booked together. Really I’m not sure how I got so lucky to get booked with him for my first session, but hey that’s God for you. I consider him a huge music mentor. I’m not sure he even knows it (lol). I’ve learned so much from him about recording, and marketing, and music theory and production. I’ll put him on the spot. His name is Keith Kelly from Nexus Sound Studios. He’s so experienced in the industry and truly gives me the best advice and guidance, as far as making music and being an authentic artist goes. So grateful to have him working with me on all of my music.
So I don’t really have advice for finding your people or networking, but just be authentic and trust things will work out and you will attract the right people to you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ttia444?igsh=MWk3cTIzMmo3cjBmZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tiabuonavolonta?si=CmR5xP__jgTxhAwj
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/12JYKOwFPzOB33pb7eoyAr?si=Ly_GJ0tNQzmTxsxh6Z-oBg
