Tiara Thomas
What was life like growing up? What are some of the bad things that you used to do?
I grew up in Indiana, and my mom and dad are really religious, so I’m a church girl, I went to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday evening. I used to get in trouble in kids' service; they hold you after until your parents came and got you, but I had a pretty good upbringing. I’m happy I was raised that way, because when I went to college, it was easy for me to figure a bunch of stuff out on my own. I pushed the reset button and started making the kind of music I wasn’t allowed to listen to, because that’s who I’m truly am; I’m like the outcast of my family. I believe in female liberation and sexual liberation, I think girls should be able to say the same things guys say; I really believe in women being comfortable being who they are. I write from that person’s perspective.
So, when most people grow up in the church and transition to secular music, people usually label them rebellious. Would you say you’re a rebellious person now or are people you grew up with, like your parents, are accepting of the content you produce?
I don’t think I’m rebellious, I think I’ve always been the way that I am. I’ve always kind of tested the waters; I’ve tried to get away with as much as I can get away with. I was a kid with a smart ass mouth and I was funny, I had a lot of energy, which could have all gotten misinterpreted as rebellious. My mother… I don’t know if she listens to all my music. When I first found out that “Bad” was gonna be Wale’s single, first thing I thought of, ‘Oh my God, my mom and dad are going to hear this song, and [they’re] gonna hear me talk like this.’ [Laughs] I called my dad and told him, ‘there’s a song that’s gonna come out and it’s Wale’s song’ and they’re like ‘where do we find it?’ That was kind of nerve wracking, but I think I got pass that point. I don’t think my mom listens to all my music, I think eventually she will, but they’re definitely proud, they’re definitely happy and excited about everything that’s happened. Some of the things I say may make my mother a little uncomfortable though.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
