Meet our Artist of the Week – The talented Jazz vocalist Thana Alexa lead artist at our next Jazz concert.
We sat down with Thana to get to know her a little bit better and this is what we learned!
MT: Which experience introduced you to jazz?
Thana: My dad had a very eclectic musical taste, and was into practically every musical style; Jazz, Reggae, Funk, Rock etc. He had a huge collection of records but wasn’t as much into straight forward music. That’s mainly how I was exposed to Jazz growing up.
MT: What’s your relationship with classical voice training?
Thana: I started my musical training with classical violin and played in youth orchestras from the age of 10. When I started to take voice lessons, my teacher had a background in opera and slowly segwayed into the jazz realm, and so most of the vocal techniques that she taught me were based in classical training.
MT: If you could be anything else – professionally – what would it be?
Thana: I’ve always had a strong interest in psychology, in fact I studied psychology in college and wrote my thesis on the relationship between music and the brain. So if I had to go a different route I might explore music therapy, or another combination of psychology and music.
MT: Who do you consider to be one of your most influential artists?
Thana: I’m so inspired by many musicians for different reasons: Musicians that are pioneers in their field, vocal masters and instrumentalists. There are so many different facets to being an artist, its hard to pin point just one. In terms of vocalists, I’m always inspired by those pioneers who paved the way for us all: Billy Holiday, Sara Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald. Singers haven’t always had a great track record of being well rounded musicians, and so I love that there is a huge wave of vocalists today that are not only great at their instrument but also great composers and creative artists such as Brazilian singer and composer Luciana Souza.
MT: How would you describe the feeling of going on stage to perform?
Thana: I would describe it as exciting. I love performing and the adrenalin that comes with it. I don’t get nervous, but I hate the waiting part, I just wanna get up there already! I love seeing how music unites the people I’m performing for, and being a part of that is an amazing feeling.
MT: Any hidden talents?
Thana: I’m a really good cook! I love experimenting with different kinds of cuisines: I make a lot of Croatian food – because of my background, I’ve learned a bunch of secret family recipes from my husbands Mexican family, and I’m extremely healthy so I make a lot of healthy food that also tastes good! Many band rehearsals end in elaborate dinner parties.
