This week I am interviewing Sylvia Thomasson.
Sylvia is a songwriter and musician.
Click here to listen to Sylvia's song: "God Knows It All"
Sylvia's Biography:
I am a true native of North Carolina. I was born in 1962 to my parents Betty and Shelton Bunn. I was raised on a farm right outside of Zebulon, NC. My family was a poor family. We did not have a lot of money when I was growing up. I may not have had everything I wanted, but I had what I needed. I have one sibling and his name is Douglas. In the Summer I worked in Tobacco. Farm work was not easy, because at the time I was growing up a lot of things were not automated like it is now. I sure did enjoy driving that ole Farmall tractor in the Summer time.
I sung in the school chorus all the way through school. I graduated from Zebulon High School in 1980. I also attended Johnston Community College. I have been singing ever since I was a child. I have sung in a couple of choirs. I can not remember a time that I did not enjoy music. I took up learning guitar two years ago, so I guess the saying, “A person is never too old to learn”, is true. I enjoy writing music and playing the guitar. I have sung at festivals, churches, nursing homes and other events.
My mom is probably my biggest influence about gospel music. She would take me and my brother to gospel singings with her. There use to be a big Eastern Carolina singing in Zebulon every year. We would not miss it. It was fantastic, because so many gospel groups came to sing each year. Another lady that I consider a mentor is Janie Strickland. She would play the piano for me at church when I sung. She has a natural talent of playing by ear and also has a wonderful singing voice. My husband, Larry is really a big supporter to me. He is always there to help me. I have to say, I can not ask for a better man to help me.
I enjoy helping people. I have had two dreams in my life and that is being a nurse and singing. Well, I am not a nurse, but I am a singer for God. The closest thing that I have done to becoming a nurse is being a nursing assistant. I work for the State of NC full time and when I am not working, I am singing. I also enjoy making jewelry and have recently taken on a new hobby of painting things. I enjoy painting things like t-shirts and can huggers. I also love pictures and photos. I like taking pictures of the sky. I also like reading quotes. I have a quote hanging in my office that says, “You don’t have to be crazy to be my friend, but it sure helps”. My favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31 – But They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as Eagles. I read that verse and think no matter what I have been through or is going through, God is going to renew my strength.
I asked Sylvia some questions that I thought you would want to know the answers to. Here is our interview:
1. Did you write and play music as a child?
I did not write as a child. I did not start writing songs until I was an adult. I have been singing ever since I was a child.
2. What made you start writing music?
One day I just started putting my thoughts on paper. When tunes pop into my head I try to remember what I am singing so that I can put the words on paper. I also listen to guidance from God and HE gives me my songs. I have written personal songs for people and even one about my mom. When I am writing about someone personal, I really have to know them. I can not just put a bunch of words on paper. The words have to have meaning. The song I wrote about my mom is about her life.
3. Why do you write songs and play guitar and sing?
I write songs so that I have my own originals. I play the guitar, because all my life I wanted to learn a musical instrument to accompany myself when I sing gospel music. I learned how to play guitar a little over 2 years ago. I sing, because I enjoy it. Singing is a way of life to me. I sing in the mornings, on the drive to work and off and on during the day. I love singing most of all for God. I feel it is a calling from God for me to sing gospel music. I feel the music and I feel God when I sing. I probably am at my happiest when I am singing. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like all types of music, but I feel that God gave me the special talent of singing to use for HIM.
4. Please walk me through your song process. Everyone has a different way of doing it.
It is funny that you ask me about how I do this process, because it seems songs come to me at the oddest times. I can be in a restaurant drive-thru or driving down the road and words just start popping into my head and I start singing them. I try to grab something to write on, it can be a napkin, receipt or if I am lucky, I will have a piece of paper nearby to write on. I also have a small tape recorder and sometimes I use that to record the words, so I don’t forget what I sung. Sometimes a whole song has come to me and other times, I receive a song in bits and pieces. The gospel songs that I have written definitely come from God.
5. What is your favorite song that you have written and why is it your favorite?
I think that “God Knows it All” is probably my favorite. I think it is my favorite, because the words are so true. We really do not know a woman at a drive-thru, a man on the street, the neighbor or coworker. Only God knows us through and through and that is what the words mean in this song.
6. Tell us about your most memorable stage moment.
The most memorable stage moment happened at a church near my home. I was telling the church about how much I appreciated them having me there when all of a sudden the piece on the podium that holds books fell. The sound echoed all over the church and scared me to death. After the piece fell, I looked out into the audience and said, well, I guess this will be the last time you will have me, because I just tore up your church furniture. The whole church broke out in laughter. I really did not break it, because they fixed it immediately. Even the preacher came up to me at break and joked with me about it. It is definitely something that I will not forget anytime soon.
7. Do you have advice for others who want to write music or perform?
I think the best advice for anyone is if you enjoy music or writing, go for it. You will never regret tapping into a talent that involves music. It is very fulfilling in so many ways. Music makes me very happy and when I am feeling down it uplifts me. I can not imagine my life without music. It can not hurt to venture out on a talent in music.
8. What are you working on right now?
I have not written anything new lately. I would like to write a song about my life. The most recent thing I have worked on is with my nephew, Dylan, we put the chords to a song I wrote titled “God in Your Heart”. It was very exciting to have someone else work with me on making my song come to life.
9. What do you do for fun?
I love spending time with my family. I like playing with my animals. I enjoy going to the beach. I love this time of the year, because of the warm weather. I enjoy sitting outside on the swing. I enjoy cookouts with family and friends. I like making jewelry and taking pictures. I enjoy taking pictures of the sky. I like making people laugh.
10. What is the most important thing to you?
The number one thing is my relationship with God. The next things are my family, friends and my animals.
Thank you Sylvia, I enjoyed interviewing you. Keep on writing and singing.
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