With singles such as “Not Over” and “Where Do All the Good Boys Go?,” THOMASINA is a pop starlet on the rise.
If there’s an artist to watch for in 2022, it’s Boston-based musician THOMASINA. In October, the musician released her first debut EP “I Wrote It All Down.” The project was an anthology celebrating the broken-hearted women’s pursuit of love. THOMASINA later released “Not Over” with DJ and producer FLAK. The electrifying EDM track cemented THOMASINA as a genre-bending artist. Along with songwriting, the musician is behind the full creative production of her music—an aspect that not many artists are involved in.
The Knockturnal had the opportunity to speak with the rising star about her debut EP and plans for future music.
The Knockturnal: When did you know you wanted to pursue music?
THOMASINA: My parents were theater majors so we listen to musical theater in the car. I thought I was gonna be a Broadway star, but that was not it. I learned how to play guitar. I probably started writing music maybe when I was ten. And then around 13, the little songs I was writing started to get better.
The Knockturnal: And who were your biggest musical inspirations growing up?
THOMASINA: Growing up, once I became musically conscious. It was definitely like Kacey Musgraves and Julia Michaels. I first wanted to be a country singer. So I am deeply inspired by old country songwriters. I think they have the storytelling down so Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline They’re the best. I think from a songwriting perspective, they’ve been really influential on how I tell stories within songs.
The Knockturnal: How did it feel to release your first EP?
THOMASINA: I was a little nervous. I put out a couple of singles before. My first one came out in 2018. I had a little bit of experience with releasing stuff, but I was terrified to promote it back then. Now, I have such awesome people helping me out. I just feel so much more confident in it and I’m just excited to share it
The Knockturnal: And I know you released your first song in 2018. How would you say you’ve grown with your music?
THOMASINA: In 2018, I still thought that I might go into country music until I got into the studio to record my first song. I was going into the studio, and we had a totally different idea for how it was gonna sound at the end. It was supposed to be kind of a Miranda Lambert, kind of country girl vibe. Then, I discovered vocal effects, cool delays, and things like that and I was like, we have to play with it all. We’re gonna see where it goes, I’m not gonna limit it to country music. From there on out, I was hooked on making pop music. So, it’s definitely changed since then, but I think the thing that stayed the same is the songwriting. Actually, I think it’s gotten a little bit better since 2018. Fingers crossed, but the intention with my songwriting is still the same.
The Knockturnal: What’s your songwriting process like?
THOMASINA: It’s hard to explain because I usually write the entire song as soon as I get the idea. It’s all written in
10-30 minutes then I move on. Then later I’ll come back and make small adjustments. Or completely throw out the
whole thing sometimes. When I start writing the first line that usually comes to me ends up being the hook. Then, the
chorus builds around that line, and then the details of the story kind of build in the verse. Then, the bridge comes
about, and I really don’t know what happens, It’s really just something in my brain and body that knows when
everything’s right.
The Knockturnal: What are some other genres of music you’d like to implement into your own sound?
THOMASINA: Definitely, maybe old-school pop-punk. I think that’s so cool, like Avril Levine vibes. To just scream your music and your lyrics would just be so much fun. I could definitely go that way for a song or two. I would love to do a couple of country songs like even Taylor Swift went back to her country roots for “Folklore” and “Evermore” so it’s possible.
The Knockturnal: Your debut EP “I Wrote It All Down,” where did that title come from?
THOMASINA: I had a whole list on my phone of ideas and we just brainstormed with some word association. My team and I, did so many things, trying to come up with the name. I wanted something that’s so straightforward and really kind of describes how we got all these songs because all of the songs are actually in the order that they’re on the EP for a reason. They capture the feelings of finding a relationship. The first song is “Where Do the Good Boys Go?” You know, you can’t find any good boys. You’re just not going to deal with it. Then, as it moves through the EP, you meet someone, and then it’s not the right person and it keeps happening until you find the right person, and then, in the end, it’s a self-reflective state with this person that you love. I literally wrote all of that down in songs for the past two, three years. When we finally got the name, we were just talking about the writing process and stuff like that and one of us said, “you wrote it all down,” and I thought that was perfect.
The Knockturnal: And finally, are you in the process of writing any more new music?
THOMASINA: Always. Literally always. I think I drive everyone in my life crazy because randomly I’ll just be like, “I gotta go, I have to write something down. I’m writing a song. I just thought of something.” I’m always writing things for new songs. I’ve already started working on some new songs and producing some stuff. I’m very excited.
Be sure to follow THOMASINA to catch up with her latest releases and stream “I Wrote It All Down” and “Not Over.”
