Meet Anna Thomas

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anna Thomas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anna below.

Anna, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

My whole life, I knew I wanted to pursue music. I grew up in a very creative environment and began writing songs at an early age. My dad was always playing bass in bands, my mom was always drawing and painting, and my older sister was always writing stories.
When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I saw a video of Fiona Apple performing live and instantly fell in love. Her lyrics spoke to me in ways I couldn’t even articulate yet. I just knew I wanted to do what she did!
Songwriting became my whole identity for a long time, which inevitably put a strain on my relationship with music. I’ve really had to develop a sense of self outside of songwriting. I’ve realized that even if I never release music again, I will always be writing it, because that’s how my brain processes things. But it’s liberating to recognize you can have more than one singular purpose.
I’ve become way more social over the years and get a lot of purpose and fulfillment from the relationships in my life. These days, it feels like my purpose is hearing different perspectives and providing encouragement. NAMS aligns with all of my purposes! It’s everything I’ve always loved about music, without the isolation. It’s a community full of so many different stories, all connected through the universal languages of music and art, allowing everyone to communicate and express the parts of ourselves that don’t always fit into words.
You feel it when you walk into NAMS. Not only is the creative energy palpable, but the families and instructors here really make it feel like a home. If you hang out in the lobby long enough, you will inevitably make a friend. It’s beautiful to see.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

At NAMS, we believe creativity is for everyone, and we’re here to help you share it with the world. Our incredible staff creates customized lesson plans tailored to each individual, ensuring every student stays engaged and inspired on their unique journey. Whether you’re exploring an instrument, songwriting, or production, or delving into physical or digital art, we’re dedicated to helping you develop the skills and confidence to express yourself. NAMS is so much more than a music school – it’s a community where creativity thrives and every voice matters!
This past Fall, we launched our new Artist Development program, connecting students into our state-of-the-art recording studio. We have so many exciting plans for 2025, and we can’t wait to share them with the community.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think a sense of humor is essential. Laughter really is the best medicine, and it’s completely free! You can instantly shift the energy in a room by bringing some humor into the situation.
Introspection is another invaluable tool. People are so complicated and prone to miscommunication, but developing some self awareness goes a long way in ensuring productive communication. And then, listen! It doesn’t matter how much you think you understand yourself if you aren’t also making an effort to understand others. Keep an open mind and allow yourself to be surprised, because everyone is a wealth of knowledge capable of changing your perspective and enriching your life.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Step away! Sometimes creativity comes naturally, like a wave of ideas washing over you. But sometimes the water gets still and you feel stuck. It’s so easy to burn yourself out trying to engineer that wave. In those moments, I try to engage my mind in other ways. Learning new things guarantees creative thinking.
Tunnel vision served me well as a homeschooled middle schooler fixated on creating music, but life changes you and you have to loosen your grip. Your perspective is bound to change. The more interests you develop, the more inspiration you discover. You start to find wind in new places, and naturally a new wave shows up and takes you somewhere creatively.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://namsfrisco.com
• Instagram: namsfrisco
• Facebook: namsfrisco

Image Credits

Micah Foust
Zach Lopez