Meet Talitha Gabrielle

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

Talitha, 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 purpose found me. I truly believe I was put on this earth to create and play music, for and with others. As a child, I recognized music as my first love, even though I felt so far away from the tools I felt I needed to be a musician like the folks I grew up around in church, throughout my early childhood. And while I don’t consider myself religious as an adult, nor do I perform or write gospel, I can’t not give some credit to the church for allowing my purpose to find me. Even though my parents divorced while I was very young, I found music (and music in the church) on both sides. My father was (and still is) a minister of music and singer/musician in the church, who plays by ear (he can play anything he hears!), and my mother met him singing in the church. They sang together in my father’s ensembles, for which he also wrote gospel music to be performed at conferences and concerts they were invited to perform in. My mother continued to sing in churches after the divorce, and still does today, as well as other secular ensembles. Music kind of feels like destiny for me. My purpose found me through my family and church.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a singer-songwriter, a multi instrument musician, and I work in music production. I’m mainly focused on moving my music in a direction that will be both fulfilling to me spiritually as well as financially. While I love playing and creating music, I feel less inclined if it feels forced or too commercial. But I’d ideally like for my music to be recognized enough for me to have a decent consistent following at regular gigs, and tour. I’ve also found love in music creation for film, while working on passion projects with friends, so placements would be great! I’m still figuring out how to make my love and purpose work for me financially, but so far I’ve successfully been booked as a solo artist at several venues and events from San Luis Obispo down to LA since my move to California from Atlanta, GA back in 2018. And now, after spending a few years in Santa Barbara, I’m currently in LA, trying to play out more, perfect my sound, and hopefully build a band, and continue to play gigs regularly. Moving to LA has felt like I’m starting over, despite my musical involvement in previously lived communities, but I’m still finding encouragement every day to do my thing. I taught myself guitar when I first realized I wanted to be a singer, and I learned how to write the feelings I couldn’t yet express otherwise, and that led to me choosing music as a degree. When I’m not working on my own music, I’m teaching kids the beauty of music in after school programs, in hopes of helping them find purpose as purpose found me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Resilience, integrity, and discipline. I couldn’t have gotten further than a desire without those three. My mother did her best to instill those qualities, and many others in me, so I have her and my familial upbringing to thank for that! My advice to anyone reaching for any type of success is to strive for resilience, to overcome obstacles (both internal and external); work with integrity because what you put out will always come back to you, so having integrity ensures GOOD always comes back to you; and self discipline is key —even though I’m doing what I love, there are still times I feel like I have to “parent” myself in order to work on my craft! And one last piece of advice is to keep going and growing, but rest when you need to. Stagnancy kills creativity, so always keep going and growing unless it’s time to rest!

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My mother encouraged my love for music. If you ask her she’ll say I made it easy for her, but she’s supported me since whatever day one was. She picked me up from every band practice after school when I joined the school band in middle school, she put up with all the funky sounds that came out of the different horns as I was learning, she attended every school band concert and almost every football game (I played in the marching band too!), she also put up with all the funky music production sounds blaring from my room when I was figuring out DAWs/recording, and today she shares all my music online and amongst her friends, colleagues, and church family. I’ve only been able to go home to Virginia once a year for Christmas since my move to California, but each time I meet someone new at her church, or a colleague, who knows me through my music because of her. Not many parents (especially of a certain generation) support their children working in the arts. I believe my mother knew the assignment from the beginning.

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