Theresa – Advertising music executive by day and performer by night, Theresa is an undeniable new force on the modern pop scene.
Interview Conducted on March 26, 2020
by Dan Locke
Tell me about your upbringing and how that has affected you today.
Theresa: I was raised out on Long Island in Smithtown NY. We had a really nice house that my parents struggled to keep up with. My father had two jobs; my mother was a hairdresser until she had me and my brother – and then worked in a school cafeteria. My father was a very hard worker and wanted me and my brother to have the very best. His drive and work ethic is something that is very much ingrained in me.
How did you discover music?
The radio and MTV were always playing in my house. My parents took a notice that I memorized every song from a young age and started buying me a new album once a week. One of my earliest memories was my father buying me Laura Branigan’s “Branigan” album that included the worldwide smash, “Gloria” (which is still one of my favorite songs). Growing up, my bedroom walls were filled with Madonna and Duran Duran posters – even when they weren’t “cool” anymore. I always unapologetically loved pop music – especially from the ’80s!
You wrote your first song at eleven. Tell me about it?
Oh yes, the first song I wrote was called “Love Is Like Bubblegum”. It was an eleven-year-old Theresa trying to compare love and bubblegum! It’s funny thinking about it now because it didn’t take me very long to write and for an eleven-year-old, I was super insightful. One of the verses includes the line, “so many people ask you, do you have a piece of gum – and many people tell you, sorry I got none”. It’s still a very important song to me – I actually named my publishing company, Bubblegum Babe, in honor of this tune!
What was Marymount Manhattan College like?
Honestly, it was just okay. I had all these hopes and dreams of moving into the city from Long Island because like Madonna – I was going to move to New York and become a big star. There was a lot going on at home and both my father and best friend were sick – so I really just wanted to run away from it all and start a new life – but within 3 weeks of starting my freshman year at MMC, my father passed away. And 3 months later, my best friend died. The confidence that had pushed me to follow my dreams had vanished and my self-esteem took a tumble. I gained a ton of weight and really didn’t like myself during that time in my life. I felt I was someone else going through the motions. Trying to fit into different friend circles to find some sort of stability. Trying to find love with guys that treated me like shit. Looking back, I just want to tell this version of Theresa that everything is going to be okay and thank her for staying in New York and going through this shitty time.
You started working with Jive Records and Sheryl Crow’s Management Company. How was it that? And what was the biggest thing that you learn while working with them?
HA – that I never wanted to work for a record label in my life! 🙂 I was working for Jive at the height of the Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and N*Sync fame. And it was super interesting to see things very behind the scenes – but I really enjoyed working at W Management. It was very cool to see that an artist as big as Sheryl Crow could have a personal management company that really listened to her and help guide her on a very real, honest and super-successful career.
After working with W Management. You started to work as a music producer for commercials. What were some of the commercials you produced?
From W Management, I actually started working for a woman named Joanne Schwartz, who at the time was managing the comedian Sandra Bernhard and represented a UK based label and publishing company. One day she got a call from a friend who was starting an entertainment division at the iconic ad agency, J. Walter Thompson asking if she wanted to join the company – and she said, “I have to bring my assistant, Theresa”. And the rest is kind of history. I grew from answering the phones in the Entertainment department to becoming a Music Coordinator in the Production department. I literally fell into the position by being in the right place at the right time!
My first few projects for the music department included producing music for brands such as Sudafed, Schick and Welch’s Grape Juice – very sexy commercials. HAHAHA. But over the years working in the advertising world, I have had the good fortune to work on music for so many amazing commercials for clients such as Macy’s, Domino’s, Citi, Garnier, Heineken, Altice, and Bumble. Just thinking about all the spots I’ve worked on brings a smile to my face. It’s really been such an amazing ride!
Your 2019 debut single was “Things About to Change”. What is it about?
2019, in general, was a very transformative year for me. After a very long hiatus from working on my music, I started writing new songs and really put it out there into the universe that I was changing as a woman and an artist. From the moment I decided, “fuck it – I really want to pursue these dreams I’ve had since I was a kid”, I just had a feeling it was all going to work out. I actually wrote “Things About to Change” while laying on a South Hampton beach with two friends on Saturday. We were taking a walk and I suddenly had gotten the melody in my head. I pretty much wrote it in 10 minutes once we got back to our beach chairs! I just had a feeling that things were about to change…and they were never going to be the same.
How was it to work with Mike Cash and Jesse Blum while writing “Let Go”?
Magical. It was such a special session with these two. I walked in – not knowing what I was getting myself into. Mike was super cool and laid back. Jesse was so welcoming and really wanted to start to get to know me which really broke the ice. I described an idea I was thinking about earlier that day and within minutes, we had the framework of “Let Go” done. I instantly knew I had just met two amazing friends and partners.
How do you feel about how the Coronavirus may affect the music world today?
I have a feeling us as songwriters are going to have a lot to share with the world! Artists are getting super creative with doing some live stream performances and I know I am personally in the midst of doing some remote sessions with some of my collaborators. We are all finding ways to get our music created and heard. I consider myself a very positive person, and I know all I want to do is share my light with others during this really challenging time.
Digital vs. vinyl?
I love the sound of vinyl but the ease of digital.
Any plans to tour?
I actually just started rehearsing with my new band last week right before we all had to isolate inside! 🙁 But yes, live shows in the NYC area are in the works. And ultimately, I would LOVE to do a select city tour.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
It’s actually “Hero” by my literal homegirl, Mariah Carey (Mimi grew up in the big town next to mine on Long Island). It’s such a beautiful song. With everything going on at the moment, there are SO many heroes – performing both big and small things to help others. Just staying in your home, you are doing a heroic act. We can all be heroes by being good people who treat others with care and respect.
Where / How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Theresa will be a household name 🙂 I will be continuing to share my music, my story and what I had to overcome to find my true purpose. I want to be a voice to inspire people to follow their dreams – at any age. We should never hold ourselves back from our greatest potential!
Anything you would like to say in closing?
This was so much fun! Thanks so much for giving me this platform to share my story!!
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