Lizzie Thomas
Expressive Jazz Vocalist & Songwriter

Sandeep (00:02.001) Today's guest is Lizzie Thomas, a jazz vocalist, songwriter, producer, and internationally touring artist whose work blends jazz, soul, R&B, and fearless emotional storytelling.

Suraaj Parab (00:16.674) Welcome, Lizzie, to The Artist Conversation.

Lizzie Thomas (00:19.775) Thank you. I'm really happy to be here today. Thanks for having me, guys.

Sandeep (00:24.391) Thank you so much for joining, and it's going to be great talking to you. Getting right into it, Lizzie, talking about your origin, your voice, and what called you here. Your work feels rooted in truth, freedom, and recognition. When did music first become more than performance for you? When did it become a way of remembering who you are?

Lizzie Thomas (00:51.923) I would say that about four years ago, I went through a personal awakening. Through that, I began to really question everything and look at not only my music, but my personal life. The word integrity became very important to me, realizing that what I was building internally I did not see reflected externally. So it took me through this process, this journey, and I began hearing melodies, lyrics, and song progressions. That's when my writing really shifted.

Up until that point, I was a very traditional jazz vocalist, learning other people's songs, learning improvisation, and learning how to be creative within the boundaries of other songs. In this process of awakening, I realized I didn't feel as authentically free as I wanted to. It's kind of strange to say in jazz, because jazz is such a genre of freedom, expression, and improvisation. Yet I felt this calling—like a whisper, a yearning—to really get back to my roots. They are grounded in jazz, but there's also a great love of pop, soul, R&B, hip-hop, and very groove-centered music with beautiful melodies.

That's where the shift happened. The first song that I heard was "Community." The message was about really showing up for yourself and putting yourself first, which sounds very egotistical, yet as an artist, I realized that I was putting everyone else in front of me. That was really the thing that kicked it off. Progressively, I have dug deeper into listening, hearing the music, and proclaiming not only who I am, but what I hear as an artist. As artists, we are reflecting the times; especially musically, I'm able to hear or represent certain things that might be needed to be heard by the population.

Sandeep (03:43.323) That's very interesting.

Suraaj Parab (03:46.477) That's superb. Lizzie, one thing I would like to ask you: you have described your concerts as conversations rather than entertainment. At what point did you realize that connection, not perfection, was the real center of your artistry?

Lizzie Thomas (04:02.335) Humanity is at the essence of what we're doing, and people are seeking connection. As an artist and performer, I could definitely just entertain and make people feel good, but I have a deeper mission and desire: to possibly turn some keys within themselves, or create an environment where they are able to think or see differently. Maybe something unlocks so that they are experiencing the sound frequencies as an experience rather than just pure entertainment. People come up to me after shows or reach out on social media saying, "I don't know what you're doing, but I actually felt different after being immersed in your music." That's why I do this.

Sandeep (05:22.897) That must be so fulfilling to hear after your performance. That's what we crave as artists: connecting with people and getting that kind of feedback. Sure, it's always nice when people say they love your vocals or playing, but hearing "you helped me connect, took me to a different place, and reminded me of something"—that is always so touching.

Lizzie Thomas (05:52.614) Absolutely. It feeds the process. You realize what you're doing really makes a difference. For someone to realize that is true recognition of who they are.

Sandeep (06:09.305) Your recent work seems to move from Awakening into This Is Freedom—almost like one chapter was about remembering and the next is about living from that remembrance. What shifted in you between those two projects?

Lizzie Thomas (06:32.072) You nailed it. That's exactly what's happening, and I would use the word embodiment. This Is Freedom is about embodying everything that was learned or awakened in Awakening. There's a deepening in the songs and the message. There's a place of proclamation, declaration, and celebration happening in This Is Freedom.

Awakening was definitely about remembering. It was more exploratory, with a childlike sense of, "Wow, I've never seen it this way." There was an innocence to it. This Is Freedom isn't innocent. It's knowing who we are, charging forward, and letting things burn to the ground. There are a lot of fire elements within these songs, reflecting the vigilance needed to fight for who you are, what you stand for, and what you want.

Sandeep (08:02.588) That's amazing, and I like how you described it. Checking out your catalog, you can tell how distinct each work is. I'm definitely going to dive deeper into your catalog.

Lizzie Thomas (08:35.312) With Awakening, I felt really compelled to produce it. There is such a small percentage of female producers. My label, Goddess Legacy, supports female artists and producers. I've stood on stages for 20 years generally surrounded by men. I fearlessly made the choice to produce it myself, and it was an incredible process.

That led into producing This Is Freedom. You practice and get your chops up, so as a producer on This Is Freedom, I was able to move much more quickly. The songs tell me what they want; for instance, on "Persephone," the song asked for spoken word and electric violin. One of my friends and colleagues is a female violinist, so I welcomed that direction. I love not only songwriting, but producing as well. It has given me a lot of joy.

Suraaj Parab (10:29.440) You mentioned having a personal awakening four years ago. What gave you the courage to stop living by other people's expectations and choose a life that felt unmistakably yours?

Lizzie Thomas (10:52.826) It took quite a bit of courage to look at the life I had built and the person I had become, and then start stripping back the layers like an onion. All of those things were centered around belief systems. I had to look at them and ask, "Do I actually believe this?" I went on a curious journey to unwrap those systems and asked for courage daily.

Ultimately, I don't want to live a small life; I want to live a big life. I feel I am here with purpose, mission, and drive. Hearing audience members say my music made a difference confirmed it, but internally, I am hungry for truth. I can't not live in my truth. I seek after the secret, the truth, and the underbelly of things. That's what led me to change my life and pursue what I consider the most authentic version of it. I now have peace, health, joy, and integrity.

Sandeep (13:23.857) You once posed a powerful question: "What if the life you're longing for begins the moment you stop abandoning yourself?" What does that idea mean to you now in real, lived terms?

Lizzie Thomas (13:58.086) Particularly as women, we are brought up in a culture centered around serving others and fitting in. I was raised in the South, and I am also an empath who grew up reading the room to adjust to my environment. I realized I was so focused on everyone else that I would people-please, self-abandon, and disregard my own needs to make others feel comfortable.

Women are incredibly intuitive and perceptive—the essence of creativity. When we make ourselves smaller to fit in, it devastates our relationships. For me now, it requires daily check-ins to ask, "Am I really in tune with myself and serving myself?" Culture teaches women to give until they receive, but true fulfillment doesn't come from giving everything away. We can only give joyfully when our own cup is full, when we are at peace, and when our lives are in equilibrium.

Sandeep (17:51.058) Where in the South did you grow up?

Lizzie Thomas (18:19.336) I was born in Pittsburgh, lived in Texas and New Jersey, and then moved to Dalton, Georgia in middle school. After high school, I went to Nashville to study vocal performance at Belmont University. I also play piano, so I earned a degree in music education and piano pedagogy, ran my own piano studio, and performed. After about eight to ten years in Nashville, I moved to New York City to immerse myself in the jazz capital, where I've been for almost 19 years working with amazing people.

Sandeep (20:29.125) While you were in Nashville, did you ever think about moving further south to New Orleans?

Lizzie Thomas (20:44.478) Too hot and humid! I preferred heading north where it's cooler.

Suraaj Parab (21:02.542) How were you introduced to music? Is anyone in your family musical?

Lizzie Thomas (21:11.868) It was like a divine touch. My family listened to music, but they weren't musicians. I started asking to play piano when I was six or seven. I started classical piano lessons at eight and played classically through high school. In Nashville, I shifted from reading sheet music to playing by ear and using the Nashville Number System, transitioning into pop and jazz performance.

Suraaj Parab (22:34.670) Your new single, "Kingdoms Fall," deals with endings, transformation, and what happens when old structures collapse. What was happening in your inner world when that song came through?

Lizzie Thomas (23:01.894) Everything was collapsing. The song reflects personal shifts as well as what is happening globally with old regimes crumbling and technology pushing us to think differently and better. A friend noted that while it's conceptually a sad song, it sounds happy. That's precise: when a massive kingdom crumbles, you are entering new beginnings and breathing fresh air. The end of the song features a groove shift that captures that feeling of driving with the windows down—absolute freedom and endless opportunities.

Sandeep (24:44.101) You also posed the question: "What if recognition is the deepest form of intimacy?" In performance, what does it mean to truly recognize your audience and let them recognize themselves in return?

Lizzie Thomas (25:16.842) It comes down to performance versus connectivity. Artists have a choice in how deeply they engage. I chose to connect as deeply as I, the band, and the audience will allow. It's in the depth and the darkness that we find things we didn't know we were carrying—or, put more poetically, it's in the darkness that we realize we are carrying the light.

Suraaj Parab (26:43.438) When people leave your live performances or listen to records like This Is Freedom, what do you hope they remember or rediscover about themselves?

Lizzie Thomas (27:24.850) I write songs to help people remember who they are. We never stop growing or reclaiming parts of ourselves. Beyond crafting good grooves, my music embeds frequencies intended for healing, remembrance, and recognition. The music speaks to the heart and soul, helping listeners let go of burdens, make peace with unresolved issues, and step into who they are.

For example, on This Is Freedom, there is a song called "People on the Left and Right." Channeling the spirit of Nina Simone, it doesn't dictate what to think, but asks listeners to examine whether their beliefs are truly their own or merely adhering to a comfortable political policy. It invites self-reflection.

Suraaj Parab (31:04.366) A core theme in your work is remaining curious, asking questions, and finding your own truth rather than following blindly.

Lizzie Thomas (31:46.932) Curiosity is one of the most valuable human characteristics. Truth evolves, and staying curious keeps us growing.

Suraaj Parab (35:31.982) Thank you so much, Lizzie. Your unique perspective gives your art such a distinct sound, and we really appreciate you sharing it with us.

Lizzie Thomas (36:33.916) Thank you so much for having me. I love sharing the "why" behind the music. I appreciate your time, energy, and this great conversation.

Sandeep (36:56.219) The pleasure is ours. This conversation served as a great reminder that music helps us recognize the parts of ourselves we've forgotten. Thank you for spending time with us.