During the underwriter’s search for artists that have been ignored by the mainstream in spite of their talent, he discovered the music composed by and interpreted by a singer from the Volunteer State called Tennessee. Her name is Tonya Marie Faris and she was invited to an interview before Now Public. The following was an online interview that is sure to inspire people to buy her music.

1. When did you start your career and what were your accomplishments since then?

 I started my career, at the age of 5, started writing songs and learning to play the guitar, At 15 I shared the stage with Country music Legend Little Jimmy Dickson, he has played with all the greats such as Hank Williams. He told me little girl never quit and you will make it someday. I played all through out Knoxville Tenn. in the 80’s and 90’s during that time I meet Andy Smith, a jazz and blues collector and radio host  of WFMZ 93.1, in White Pines Tn.Andy knew jazz greats such as JimmyMcpartland and Count Basie, and again I was encouraged that with hard work and the right sound I could go far. Sense then I has been performing through out east Tenn. And have been promoting myself throughout the web, 3 years ago I was in a CMT. Clip that ran nationally looking for songwritters, now I continue to get my music heard.

2. Have you had any offers from recording companies?

Yes I have had offer’s but you know the business and some or most I should say were not legite alot of smoke rings I’ve recently been working on getting an agent in the UK and working with Kevin Williams Black to be heard he is in England and owns a coffee blues shop and has an internet radio podcast I will be featured on, on the 19th of this month Saturday to be exact. Also DAvide Ponti actor, directory is facebook friend of mine that gives me helpful advice.

3. You have recorded the blues including one whose subject dealt with unconditional love. Where did you get the inspiration to write music?

I got the inspiration for the song Unconditional love from relationships with people over the years, were I wanted there love and they wanted mine but conditions always came and I began to wander if I could be loved unconditionally for being myself then I learned the lesson to thine on self be true, so one day I was doing laundry as I hate to do and all you could hear was the washing machines and dryers and the sounded like a rhyme to me and I sat there and wrote unconditional love in about 5 mins,I realized we all were looking for unconditional love all our lives,

4. You once met Dolly Parton. What was your impression of her as a person and professional?

In 1997, they had a local songwriting contest, and the Judges were Dolly Pardon’s sisters and brother Randy and Stella and Stella husband back up singer to Dolly Parton I won the horizon Award for that year and was given encouragement, the lady that wrote MySpace bio,did not get it accurate and i need to fix it but I only met her siblings and they were very nice and down to earth, but once again encouragement for me for my future, I would love to meet Dolly Pardon I have always loved her music.

5. What have been your role models in the music world?

My first role model was Elvis, I would put side burns on and grab my guitar as a child he opened the door to the music for menthe next influence for me was Janis Joplin she stirred my soul to the core so I found my voice through her, my other influence is Johnny Cash, for his brutal honesty in a song and he was always real, my first group I loved was Kansas there lyrics were so deep like the song Closet Chronicles I was blown away and of course Big Mama Thornton and Bessie Smith.

6. If people want to buy music from Tonya Marie Faris, where can they go to purchase it?

I am currently working on a distribution project that will be release my songs in the coming months I will let you know the info as soon as I know currently you can download my mp3 on face book and watch my videos.

7. What can a musician or a singer do to be true to themselves as well as to their music? This question is based on the fact [I maybe wrong] that certain singers lose their touch with their musical roots when they enter the mainstream. I am a believer in that it is easy to get lost in the mainstream.

My best advice is to be yourself anybody can imitate, it is about being original because once you buy into the hype you’ve lost your connection to the music, as A society I have watched its so commercialized that the music is no longer connecting people, in the 70″s we had true singer songwriters like Cat Stevens Jim Croce, and the list goes on but then it was about the message not the act. I think we are in a time we are all looking for answers, from the war in Afganisain, And throughout Iraq, our economy, and the violence we can’t escape through the media we see we are in a time that we are looking and crying out and I believe its time the music heals and stirs or souls again. Anyone can go mainstream and at the end after they sold out and there cd’s lay in a bin for 99cents they wander where did I go. Music needs to be reborn again to help and heal and laugh, not just entertain.

8. What do you hope to accomplish in the future in the realm of music?

What I hope to accomplish is to get my music out everywhere and build a career but what I want most before my time is through is to stir the human soul and give music to people that will hear it and they can make it through to sum it all up is like this remember that Coca Cola commercial in the 70s were different nationalities were on this hill singing ‘I ‘d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony ‘well that me that what I hope and dream to accomplish.

I would like to thank you Tonya for taking the time to answer my questions. Best Wishes and May God Bless you and Your Family.

thank you I hope I have answered all your questions, thank you for your kindness and I am grateful for this opportunity, God bless Roberto and I look forward to hearing from you.tonya marie