DORiS 8.37 | Janelle Thomas | Embered Soulz | 10.28.21

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Today on DORiS we sit down with Janelle Thomas. Since our first interview with Janelle back in 2016 she has directed the Salisbury University Gospel Choir, starred as Motor Mouth Maybelle in the hit musical Hairspray and is now a vocalist in the band Embered Soulz which you can hear live at the Art Bar. We discussed growing up with her grandmother and dealing with grief and loss.

All her life that she was going to be a singer. As a child she would sing around the house performing for her friends and family and anyone who would listen. She grew up surrounded by strong women. When reflecting on her grandmother she recalls her small stature against her enormous presence. A reverend and a singer, Thomas says she was her first musical inspiration. The power and emotion of gospel music resonated with her. Outside the genre she'd come to find other inspirations. She studied the rifts of Luther Vandross by playing and replaying a VHS tape of his Live concert in New York City. She'd dance and sing in front of the tv, and she just knew that was what she wanted to do. her grandmother would encourage this often joining in. She'd tell her "Girl you good!" and push her to keep going.

"I come from a BIG family."

Janelle describes the loss of her grandmother as her greatest heartbreak. "She was the first person that made me wanna be a singer.", she says of the late Margaret Brown, but she knows she's watching over her still. Remembering her turns our conversation to depression and how unprecedented it can be in overtaking you. "I was twenty seven.", she recounts, but it was the first time she'd encountered that type of loss. Her grandfather passed when she was much younger so she wasn't able to understand it in the same way. Grief and the handling of it isn't something that is really taught and when it happens to us we are often unprepared. I asked what methods she used to cope with the loss and she answers, "I just kept singing."

As a student she got good grades, to stay in band and choir, where she got to explore her vocal ability and learn new instruments like the saxophone, drums and piano. "My voice is my main instrument, I just also know how to play other instruments.", she says. She began to pull from and blend together different genres applying what she learned in band practice at choir rehearsal and vice versa. She kept at it all throughout her school days. The instruments and genres would shift around but she always sang. This would eventually, as a college student. lead her to the acclaimed Salisbury University Gospel Choir. This is where I first met Janelle.

In 2016 we were both students at Salisbury University and I was in the middle of the first season of DORiS. Janelle was performing in and directing the university's gospel choir and had been making a stir on campus with her impressive arrangements. I hit her up for an interview on DORiS and we've been friends ever since.

At salisbury she got to learn music as well as teach it, with her choir members and now in personal lessons. When we caught up this time around I asked what's something that she's learned from her students. "That not everyone learns the same.", she says. Teaching music has helped her develop new ways of relating to people which has helped her music personally.

Janelle always loved musicals as a child, and one of her favorites was Hairspray. It would be in this musical that she would find her breakout role -- or rather, it found her. She recalls receiving a random call one day from her old theatre director. When he offered her the role she knew she had to have it, it was one of her favorite musicals playing one of her favorite characters the blonde queen, Motor Mouth Maybelle. So, when he told her that the show was opening in two weeks her heart sank. She turned her fear into fuel and just kicked into gear. Come opening night, as she belted out the final notes of the show stopping "I Know Where I've Been", the crowd erupted into applause and standing ovation, and repeated this for the remainder of the show's run. I asked if she would ever reprise this role to which she replied with a resounding, "Absolutely!".

These days you can hear Janelle in the band Embered Soulz. They are a collection of incredibly talented musicians and performers bringing together a wide range of sounds and influences. Hearing them live is a can't miss experience. They are all industry goats with a range of talents. Janelle said she doesn't write music but she has her bandmates to turn to. She brings to the lyrics her ethereal voice and sonic sensibilities. I asked if they'd be putting out a project soon and she said there's no date set but it's bound to happen. Hopefully soon. Until then make sure you get out to see them performing live. I asked what she would say to her younger self having learned what she now knows, she pauses for moment, then replies, "Girl you good".

It's always a blast hanging with Janelle. Just good times and good vibes. This interview you are hearing is actually a redo. The first one had no sound so she was gracious enough to come back for a reshoot. We just picked up right where we left off. I learned a lot about her and I hope you will too. I'll be looking forward to her next interview. You'll find our full conversation below. Enjoy.

Peace and love,

DORiS

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Part I

Part II

Part III