Music
Press
Antiguan Thea Harris, nee Benjamin, was recently tapped to receive the 2009 South Florida Gospel Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year on the strength of her first CD, Secret Place. “I have been writing for a long time but I feel that now is my time,” said the vocalist who announced plans to return to Antigua for a concert in Spring 2010. Harris, also a songwriter who penned all songs on the CD, hails originally from All Saints and spent her teen years in the US Virgin Islands, before returning home, and later migrating to Florida with her husband in 2004.
The last move was primarily to complete her university education, but she also used the time to begin working on her music in a professional way. She’s proficient in various genres of music – including calypso, rhythm and blues, jazz, and reggae – according to her bio, which references her 22 years of studio experience and performances with various bands in Antigua and the Virgin Islands. Though a gospel album, Secret Place reportedly features all the named genres. “Breaking musical ground here (in the USA) is hard work,” Harris said, “but I’ve been blessed (to) connect with good people.” The South Florida Gospel Music Award for Female Vocalist is her first major gospel award, and Harris declared herself, “excited to be considered worthy of such an honour.” The CD is available locally through the St John’s Pentecostal Church on Bishopgate Street, and is also available through online vendors. This young mother declares her intent to be a success in music, and to become so “with integrity and grace.” - The Daily Observer; Antigua Press Releases
(PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida April 10, 2010) - Thea Harris has done it again, with the release of her new single Live Right. Her voice is a unique combination of the smooth rhythms of jazz, the boldness of soul and penetrating depths of gospel. The song is like a breath of fresh air that carries a message of hope. Thea Harris is not merely an artist, but an instrument of God, utilizing her gift to usher in His presence as she yields to the Holy Spirit in a lifestyle that is an uninhibited expression of worship.
Thea Harris is pleased to announce the release of her new CD single, Live Right. The song chronicles a journey of self discovery and strength from past places of heartache, struggle, and confusion – a gentle reminder that we draw light into our own lives when we release it into the lives of others by choosing to Live Right.
Thea Harris was born on the Caribbean Island of Antigua. She is a singer songwriter who “on the strength of her first CD project, Secret Place” won the Female Vocalist South Florida Gospel Music Award in 2009. Her voice is passionate, inviting, and soul-stirring. For many years she sang in major restaurants, hotels, jazz clubs and major events on the Islands of Antigua and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. She has made many appearances on TBN TV (WTCE) in Fort Pierce, Florida. Thea’s songwriting and recording experience spans more than 20 years.
Live Right is the 1st single release from her sophomore project of the same title which is currently in progress. Thea believes that “Music is a soul sound that transcends all languages and goes straight to the spirit.” Her desire is to communicate God’s heart to all who listen to the songs she has been inspired to write.
Live Right will be available online and in Christian bookstores. The music was composed by Andrew Dorsett of Dorsett Music who has played keyboards and served as Musical Director for a variety of artists such as: Jessica Simpson, Donny Osmond, Heather Headley, James Ingram, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Nelly Furtado, POE, Dawn Robinson (EnVogue), Coko (SWV), Darren Hayes (Savage Garden).
Radio promotional copies have been forwarded to stations for airplay.
For scheduled events visit her website www.theaharris.com.
Contact:
Thea Harris Music
P.O. Box 7576
(772) 475-6800
www.theaharris.com
information@theaharris.com - PR.com, Fort Pierce Tribune
Discography
Secret Place
Live Right (Single Release)
Photos
Bio
The Island of Antigua, nestled in the Caribbean Sea, is known for its tropical paradise and turquoise beaches. Antigua is also the home of the sounds of the fresh winds of Gospel music melodies from a bright new voice – Thea Harris.
Thea was born in Antigua and grew up loving the stunning sunsets, colorful rainbows and breezy beaches. She also developed a love for music, singing at a very young age with her two brothers and twin sister in an Acapella quartet. Although she began singing in church as a youth, as she grew older the authenticity of her music diminished. Thea knew her spiritual foundation needed mending before continuing in music ministry. She began singing with various Jazz, R & B and Reggae bands and during that time acquired a great love for the freedom of expression found in Jazz, both vocally and instrumentally. This filtered into her songwriting style. Offers began to come in from various producers to write and sing background vocals.
Noticeably, her involvement in church began to slack. But it is in our weak moments that God can truly work. God called and Thea answered. Her relationship with Him matured. She also evolved artistically in her writing which began to develop from a deep place within where God had truly started to work. “Whenever I am writing, I first allow my heart to be deeply touched and pray that the messages in my songs have an even stronger impact in the lives of those who listen,” Thea enlightens.
The transformation to music minister, though, did not happen until a few years ago. Thea had been writing songs for many years, but her spirit did not receive the God-Soul-Filled Songs until about nine years ago.
“I learned that it is easy to be a Christian but still not truly be Christ like or Spirit-filled when Christ found me at age 13,” explains Thea. “I never really found Him until 9 years ago. You could say that was my rebirth! I became new, whole, clean, and bursting with God-kind-of Love in the fullness of His Spirit.”
Thea is now in a place of ministry that is clear, foundationally strong and artistically progressive. “Now God has done something awesome in me and released me to truly minister His heart,” she proclaims.
Her voice is a unique combination of the smooth rhythms of jazz, the boldness of soul and penetrating depths of gospel. Thea is not just another gospel artist stepping into a music career, but an instrument of God, utilizing her gift to usher in His presence as she yields to the Holy Spirit in a lifestyle that is an uninhibited expression of worship.
Thea now lives in Florida and has released her debut CD Secret Place. With the release of Secret Place, Thea won the 2009 South Florida Female Vocalist of the Year Award. She has performed at the 2010 Sistrunk Festival, 2010 Caribbean American Festival and the 2010 Williston Music Festival. Her music ministry has blessed the audiences of TBN and been heard along side of Stellar Award winner Phillip Carter and Sunday’s Best finalist Dontavies Boatwright.
In the spring of 2010 Thea released the first single from the upcoming project Live Right, which chronicles a journey of self discovery and strength from past places of heartache, struggle, and confusion. “Live Right”, the single, is a message of hope and a gentle reminder that we can draw light into our own lives when we release it into the lives of others by choosing to Live Right.
“Live Right” was composed by Andrew Dorsett of Dorsett Music who has played keyboards and served as Musical Director for a variety of artists such as Jessica Simpson, Donny Osmond, Heather Headley, James Ingram, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Nelly Furtado, Dawn Robinson (EnVogue) and Coko (SWV). Dorsett has partnered with Thea with the intentions of broadening her resident skillful jazz stylings as well as highlighting her rich neo soul essence, embedded in a project that has an all around feel good flair.
“The Live Right project will showcase a greater depth of my musical style, highlighting strong messages of hope, the resilience of the human spirit, and God’s unfailing love for humanity,” says Thea.
Thea currently serves as Youth and Mass Choir Director at Resurrection Life Family Worship Center. “Music is a soul sound that transcends all languages and goes straight to the spirit,” Thea believes. Her desire is to communicate God’s heart to all who listen to the songs she has been inspired to write.
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