“Jam” with Ieshia Thomas at Angles tonight

Singer Ieshia Thomas performs tonight at "POZZ For A Cause," and is the Grand Marshall for tomorrows AIDS Walk OKC. Photo provided.

Fresh new music with a purpose

Since she was four years old, Oklahoma native singing sensation Ieshia Thomas was blessed with electric vocals - she grew up her whole life wanting to perform. Since then, she has not only recorded her own music, but her most recent single, “Jam,” features hip-hop great, Snoop Dogg.

“Growing up I never knew that Oklahoma wasn’t a well-known place to start a career,” said Thomas. “I honestly thought that one could make a song, and the whole world will love you. But the older I got, I realized it was much more than that.”

She learned mostly how to sing on her own by imitating music that she listened to with some vocal training with an “awesome” trainer named Jan Hulsey. Thomas studied with Hulsey to prepare for singing competitions in high school.

“My single, ‘Jam,’ featuring Snoop Dogg, is just a song that you and your mains can get down to. When you’re out with your friends in the club, or anywhere for that matter, just having a good time and your ‘Jam’ comes on and you just zone out and turn it up.”

“It was a really fun track to make. I’m so glad that it came out great. Sometimes it still doesn’t hit me that I have an actual song with a legend. I feel as though it won’t hit me for a long time.”

Thomas is joining the community to help raise awareness by performing at “POZZ for a Cause” tonight, Sept. 27 and joining the AIDS Walk OKC on Sept. 28.

DJ Kamiko, The Copa DJ and Mary Arbuckle, Executive Director, Other Options in Oklahoma City were able to get Thomas scheduled not only as the Grand Marshal at the AIDS Walk OKC, but also as a performer at “POZZ for a Cause,” a fundraiser in OKC this weekend benefitting Other Options and The AIDS Walk OKC, sponsored by the Imperial Court of All Oklahoma.

Thomas added, “My managers are always on their toes and when they feel it’s time to go for something, they do it. They made it happen. Having the track with Snoop means a lot and does so much for my career. I feel like I get more respect because a lot of people don’t take you seriously unless you've got someone they know on the track with you.

POZZ for a Cause will be tonight, Saturday, September 27 at 9pm at Angles, 2117 NW 39th in OKC. Doors open at 8pm.

AIDS Walk OKC will be Sunday, Sept. 28 in Oklahoma City. Visit www.aidswalkokc.org.

“Jam” is available on iTunes. Follow Ieshia on Twitter @IeshiaMeshyll , instagram @Officialpageofieshia and Facebook Ieshia Thomas. And follow The Gayly on Facebook – on Twitter @thegayly.

by Robin Dorner, Editor in Chief

The Gayly – September 27, 2014 @ 1:25pm