Bianca Thompson is a longtime friend of Awakenings and has participated in many areas of our programming, from backstage in a more administrative sense to center stage as a performer.
Bianca is an Associate Board Member and a member of our Art Committee. And as an artist, she’s performed theatrically in the Me Too Monologues, musically in Gallery of Sounds, and via the page in a recent issue of Awakened Voices. Bianca’s art, like Bianca herself, is down to earth, validating, and generous. She clearly keeps her audience in mind even though she’s telling stories that are very personal to herself.
I talked with Bianca over email about her process of songwriting, the value of live performance, and what the craft of storytelling means to her.
Interview with Bianca Thompson
Megan Otto
Can you share how you would like to introduce yourself?
Bianca Thompson
Hi! My name is Bianca Thompson, I’m 23 years old, and I’m a singer/songwriter and theatre artist from Belmont, Massachusetts.
Megan Otto
You are involved with so many different types of art, and I’ve been wondering about how they intersect. Music, poetry, and drama can all be very lyrical, and they can also all be performative in different ways. What does performing your art mean to you?
Bianca Thompson
There is nothing more special to me than performing my art for people who came to a specific space to hear what I have to say, whether it’s through speaking or music. We go to the theatre, concerts, operas, and dance performances to connect in real time with artists creating right in front of us. To be able to live and breathe in the same space as my audience means so much to me because not only do I get to share my work with them, but it’s an experience that we all create together. Performers of all kinds feed off of their audience’s energy, and that energy creates a relationship that is tangible and real and sometimes feels like magic. I feel lucky to share my art in any capacity, and I am glad that the internet makes it easy to continue sharing while the pandemic prevents us from gathering, but I miss the magic of performing live more than anything.
Megan Otto
Does your approach to writing change depending on the type of art you’re making? How do you decide whether an idea is meant to be a poem, a song, or a monologue?
Bianca Thompson
I took poetry and playwriting classes in high school and college that taught me a lot about language and structure, and I wrote more poetry and plays when I was in school. For Me Too Monologues at Awakenings, I set out to write a monologue for that specific project, and my theatre background certainly helped when I was figuring out how to tell my story. These days, however, most of my writing turns into songs! Even if my writing starts off as a poem, I often like to set it to music because expressing myself through song is therapeutic for me. In terms of my approach to songwriting, I usually end up breaking out my ukulele when I find myself sitting with feelings for too long and feel the need to do something about them. I just start to play some chords and sing how I’m feeling, and the rest of the writing process becomes a lot about making those feelings rhyme and finding poetry in them.
Megan Otto
To me, listening to music can be a very cathartic experience. Do you look for catharsis in your own music? When your art becomes emotional, how does that change your creative process?
Bianca Thompson
The art that I create is built on emotion, so my creative process is inherently intertwined with finding healing and catharsis. Songwriting usually helps me let go of emotions I feel stuck with, gain a better understanding of them, or cope with them in a healthy way. My hope is always that by articulating my feelings in a way that’s meaningful for me, other people may feel less alone in their struggles and perhaps also find catharsis and meaning in my words.
Megan Otto
When listening to your most recent Gallery of Sounds set, I was so moved by how comforting your songs were. It felt validating to sit in that virtual space and listen to you sing about what you’ve experienced. Do you think of your art as a form of validation, for yourself and/or for the audience?
Bianca Thompson
That is so great to hear and means so much to me, thank you! I strive to create art that validates other people. To me, the most impactful art is honest, personal, accessible, and interrogates stigmas and societal norms. Human beings go through unspeakable things throughout a lifetime, so I often write about deeply personal and sometimes traumatic experiences because I believe that everyone deserves to feel seen. I try to speak up for people who feel like they can’t or can’t find the words. Even if others haven’t experienced exactly what I have, I know that many people can relate and have probably felt exactly the same way, so I write with the hope that anyone, no matter where they are in their journey, could listen and feel validated in our shared humanity. It’s amazing to hear when people see themselves or find comfort in my art because not only does it mean I’ve done my job as an artist, but it also makes me feel less alone and like my voice deserves to be heard.
Megan Otto
What’s next for you? Are there any projects upcoming or that you’re working on at the moment?
Bianca Thompson
Right now I’m working on an EP which I hope to release in the next month or so! It’s called “Since We’re Here” and I wrote each of the songs in response to different aspects of the pandemic. I didn’t set out to write an album–at first I just started writing songs to cope with all the craziness of 2020. These songs ended up turning into a collection that I think many people can relate to, so I decided to work with a producer to bring the songs to life and share them in a more official capacity than I have ever shared my music. I am very nervous and excited to release this debut EP! We don’t have a release date yet but it will be available on all streaming platforms, and people can follow my music page on Instagram for updates if they like @biancatmusic. Otherwise, I’m just working, writing, going to therapy, and trying to survive while the world is on fire and the arts industry is shut down. I am super lucky to be able to continue creating art and collaborating with friends remotely, but I cannot wait until we can all connect in person again.
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Bianca Thompson (she/her) is a writer, musician, and theatre artist from Belmont, Massachusetts. She graduated from Skidmore College with B.S. in Theatre and moved to Chicago to pursue her passions in acting, writing, music, and advocacy. She was connected with Awakenings in the fall of 2019 when she participated as a writer and performer in Me Too Monologues produced by Awakenings and Connective Theatre Company. Since then, the Awakenings gallery has become one of her favorite places in the city, and she is currently the Operations Chair of the Awakenings Associate Board as well as a member of the Awakenings Art Committee. Moving forward, she hopes to continue creating and doing work that is intersectional, empowering, and healing.