She’s 19, she’s pretty and she has a talent for singing; actually, she has more than one artistic talent, but it’s probably in her capacity as a singer that most people know Thea Saliba.

Her long, flowing, black locks may have looked different when this teenager (and friends) first came to everyone’s attention – first by way of her original composition Rainbow Colours, which was chosen as the theme for the ‘Largest Human Rainbow’ record-breaking event in 2004, and then as Malta’s representative at the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, where she participated with another original composition, Make it Right.

That experience didn’t quite end in success, but it certainly didn’t dent her passion for music, which has grown in leaps and bounds since then. Proof of this is her stream of single releases, most of which have graced the Maltese airwaves and which, I suddenly notice, are displayed along with other bits ’n’ bobs related to her career so far, on a wall unit in her music room.

Facing them is an upright piano, which is where I assume she spends a lot of time.

“This room is where I study, play piano, write songs....” she explains.

It’s no secret that growing up in a particular environment often plays a determining role in a person’s life choices, but was this the case with Thea?

“I’ve had music around me as far back as I can remember. My mother plays piano and used to sing, but my father isn’t too musical... he has always supported us though.”

She says she has several other relatives with musical inclinations and talents, so it is safe to assume that music is in her genes. Thea also studied ballet, which she really loved. She frowns a bit when she explains how she recently had to give up dancing due to academic commitments.

Singing and playing the piano are definitely not destined to meet the same fate as dancing, however; she reassures me they are among her top priorities.

“Music is something I cannot set aside. Of course, my studies are important too, so I try to find a balance,” she says. That balance might prove to be a little harder as, besides her own piano studies – she is a highly qualified pianist too – she will start giving piano lessons (www.theasmusicroom.com) from this month.

This new experience is something she is looking forward to, although she is determined that, despite the added commitments, her music career will remain on track.

So what exactly prompted Thea to pursue a singing career?

“When I was younger, I was a huge Britney Spears fan: I knew all of her songs and would sing them constantly around the house. As I grew older, I got into other artists too, but I guess Beyoncé is the one I admire the most,” she explains.

This perhaps explains why the bulk of Thea’s recorded output to date has a pronounced rhythm and blues inclination.

When she began to sing, she says, she had experimented with different genres, but about five years ago, Thea recorded an R ’n’ B track called About You, and immediately decided this was her style.

She has been nominated twice (in 2008 and 2010) for Best R ’n’ B Artist at the Malta Music Awards. There has been the odd exception – like her single Set You Free, which Thea recorded with Maltese producer K1nk.

“Yes, that song is more of a club tune. It’s actually a vocal reworking we did of an instrumental track called Bahamut by Italian producer Luigi Lusini.”

Working with foreign producers isn’t a new experience for Thea.

She’s had various opportunities, including recording and performing in London, performing at the North Sea Summer Festival in Holland, as well as participating in a collaborative songwriting workshop in Germany – an experience she feels has proved to be an important stepping stone, which helped her develop her own songwriting methods and opened more doors for her as a singer.

I suspect she may have a predilection for foreign collaborators, but she disagrees: “I started out working with Maltese producers, but at one point I got the chance to work with a foreign producer, and after that more opportunities came my way. I don’t really have any particular preference; it’s more to do with circumstance and networking.”

She adds that her recent singles, Musilicious and The Rules, were both recorded with Maltese producer Elton Zarb at Freetime Studios.

Singing and performing aside, songwriting is another area Thea is quite a dab hand at. She’s written some of the singles she’s released, but they are just the tip of the iceberg.

“The last song I released which I wrote myself was On the Dancefloor, and that’s about two years ago. I’ve written many songs, but only a handful of them have been recorded; the rest are locked away in my drawer,” she says.

She explains that she is inspired by personal emotions which are not always upbeat so she sets those aside and chooses to record more cheerful songs.

I mention that even Beyoncé throws in a couple of tearjerkers on her albums. “I know, but at the moment I feel it’s more important that I establish a certain identity; once that’s accomplished, I can start to reveal other sides, different aspects to my music and hopefully even record an album.”

The mention of other sides to her music makes me realise that despite getting her first big break via the Junior Eurovision, she has yet to make an appearance at the Eurovision proper.

“My primary interest is really more inclined towards the mainstream market: songs like Musilicious and my latest single Caught You Out are intended for radio and club audiences,” Thea explains.

This doesn’t mean she’s not interested, however, as shedoes feel the Eurovision Song Contest is a good platform for artists to promote themselvesinternationally.

Unfortunately, the dates of the local contest conflict with Thea’s university exams, so she’s been forced to choose, and her studies are currently more important.

“For the time being, I think I’ve got more than enough on my plate, but there will be a time for everything in the future, I’m sure,” she says, the smile on her face confirming she has indeed got everything under control.

www.thea-music.com

bugeja.michael@gmail.com