Tomasina Abate

Events by Eventful
"THE LIGHT AT THE END OF LOVE"
-DIRECTED BY KEVIN PIETILA
Stratospheric vocals, a mesmerizing stage presence and an indomitable spirit – Tomasina is a musical force of nature. As the leader singer with two formidable rock bands, she met audiences head on with resounding electricity. Now, revealing herself as a solo artist, she is navigating toward new destinations.
Her music contrasts an ever-evolving psyche with the vivid emotional palette that is a hallmark of Tomasina’s artistry. But before venturing outward, she first went inside herself for inspiration. “I want to remain as myself and be real,” she says. “There is so much fraud and smoke and mirrors. I’m not about sadness nor am I only about fun and games. To me it’s a bigger deal. I’m about empowerment. I was born into insecurity and it’s taken me a long time to fix it -- but during this process I’ve noted how much it also affects other people.”
“Out There,” one of Tomasina’s new songs, focuses on the theme of loneliness, a trait she believes many share. “We still can’t really connect or be ourselves because we are still so afraid of each other,” she says. “We have these walls.” Referenced in “Ode to the Beast” is the concept that fear is an illusion. “The line I like the most in it is ‘...to make room for love, we welcome no fear here.” Love and fear cannot co-exist. If we put love where fear is maybe this would be a good way to get rid of fear itself.”
Seeing Tomasina in the spotlight, it might be difficult to grasp that she has ever known fear on any level. A charismatic performer of the first order, her stage persona unites superstar strengths to a genuine audience connection. The Long Beach, California native has utilized talent as her passport to take her to stages from Tokyo to Monte Carlo; Disneyland to the Vegas Strip. As one half of the band she formed with her brother, Binga & Gogo, she played trendy Hollywood clubs and massive outdoor festivals. Her next project, fronting the band Sandbox took her even further into the realm of high-octane rock.
Self-determination is a major theme in Tomasina’s solo career. Not content with simply singing others’ songs, she immersed herself in college level studies where she wrote for solo bassoon and composed a score for chamber orchestra. While her songwriting has benefited immeasurably, as she has also embraced the technology of ProTools, creating loops and tracks to fit the concepts of her songs and provide modern electronic soundscapes.
Far beyond the sounds of her words and music is the sense that Tomasina has become much more comfortable with who she is. “Initially, I was thinking that Mr. Talent Scout would leave a note on my door that he had been looking for me,” she reveals. “Only over time did I realize that I needed to stop dreaming and actually make it happen myself. A dream is glamorous, but a dream is always unreachable. I’m giving it all that I’ve got.”