Todays News

Marshalltown native shares musical journey

AMES -- Music is embedded into the fabric of who Tabbi Thompson is as a person.

Born and raised in Marshalltown, now living in Ames, Thompson started singing at age 5, performing the national anthem locally, at Drake University and at I-Cubs games.

"I always really enjoyed being on a stage, using my voice," she said. "For a while, I didn't sing, then in high school -- I went to East Marshall -- I got active in choir and musicals. It's just something that's always lived in me."

Thompson grew up listening to 80s jams with her mom and rock 'n' roll tunes with her dad. She's written around 20 songs.

"A lot of them were ideas that started as short poems," she explained. "The last three years I've been doing whole songs. I don't want to put myself in a box, but I do like 'story tell' writing. A lot of my music is storytelling and fairy tale-esque. I'm a big fan of Florence and the Machine. I think she just has beautiful lyrics. I also like Elton John and Simon and Garfunkel."

Thompson sings at gigs around Ames as part of a trio called The Mourning Belles, which also consists of Ella Voloshen and June Walker.

Thompson is not only a musician, but also co-owns a business and is a newly certified yoga instructor.

"I have a very balanced life, which is something I didn't always have," she added.

The idea for the name of the group came from Morning Bell Coffee Roasters, located at 111 Main St. in Ames.

"There are six of us that own it. We're the first workers' cooperative in Iowa, (effective Jan. 1, 2022)," she explained. "It's been such a joy. I've always loved working in coffee."

Previously, she was employed in a coffee shop in Denver, Colo., and at an eatery located within the Orpheum Theater.

She commuted back and forth from Marshalltown to Ames before she and her partner Alex bought a home in Ames in March 2022.

Thompson spends four days a week working in the coffee shop, and just this summer, has opened her own yoga space in the back of the building: Taboo Yoga Studio, which is a play on words of her first name.

"It was hard work. I did it in about a month and a half, and it was 200 hours of training," she said.

Thompson said yoga has helped her cope with life's ups and downs.

"Yoga isn't a fix all -- it takes much more than that to maintain a healthy life, whether it's through therapy, meditation, medication, nutrition or whatever that means for you. I do believe yoga can help bring a certain peace and space to your life," she said.

Thompson has recorded some songs but has yet to release them. Videos of her performing are viewable on social media. Her original song "Rabbit" can be accessed via YouTube.

She becomes totally engrossed in the songwriting process.

"I call it my pink room. I have a little blush pink room with my computer and a table. I normally write a song in one sitting. I struggle coming back to songs and finishing them, so if I have an idea and have some lyrics, I like to sit down and take a few hours to put the song together," she explained.

Thompson said she's happy not to put pressure on herself with a defined music career. Eventually, she'd like to release an EP of five or six songs that are meaningful to her.

"I've learned over the years that instead of working from a place of fear and anxiety, to really stay mindful and present in my day-to-day life. That has helped me tremendously," she said. Learn more about her music at: www.instagram.com/mourningbelles.