Thea Austin fits many categories – sultry diva powerful vocalist, producer, lyricist, stunning beauty, international performer. She has established a foothold in the global music community and will use it as a foundation for a brilliant and successful solo career. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and has been fronting bands since she was in her early teens.
Her travels led her to Penny Ford , the former lead singer of SNAP!, who was working on a solo project. Thea was whisked to Germany to begin work on SNAP’s album The Madman’s Return together with the rapper Turbo B. She not only sang, but co-authored many of the cuts. Once the album was complete and the single released, a video was shot and a European tour planned.
In 1992 Thea and SNAP! had the distinct honour and privilege of opening for the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson, at his concert in Bucharest, Rumania, during his Dangerous tour.
As the lead singer of SNAP! she took the world by storm. The first single, Colour Of Love soared into the top 10 across Europe and re-established SNAP! as a force with which to be reckoned. Thea played venues from Italy to Germany, Turkey to the Red Sea. The second single Rhythm Is A Dancer was even more successful, taking a firm grasp on the #1 position on numerous Billboard charts, including the Euro-chart, Hits of the UK charts and in Germany, Italy and other nations with the video landing at MTV Europe #1. She left SNAP!in 1993, being replaced by Niki Harris.
1999 found Thea as the voice behind Soulsearcher‘s massive international hit I Can’t Get Enough which still gets more than its fair share of radio play. Her voice was featured on Heart Attack‘s single Eye Of The Tiger. She also did background vocals on Engelbert Humperdinck‘s album The Dance Album. Overall, she’s garnered 1 platinum, 5 gold albums (including 1985’s Friends) and five Grammy Awards. Perhaps one of the most memorable events in Thea’s career was performing with Soul Searcher at Prince Charles’ Prince’s Trust’s Party in the Park in London in 1999. Packing Hyde Park for the benefit were more than 120,000 people who came to see performances from some of pop music’s biggest stars.
In the US she recorded tracks under the name Pusaka featuring Thea Austin in 2001. The song I’m Addicted To You (a.k.a. You’re The Worst Thing For Me) was written by Thea, Chris Cox and DJ Irene, and then remixed by Chris Cox & DJ Irene. It had been heralded as THE anthem for the summer 2001, and was rushed out as a remix single in May by Tommy Boy Records. DMA Magazine gave this new song 5 Stars, and it turned out to be a smash hit with DJ’s. It zoomed to the top of the Billboard dance charts, and became #1. It could be heard on radio, and on the hit TV shows Queer As Folk, and Sex in the City.