This International Women’s Day, The Kallang turns the spotlight on the women shaping our world across Sports, Entertainment, Community and Lifestyle.
The second part of the series features Jill-Marie Thomas, a self-taught singer-songwriter who makes music that she hopes will resonate across generations.
For Jill-Marie, the journey from picking up her first guitar while in her school’s military band at 14 to winning national talent competition One Moment of Glory in 2010 and releasing her debut single ‘Just a Little Time’ last year has been shaped by one constant: the unwavering support of her mother.
Photo Credit: Jill-Marie Thomas
A Mother’s Belief, A Daughter’s Dream
“My mom always knew that I enjoyed music and making music,” the 43-year-old said.
“When I wrote my first song, my mom sat with me and learned while I sang it to her. My whole journey has been with my mom by my side.”
She went on to take part in songwriting competitions in school, finishing second in a university-wide contest.
“It was a really happy moment for me because it was the first time I’d played for strangers in a big hall. It was very scary, but people actually came up to me afterwards and said they really liked my music. That was when I started to see how my music could reach out to people.”
Photo Credit: Jill-Marie Thomas
Her big break came in 2010 when she won One Moment of Glory, having promised to share half of the prize money with her mother if she emerged victorious.
The win was especially sweet, given that she had passed up the chance to compete in the inaugural season of Singapore Idol in 2004 because her mother was “worried”.
“After One Moment of Glory, my mother became more open to it. She’s always been supportive of me and my music, but I think she was just worried. Parents want you to be able to live your life and support yourself. She knew the struggles I had when I was younger and how rejected I sometimes felt, so I think she was just concerned for me.”
Photo Credit: Jill-Marie Thomas
“It’s very heartening now to see how much the local music scene, and the arts and culture scene in general, has grown, and how people are more accepting of and excited to hear local music.”
Finding Her Voice Through Adversity
But the road to becoming comfortable in her own skin as a singer-songwriter was far from smooth sailing.
“Growing up, I had trouble fitting in. At one point, I was quite overweight and would get made fun of.”
Music became her escape as she picked up the guitar and began writing songs.
“I enjoy storytelling. Talking to people, learning about them, and also sharing my own experiences through songwriting.”
Photo Credit: Jill-Marie Thomas
“But my journey has always had a lot of ups and downs because when I first started, the local music scene wasn’t as thriving as it is now. There wasn’t much room for original songwriting, especially for a local musician like myself who wasn’t known, so it was very difficult.”
After winning One Moment of Glory, Jill-Marie signed with Fly Entertainment and connected with fellow musicians in the industry, but chose not to pursue music full-time, performing on the side while holding a day job.
While working in the marketing industry, she also had opportunities to perform at company events and parties, including ones for the Brazilian and Angolan embassies, as well as overseas in cities such as Houston and Mexico.
That was enough to keep the fire alive.
“Despite working a full-time job, I never stopped performing.”
But she admits that song-writing did “take a backseat”.
A Leap of Faith — and Starting Again
“No doubt the art scene was there, but it’s not as good as it is now. If I were in my twenties now, I would feel so encouraged to showcase my original music because there are more platforms to do so. Whenever I meet young musicians, I always tell them it’s the perfect time… Things always change, and we become more progressive.”
She dabbled as a show presenter in the zoo and working at sports network ESPN, before going into the corporate world for more than 10 years. She finally took the big leap to becoming a full-time musician when she quit her corporate job in 2019, with her mother’s blessings.
“That was the pivotal moment when my mother told me to go forth and do what I want. But then Covid-19 hit, and I lost everything again. It’s interesting to see how all these moments have contributed to my approach to writing music over the years.
Photo Credit: Jill-Marie Thomas
#WorldConnected: A Historic Anthem Moment
In 2022, Jill-Marie reached another milestone on the global stage. She performed the official anthem for the inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championships held in Birmingham alongside the Commonwealth Games.
Titled ‘#worldconnected Together’, the anthem was dedicated to esports athletes and gamers worldwide, celebrating the Global Esports Federation’s vision of unity through gaming. While UB40 performed the anthem for the main sporting Games, Jill-Marie became the voice of the first-ever Commonwealth Esports Forum and Championships.
She performed the song live at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham in August 2022 — a historic moment marking esports’ integration into the Commonwealth movement.
Writing Through Grief, Singing Through Healing
Last year, she released her first single ‘Just a Little Time’, as a tribute to her grandparents after they passed away.
“The songs that come out of my experiences, what my family and I have gone through, and even trying something totally new by becoming a live streamer, streaming games and music after struggling for a while. In the end, it really encouraged me to keep writing.”
“I was really close to them, and it was something I’d been working on. I had stepped away from producing music for a year or two before this, but the inspiration came to me and I knew I needed to write this song for them.”
Photo Credit: Jill-Marie Thomas
The release was a hit, and her “heart was very full” from the words of support she received.
“I got a lot of messages on social media about how the song touched their hearts and helped them to deal with their grief and move on.”
“It solidified the choice to make songwriting my career because I always wanted to write songs that people can relate to.”
“Publishing a song was something I wanted to do all my life, but it was an even better feeling when people reached out to tell me how the song helped them.”
Photo Credit: Jill-Marie Thomas
Writing Through Grief, Singing Through Healing
And through all the ups and downs, Jill-Marie credits her mother for being “a big pillar” of support.
“She’s very honest and will tell me when something is good or where I can improve. She’s always been there and very supportive. Even when things were said about me that were heartbreaking, she was always there to encourage me.
Photo Credit: Jill-Marie Thomas
“It’s always been just the two of us, and she worked really hard to get me my instruments. When I was younger, I didn’t realise how much she did for me, like working three jobs.”
“The relationship that we have has made it easier for me to realise my passion for music and actually make some of my dreams come true.
Taking inspiration from the “strong, independent” figure that is her mother, Jill-Marie hopes to share a message of perseverance with others.
“As a woman in this industry and at my age, I think the most important takeaway for me is that anything is possible, no matter how young or how old you are. And never, ever think it’s too late.”
An International Women’s Day Tribute to Strength Across Generations
As we mark International Women’s Day, Jill-Marie’s journey is a reminder that behind many women carving their own paths is another woman who believed first, encouraged louder, and stood firm through every setback.
Her story is not just about music, milestones or momentum — it is about intergenerational strength, quiet sacrifice, and the courage to begin again, no matter the season of life.
Through this International Women’s Day series, The Kallang celebrates women like Jill-Marie Thomas — and the mothers, mentors and role models who shape them — across Sports, Entertainment, Community and Lifestyle. Each story is a testament to resilience, possibility and the power of lifting one another higher.
Stay tuned as we continue to spotlight more women who are breaking boundaries, pursuing purpose, and inspiring the next generation to believe that their dreams are always worth chasing.
