Long before Timoria Cunningham stood behind a microphone, she stood on stage at 5 years old, barely audible, whispering at her first talent show. The song was from a Tyler Perry movie. The performance was quiet. The dream, however, never faded.
Now, nearly two decades later, the Indianapolis-based singer-songwriter prepares for one of her most visible performances yet. On April 3, Cunningham — who performs simply as Timoria — takes the stage at the Starbucks patio on North Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis as part of the SWISH Art Festival, the citywide arts activation coinciding with the NCAA Men’s Final Four. Her set runs from noon to 1 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
But Cunningham’s path to that stage is anything but ordinary. She is a former journalist who spent years telling other people’s stories before deciding it was time to tell her own.
Q: Music has been with you since childhood. What do you remember about that first talent show?
Timoria: “I remember being in the back of my mom’s car listening to the radio, listening to Alicia Keys and old school R&B artists. I just knew at a very young age that I loved music. I did my very first talent show when I was around 5 years old. I was super shy back then. We got the video somewhere, and I was barely singing, like I was whispering on stage. Nobody really heard me for real. But I knew that I loved this thing.”
Q: You stepped away from music for a while. What brought you back?
Timoria: “I went to Ball State — Chirp Chirp — studied journalism and telecommunications. I kind of just stopped. I tried out for some acapella groups and never got in. I was a little discouraged. Junior year, there was a pageant, and I did it solely because I wanted to sing. I sang ‘Hero’ by Mariah Carey. I prepared for months. When I actually performed it, I did very well. It reminded me of why I love to sing. That was 2021.”
Q: You became an award-winning journalist before fully stepping into music. Walk me through that chapter.
Timoria: “After I graduated in 2022, I landed a job with the Indianapolis Recorder as a staff writer. That was a fundamental start and a pivotal moment in my career. I was hungry, dedicated. Being able to write about a variety of topics helped me launch my career. After that, I did some freelance work for Midtown Indy, writing about arts and culture. Then I landed a public broadcasting job as a labor and employment reporter. That challenged me to do statewide reporting. Being a journalist helped my songwriting. It made my pen sharper. It challenged me to stretch myself in ways I never thought I could reach.”
Q: Your debut single, ‘Let Go,’ dropped in July 2025. What’s the story behind that song and its release?
Timoria: “I always start with a beat as inspiration. I came to the studio with the song about 80% done. The opening line is a question: ‘Now and then I wonder, was it really worth my time?’ That came from reflecting on past situations, wondering how I ended up allowing people to treat me a certain way. The chorus is me being vulnerable — ‘I can’t let you go, no matter how hard I try’—just being open about caring for someone even when you probably shouldn’t. In the studio, I used a technique called scatting to find melodies. I asked myself questions as I learned in journalism: ‘What story are you trying to tell?'”
Q: You’ve said you used to be shy about your voice. What would you tell your 5-year-old self now?
Timoria: “I would tell her to never stop singing, never stop believing in yourself. Don’t get consumed with how people view your voice. God gave you a gift for a reason. You don’t have to change or manipulate anything to fit what society deems acceptable. Somebody will always not like your sound, but it’s up to you to decide if you love it. Being different and standing out is why God has you here—to spread His love and be who He called you to be. Don’t shapeshift. Don’t shrink for nobody.”
Q: You’re performing during Final Four weekend as part of SWISH. What can people expect?
Timoria: “I will be performing an hour’s worth of original music on the Starbucks patio on North Meridian Street, April 3 from noon to 1 p.m. I have one song out, but I have a whole vault of songs waiting to be performed. I’m going to be super candid and open with my audience. We’re going to be talking about Jesus, about how hard it is to live life right now. Spreading love, spreading truth, being open and honest. I’m just super excited for everybody to hear the different songs I’ve been working on.”
Q: Where can people find your music and follow you?
Timoria: “My debut single ‘Let Go’ is available on all streaming platforms—Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, everywhere. You can follow me on Instagram and TikTok.’ That’s where I’ll be posting more content.”
For those attending Final Four weekend festivities, Timoria’s set offers a moment to experience a different kind of artistry—one shaped by years of listening to others and, finally, finding the courage to be heard.
Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
