Soul Sistah

Some of my earliest childhood memories are of singing and music. I especially remember singing with my mother at night before bed. We sang folk songs, ballads, and often, I made up my own songs. But I truly began my singing career performing classical music. So it was both thrilling and challenging once I hit university, to venture into the worlds of jazz, soul, funk, and finally, the blues, learning to adapt my voice to the nuances of each genre. Performing standards at various jazz bars and festivals around the world has been a great privilege.

However, I longed to sing the music I felt and heard in my head - to express music in my own words and on my own terms. Initial lack of confidence and know-how, as well as the pressing schedule of university research all colluded to keep me from this burning desire. But, after years of singing my endlessly growing list of original songs in the shower, with my neighbours as the only audience, I finally made the little step/giant leap of performing them with my own band - in public. The happy event took place at a wonderfully cosy bar in Nagahoribashi, Osaka, called Peña, on April 26th, 2007.

I was surrounded by great friends, many of them from my gym (Konami), and by stellar musicians - Susumu Muraji (steelpan), Larry Ransome (drums), Tetsuro Aratama (bass) and Shinsuke Shimatani (guitar). Dreams do come true.

Filed under: Past Gigs（今までのライブ） by soulsistah