I believe music can have a pretty powerful effect on people. For myself it has in the past represented a helping hand through bad times, a guiding hand into good times and a friendly companion through life. I never intended to become a jazz singer at all, but the more I dug into the tradition, the songbook and the lyrics, the more I started to discover elements that intrigued me. 

What I truly like about jazz is the simplicity of it. That may seem like a contradiction in the truest sense of the word since jazz is often described and experienced as a very complex and refined artform; an elitist music. However, to me, the beauty of the music comes from the fact that when the melody is strong and complimented by the right set of words and harmony, you can arrange it for a 100 person orchestra OR strip it down do the simplest setting of a duet and still the music can sound beautiful. It’s essence is so strong that it can handle different kinds of arrangements, settings, instrumentations and interpretations without losing it’s beauty. 

Music does not always have to “sound jazzy” in order to have the essence and elements of jazz. That also provides freedom for one to write the music that truly represents oneself - which is something that inspires me to compose. With my music I want to create a warm and peaceful atmosphere, share personal stories through lyrics and share the moment with a listening audience. 

Thanks for reading!