There are artistes who go to great lengths to make magic happen with their music. When it comes to singer-songwriter, podcaster, doodler and composer Norma Jean, however, all she needs to do is sing.
Playing with a jazz quartet this weekend at Phoenix Marketcity, the American artiste brings a unique, jazzy voice with textured jazz standards to make ‘musical moments’ with Bengaluru’s music lovers. Teaming up with Norma will be a world fusion ensemble featuring Jagadeesh MR on guitars, Joshua Lance on bass and Rohit PS on drums. When she’s not doing her usual jazz repertoire, she writes original songs about love and the beauty of life, while currently residing in Bali.
Deeply in love with India, Norma describes her experience here as “incredible! The country is colourful with so many traditions and flavours. Every place has its own unique encounter. It’s unlike anywhere else in the world.” Equally in awe of Indian music, she says: “I love everything from bhangra to traditional songs and Bollywood. It’s amazing to see people use their voice to make melodies. Traditions are still kept alive here today and that is highly commendable.”
Sharing her thoughts on her setlist, Norma says: “I’m performing jazz that can be enjoyed. I am really lucky to get to play along with such amazing talent. It’s really nice to also bring a little bit of my tradition to Bangalore, where there is already a thriving music scene. It’s a little smaller than Mumbai but possibly has the most number of jazz clubs and venues supporting the jazz scene.”
She continues on her musical expression: “I am bringing my own grasp of the emotions behind each song. I’ve been singing professionally for a long time. When you play long enough with other people, it becomes a conversation. Everyone brings their own experience and expression to the table. So, for me, it’s really about listening to what people have to say and adding to the conversation.”
The musical journey for the American is interesting . “I moved to Bali when I was 25 and, inspired by the island, I recorded an album of original songs that I wrote. My passion grew from there. Even before I played my first gig, I had launched my album – the opposite of most artistes. My voice is very jazzy and is great fun to play along with. I bring the most pure form of vocal jazz expression to stage which has developed from a love of sound and singing. I play original music at festivals and jazz standards when I travel with bands abroad.”
Norma adds that the best part of her journey is creating magical, musical moments that are beautiful. “It wasn’t there before you created it. Every time we play, it sounds different. The energy that people I play with bring is what makes it interesting. I’ve been singing for six years now and I feel blessed to be able to share my gift with people.
But the artiste doesn’t just stop with music. “Apart from two albums of original songs, I create a lot of different kinds of art. I have an original Instagram comic edition which I have been doing every day for three years now. I do a lot of creative projects, including a podcast. For me it’s about bringing a joy through sound and expression that people can connect with in my creation.
The path she’s on, Norma hopes, “will take me wherever I am supposed to go. It’s about showing up and being in the moment. We are all caught about in achieving success. As a musician or anyone in the arts, the pressure can sometimes kills what’s happening in the moment. I sing and dance but it could end tomorrow or 40 years from now. The only thing that exists is the moment that I am in right now. When I sing with an amazing band, I only think about how creative I can be and showing up in the moment.” She adds: “A lot of my creative work is about empowering people to embrace their creative process and not put pressure on themselves. I do a lot of workshops, in fact two in Bangalore in this matter, on women and cartoons. A lot of times people put pressure on themselves. It’s not kind to the condition that we need to create.”
Norma presents two workshops – one on ‘Reflective Journaling for Women’ on June 30 and another on ‘Oodles of Doodles’ on July 1, , 10.30 am to 12.30 pm, at Lahe Lahe, Indiranagar. Tickets on Eventshigh. Before that, she performs live as a jazz quartet at Courtyard, Phoenix Marketcity, Whitefield, on June 30, 5 pm onwards. Entry free. Call 9886055042.
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