Welcome to the next episode of our podcast series’ The Notes Between’ with Lara Eidi. Conversations exploring everything behind and about the world of songwriting! Our theme music ‘Tide is from Lara Eidi herself available here

In this episode, Lara talks to songwriterNadine Khouri

Available on Spotify Apple and all major podcast platforms

Nadine Khouri is a Beirut-born musician and songwriter currently based in Marseille. Influenced by dream-pop, film soundtracks and spoken-word, her sound has been described as a #music born of perennial outsider-status.”Discovered by legendary producer John Parish (PJ Harvey, Eels) for her singular voice, Khouri was invited to sing on his track ‘Baby’s Coming’ and subsequently recorded her debut with the producer in his hometown, Bristol.

Self-released in February 2017, ‘The Salted Air’ cemented Khouri"s one-to-watch status. It was hailed by MOJO as "A thing of dark possessed beauty” in their four-star album review, celebrated by Q (Critics Choice) and selected as one of Rough Trade’s Albums of the Year. Acclaimed music photographer Steve Gullick (Nirvana, Bonnie $Prince" Billy) shot Khouri"s press photos and cover art. He also directed the video for #You Got A Fire”. Since the album’s release, Khouri has performed in some of Europe’s most prestigious venues, including Royal Festival Hall, Botanique, Paradiso, The Berlin Palace, and has shared the stage with Low, Aldous Harding, Marissa Nadler, and many more.

Her follow-up album, ‘Another Life’ was released on French label Talitres on November 18th 2022. Recorded between London and Bristol with John Parish, the album extends the collaborative partnership that began with Khouri"s acclaimed debut. Fans of Khouri"s music so far will recognise her distinct and minimalistic approach to both vocals and music alike: the serene, dreamlike quality to her songs, suffused with otherworldly, beatific textures. Sonically, the album is set to a shifting sonic tapestry, taking in blues, fragile drum machine rhythms and sun-bleached 1970s Laurel Canyon rock. Though the record finds Khouri uncertain of her place in the world, her music has never felt more assured or precise.

Athens born to Lebanese Canadian parents, Lara Eidi is an artist that thrives on being different. As an independent artist, singer and multi- instrumentalist, she has carved a path for herself that continuously aimed at reshaping and developing her voice as a storyteller. An accomplished and reputable singer-songwriter, pianist, recording artist and jazz- folk vocalist of her own accord based in London and Athens. Her music has gained her critical acclaim as a genre bending artist (BBC Artist, 2020), described as “a singer with true gift of a voice, a kind soul, and a captivating presence.” (Jazz UK). At the heart of her being as a multi-disciplinary artist, she is sought after as a composer for vocal film scores, writes as a freelance music journalist, and is in demand as a creative workshop leader. Her music seeks to elevate and heal, and as a result, she creates genre- defying songs with a great emphasis on story telling. Her latest album ‘Sun’, her long awaited debut album, is all about pulling the threads of her folk, acoustic rock and jazz-classical upbringing to her message of hope, empowerment, and freedom. As a soloist, her recent debut performance at the infamous Royal Albert Hall, singing select pieces from Greece and Lebanon form the MedievalByzantine Traditions sees Lara engaging on a series of select and innovative performances with the SAUDHA Indian Classical Music Association. 

Lara Eidi website

Our new Women in Jazz Media Playlist is now out: Volume 31!

We publish a new playlist each month and try to share a wide range of women from across the world - new releases, legacy artists, new and established artists and also some women we think you should know about but maybe don't!  We keep it to 15 artists per playlist to give you time to discover, listen and share these incredible women. You can listen to this month's playlist on Spotify or Youtube.

Do please get in touch if you have music you would like us to include - either your own or recommendations. We are especially keen to share music from female instrumentalists and composers. If you have been in touch and you are not on a playlist yet, please don't worry, you will be on soon! We appreciate you sharing your music with us.

As always we would encourage you to buy directly from the artist where possible, and all the links are on our site here: 

Abbie Finn    Andrea Superstein   Vanisha Gould and Chris McCarthy

Hiromi   Maria Grapsa   Rosie Frater- Taylor

Camila Meza   Alice Coltrane   Lizz Wright

Marta Sanchez   Devon Gates   Nubya GarciaKaya Thomas-Dyke   Rebecca Vasmant   Carla Bley

Welcome to our latest episode of ‘In Conversation With’ featuring music from Hannah Horton. We were excited to find our podcast named as one of the Top 15 Women In Media Podcasts on the web by Feedspot! Huge thank you to them! To celebrate we have a new theme tune Surfing Thermals from our host, Hannah Horton. You can also find our podcasts at number 9 in the top 60 Best Jazz Podcasts in FeedSpot!

In this episode, host Hannah Horton welcomes rising star Mary Sho

You can listen on Spotify here

You can listen on Google podcasts here

You can listen on Apple Podcasts here

Mary Sho, a singer and songwriter hailing from South London with a worldwide sound which transcends time and space, offering a home to lovers of authentic, live sounds. Sho’s sound drops you into the late 70’s and early 80’s with tinges of contemporary soul infused with funk origins, creating sounds similar to if Lizzo met Solange met Childish Gambino met Sly and The Family Stone with Thundercat on additional bass!

Armed with live instrumentation and striking, self-directed and self styled visuals, Sho’s spacey vocals float over bass-heavy, funk-soul sounds. while highlighting the experiences of Black women and owning the power of her identity, mind, body and soul. Mary Sho has been featured on BBC London Radio multiple times and has recently performed at Brixton House (Soho Friends) ans Cafe KOKO. This year she was one of the recipients of Women in Jazz Media 2023 and has just released her debut Album titled ‘WOMAN RISING’ in the world

Mary Sho links here

Hannah Horton is a British Female Jazz Saxophonist whose music is rooted in jazz, folk and funk. She has performed with many great jazz artists including Ian Shaw, Amy Winehouse, John Etheridge, Tina May, Georgia Mancio, Polly Gibbons, Natalie Williams, Esther Bennett and Irene Serra; and at venues including Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Dean St, The 606, The Pheasantry, Love Supreme Jazz Festival, Royal Festival Hall and The Barbican. She has also toured in Europe and USA with her own and other groups. Her latest album has been going down a storm across the world. “Hannah makes the big beast of a baritone sax sound like an angel” – Ian Shaw. Hannah Horton website

Welcome to our podcast series ‘On The Bookcase’, featuring female authors from across the world, with host Fiona Ross and original music from Hannah Horton.  We were excited to find our podcasts named as one of the Top 15 Women In Media Podcasts on the web by Feedspot! Huge thank you to them! You can also find our podcasts at number 9 in the top 60 Best Jazz Podcasts in FeedSpot! 

In this episode we welcome Arlette Hovinga, to talk about her new book, How To Build Relationships in the Music Industry: A Guide for Musicians

You can listen to the episode on Spotify Apple Google and all major podcast platforms

'I’m Arlette, a freelance jazz promoter and media director from The Netherlands. Originally, I produced and programmed events in The Hague, where I lived most of my life. I’ve also toured with bands such as The Four Tops and The Temptations. In 2015, I decided to spend more time in The Netherlands than on the road and shifted my focus back to PR and marketing. Since then, I’ve worked with clients in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Poland and Russia.

When I have time, I enjoy having beers with unsuspecting jazz musicians and check out shows at my favorite local jazz bar, Dizzy in Rotterdam. Some Humble pie; I was honored to win a Netherlands Music Industry Award in January 2020, awarded at Eurosonic Noorderslag. In 2021 I joined the 7 Virtual Jazz Club competition as a juror.  I was a jazz juror for the first time in 2019, at Jazz Across Borders in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, and enjoyed it very much. I’ve also had the pleasure of being invited as a speaker at the Why DIY Music Podcast and by Gail Boyd at Alternative Venues for Jazz

Book: Available to purchase here

Arlette website here

Welcome to the next episode of our podcast series’ The Notes Between’ with Lara Eidi. Conversations exploring everything behind and about the world of songwriting! Our theme music ‘Tide is from Lara Eidi herself available here

In this episode, Lara talks to songwriterCarmen Souza Available on Spotify Apple and Anchor

Carmen Souza was born in Lisbon within a Christian family of Cape Verdeans. Very early she experienced the “Sodade” feeling of missing someone with the long absence of her father due to his work at sea. She grew up in a mixed language environment of Creole, the Cape Verde dialect her parents spoke at home, and Portuguese, always surrounded by the Cape Verdean way of life.

Theo Pascal, her producer and mentor, but also one of the greatest bass players in Portugal, discovered her talent and introduced her to the world of jazz and other contemporary music that could help it develop her register. 

Carmen Souza has become a true world music force and one of Europe's most in-demand jazz singers, as someone said: "Carmen Souza does not have to decide whether her music is Jazz or 'World Music'. Her style is just as unique as convincing and her Cape Capeverdean roots are as evident as her desire to create a new language under the label of 'World Jazz'.

Lara Eidi: An award -winning self made artist born in Athens to Lebanese Canadian parents. Multi-instrumentalist, storyteller, singer, composer and also a freelance music journalist, workshop leader and educator…the list of Lara’s skills is long, as has been her music career.

Lara discovered music at an early age – playing the piano and singing – and started performing from the age of 11 with the Greek National Opera Productions. She earned a Masters in Jazz Voice Studies with distinction from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and completed a Degree in English Literature at the University of St Andrews. She has performed in some of the most renowned London venues – from St Martins in the Field to the Barbican, as well as Pizza Express Dean Street and the London Jazz Festival, Beirut International Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to name but a few – but also internationally, from her hometown of Athens to the Beirut International Festival. On stage, Lara doesn’t only sing but also plays the piano, the guitar and leads entire bands. Whilst collaborating with some of London’s acclaimed musicians across the jazz and folk scenes, she has self-released two EPs (‘Little People‘ and ‘Tell It Like It Is’) and, during the pandemic, launched and founded her own teaching platform, “Phonica Music Coaching”, through which she shares the important message of healing through music. This is also the essence of her music. All this wealth of experience converges into her album ‘Sun’, which incorporates Lara’s many talents as composer, musicians, singer and arranger, through stories of hope and empowerment.

The liner notes to ‘Sun’ were written by the Award winning jazz artist, writer, Recording Academy Voting member and our very own Women In Jazz Media Chief Fiona Ross. She writes: ”Music is an omnipotent tool. It has the potential to strengthen and empower. To bring light where there is dark. To calm the mind and soothe the soul. But these almost magical moments of connectivity can only be realised if placed in the right hands. Lara Eidi. Is those hands”.’ “Lara Eidi is an artist that thrives on being different, with a voice that’s clearly a gift “( Sandy Brown Jazz)

She’s collaborated with some of London’s finest musicians across the jazz and folk scenes, often switching roles between standing upstage as a versatile and engaging singer, to leading an entire band whilst sitting at the piano and singing.   Recently supported by Hawkwood College and the Francis W Reckitt Arts Trust, and about to release her biggest album to date ‘ Sun’, Lara’s talents and gifts saw her launching her own podcast series focused on songwriting with special guests- “The Notes Between” is supported by Women in Jazz Media.  This came shortly after she took up freelance music journalism during the pandemic, becoming a writer for Women in Jazz Media, London Jazz News, BackseatMafia .  Finally, her passion for music as a life choice has led her to become an in-demand educator, offering workshops at leading music institutions as well as community spaces in Europe. As if that wasn’t enough she launched and founded her own teaching platform “ Phonica Music Coaching “ during the pandemic, leading music sessions across the globe to people who needed an alternative method of healing; after all, it was music that led Lara to engage time and time again, and at the heart of her creativity is a need to make her personal experiences relatable to all, through her music.

Now residing between Athens and London, and a new album underway, “Sun” has already gained critical global acclaim from award winning journalists and she was just nominated for songwriter of the year by the renowned Orpheus Global Music Awards.

Lara Eidi website

Our new Women in Jazz Media Playlist is now out: Volume 30. We publish a new playlist each month and try to share a wide range of women from across the world - new releases, legacy artists, new and established artists and also some women we think you should know about but maybe don't!  We keep it to 15 artists per playlist to give you time to discover, listen and share these incredible women.

Do please get in touch if you have music you would like us to include - either your own or recommendations. We are especially keen to share music from female instrumentalists and composers.

Available on Spotify here

Available on You Tube here

As always we would encourage you to buy directly from the artist where possible, and all the links are on our site here:

Amy Gadiaga    Germana Stella La Sorsa   Mary Sho 

Kristina Barta   Jocelyn Gould    Jennifer Wharton 

Sarah Heneghan    Nicole Rampersaud   Solidaridad Tango 

Akua Dixon   Rebecca Poole   Jutta Hipp   Danae Olano

Harper Trio  Betty Bryant