Livestream for March 8th: http://198.27.68.65:8112/stream
“A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” - proverb
Finding words to describe Noma is a bit like trying to capture lightning in a bottle. Just when you think you have a handle on her aesthetic - how she approaches and plays songs - she’ll whip a tune out of her archives and nail you to the wall with it. Don’t believe me? Listen to this acoustic performance of “Love and Texaco.”
A lovely, touching ballad full of love, longing, and loss, right? If this was the only song you’d heard her perform, what would you say her genre or style was? Soft rock, folk? Now listen to this:
We’re talking some serious rocking here.
To understand what’s going on, it helps to know a bit about Noma’s background. A quiet and introverted child, she was making music from a very early age. Her first instruments were the ukele and the piano at the age of four. “We didn't have a piano so I practiced on a paper piano laid out on the table. I trained my ear silently! This was also how I learned to read music.”
The next step in her musical evolution was the violin, which she began playing in public school as part of the free orchestral program. “I had two Italian private teachers from that program. I was the lucky one who was pulled out of classes for private lessons in school. Within a year, when I was in third grade, I was playing with the Auburn University Symphony orchestra. Eventually, when I was 20, I decided the violin was not my instrument.”
In addition to her instrumental studies, Noma was involved in original theatrical plays in which she sang, danced, and wrote original music. And just for fun, she spent some time marionette puppeteer. However, when push came to shove, she chose voice as her instrument of choice and finally began taking singing seriously around the age of 16.
Pursuing a Career in Music
“I had many hopes, dreams, and squandered opportunities as a youngster in both the music business and the music entertainment business, which are two very different industries.” As a musician, she played in classical symphonies and was a “working girl” in the music entertainment business where she spent many years working as a cover artist to keep food on the table. “At this point in my life, the enjoyment I get from playing with others and seeing audiences respond is the goal. I plan to keep singing and playing and taking advantage of any opportunities that come my way. Hey, who knows, I may even create some opportunities of my own.”
One final thing about Noma that can only be fully appreciated by hearing her perform is the playful exuberance she brings to her work. I have never attended one of Noma’s shows that I haven’t laughed or groaned at a corny joke. Noma is all about the fun of performing. Even when she’s dealing with allergies or a family crisis, it’s music that gets her through. That’s also probably why she talks about the changes she’d like to see in the world and for women with hopeful enthusiasm. “There have been so many great songs built around the changes that life brings. From love to forgiveness, I mean isn't that what life is?”
To listen to more of Noma’s music, visit her on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/nomafalta
She can also be found on Facebook, Flickr, and her website, which she freely admitss she is bad about updating.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomafalta
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nomafalta/
Website: www.nomafalta.com
P.S. If you would like to make a donation to cover the costs of hosting the event and paying these amazing musicians, you can do so here: https://paypal.me/BraidedLives?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US
Braided Lives is my project and Joanne is my given name :-)
If you are interested in being a sponsor of the event, with your name mentioned and logo displayed, please email me at JenaBall@CritterKin.com
Thank you!
Jenaia
You did it, Jena! A brilliant display of talent---yours and the artists! Congratulations on your International Woman's Day ALL-DAY CONCERT!!!