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Who were your early influences, and how did you hear them?
When I was around four years old or something I was truly over the hills with Mahalia Jackson and
Mavis Staples. Their songs were my childhood

lullabies. When I got older I adored listening
PHOTO BY IREK GRAFF
to those wonderful life story tellers from the
30s and the 40s, all those work—songs, gospel
tunes. This kind of blues (not only 8 or 12 bars)
taught me one thing—freedom in music and in
life in general. Not to confine all I want to say

to one form, to only a hit song pattern. The old
Blues taught me freedom. Yes, definitely.

When did you start recording and how did
that come about?
I recorded songs with the first blues band I

was invited to sing in, and that was a nice and
funny experience at the same time. Especially
that the way I sang was simply funny. After
some time there was another CD, this time
acoustic blues/ country blues recordings with
the Terraplane band that I formed with my

colleagues. We were a trio with acoustic
guitar, harmonica and my voice. Thank you for that question, ‘cause I almost forgot about that project!
That was an awesome experience ’cause I discovered my other voice at that time. Then there was
another CD with a band formed together with my friend and that was a sort of beginning of my solo
career actually. I am talking about those three CDs because somehow all those recordings happened

at one point in time, I would say. Actually some time ago there was a reissue of one of the CDs I
mentioned, it is called ‘Make My Spirit Fly’. My first full album was ‘Blues Travelling’ though. And I
recorded it with all music friends I travelled with at that time. Such a wonderful and good experience,
and wonderful memories.

You also sing gospel and African music—can you talk about those, please?
Oh, yes I can. If you got like hours to listen to it ! Ha ha ha. Ok, I’ll try to be concise: I simply adore

singing gospel, the old style songs. I always get goose—bumps while singing it, I just fly! Every time
I am invited to do so, I am more than happy. There is something in these piano licks, these voices, and
lyrics that moves my very soul. And African music is almost the same feeling of freedom, love and
passion for me. Well, I’ve always sung what I wanted, what I was passionate about and what I could
relate to. For me, music is the most powerful language in the world. It gives me strength, joy, takes

my heart and soul to the place where I belong. And gospel is one of these kinds of tune that touches
my soul deeply. My heart always speeds up while I am talking about the music, singing, the art in
general.

And can you talk about some of the notable people you have worked with?
Well, I worked with so many wonderful musicians, writers, creators, promoters that it is really
difficult for me to name a few. And I have to say that I am always lucky to meet the right people at

the right time in my life.