I listened to Billie Holiday a lot in order to learn to sing. She remains one of the extraordinary jazz singers. But my intent is to become my own voice, to be able to interpret these songs in my own way.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I had no desire to become a singer until I heard Billie Holiday. The first time I heard her on a record, it was a revelation. She sounded like a woman singing about herself.
I've tried to learn as much as I can about the great jazz singers to understand what makes them important, vital artists, but there is always something more to learn.
When I heard Billie Holiday's voice, Nina Simone's and Ella Fitzgerald's - there was something about their voices to me that was such a different texture than what I was used to listening to at the time. Hearing those jazz voices were so different, and I think I just gravitated toward it.
I really like Billie Holiday's husky voice, and I'd definitely like to find out more about her.
I've often cringed when I heard myself described as a jazz singer. I've always thought of myself as a jazz vocalist.
I'm always looking for ways to develop as an artist, especially as a jazz artist-to find different ways of testing my voice.
I know I'm not a great singer. But I love to sing and I like to use my voice in different ways.
When Billie Holiday sings a song, I hear the song, but I always hear her and her truth.
So don't think in reality I am a singer, I think I am a human being that has sung always all her life, and has learned a little to sing, and has found herself in the middle of a career.
I'm not a jazz singer.