Mothers in Jazz: Jo Harrop

Jo Harrop is a County Durham-born vocalist who first cut her teeth as a session singer. Since those early musical experiences, she has performed at Royal Albert Hall and Ronnie Scott’s, and in 2023 she won “Jazz Album of the Year” at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards for  ‘When Winter Turns To Spring’. The Guardian has described her music as “sheer perfection” while BBC 6 Music’s Iggy Pop fell in love with her voice, calling her “a very fine jazz singer.” Jo lives in London with her two boys, aged nine and eleven.

UKJazz News: What is the best advice you received about balancing/juggling motherhood and career?

Jo Harrop: I didn’t receive any advice at the time at all other than perhaps it was time to change career path & do something more suited to revolving around family life.

I strongly believe, from seeing other artistic friends with children, that kids are great at adapting and enjoy being around creative energy, so I had an underlying confidence that I could make things work as I went along and cross each hurdle as it came up.

I think children are inspired by their parents, and so to give up something that means so much to us would go against that – I want to teach my kids to have the courage to follow their dreams and happiness.

I started my jazz singing path after the boys were born and my youngest was around 1.5/2 years although I had done a couple of wedding functions between having my second baby. (I started as a function band singer/ backing vocals & singer songwriter circuit and was on a function only a week before my first born was due).

I actually did a lot of volunteering for animal welfare charities while the kids were tiny as I could do lots locally and from home, and also was going to interviews for cleaning positions, baby singing groups and ended up in a boutique for a while until I had the chance to step in for a sick singer one day and i slowly began to get back into music, jazz & when I got the bug and my confidence back I just went for it and firmly believed that I could make it work with the boys as we had never had a strict routine so they weren’t super phased when I started getting home at all hours and working weekends.

UKJN: What information or advice do you wish you’d received but didn’t (and had to learn through trial and error or on the go)?

JH: I think that perhaps being more organised with time and money might have been helpful in the long run, we had no routine really and there are pros and cons to that – but in this job that can be almost impossible to have routine, nothing is consistent.

I loved reading the interview with Sheila Jordan and her daughter, when she confirmed how I had felt about not letting go of your passion. I wish I had seen that sooner as I do carry about a lot of guilt for wanting to be out singing and touring so much when I have the family.

UKJN: Your top tip(s) for other mothers in jazz:

JH: Finding a balance. Sleep when you can! Get a little network around who can support you if you don’t have immediate family nearby as I didn’t.

I also had to learn to be relaxed about leaving the children with babysitters and not worrying when I went out to work. That can be hard when they are very small. Get recommendations from friends & build a local circle of trusted people around you.

Chances are you’ll be on a different time zone than a lot of other parents at the school which can be tricky – but, it can work in your favour but you can trade child care help with free guest list to your gigs! Yay! Believe that you are showing them that it’s good to have a passion and to work hard at it. But make sure that when you are home be present & read, play games and sports and laugh. Try to have a point that you do switch off from the practice and hustle.

It is hard to turn gigs away and tempting to just take all of them, but maybe prioritise certain gigs over others so that you get the odd Sunday off and have a family day together without thinking about work. Plan a holiday together and don’t cancel…Now – I have to go take my own advice!! Ha!

UKJN: Baby/child gear tips for travel/touring/gigging:

JH: Ergobaby carriers are great! Good for the heavy cherubs to carry about the city. Travel light. Babies don’t need all the stuff that you end up buying … Ella’s kitchen squeezy meal things – i remember having those with me all the time for emergency meals and rice cakes too! And always pack travel games & pens and paper!

UKJN: Best general travel/gigging/tour-with-child advice:

JH: I didn’t tour with my boys as they stayed home with their Dad and I can’t concentrate on the music when I am in Mama mode – perhaps if I had family about to entertain them while I worked it would be easier to do it though and I love the idea of it now that they are older.. I also don’t want to be dismissive if they were there, as I really do absorb myself and go right into the zone when I sing. It’s almost like I live two lives & have to switch off from one me to another between work and home life.

They don’t really come to many gigs but I love it now that they’re older, that they will sit through a show when they do come.

My youngest used to come on stage when he was very little and I would have to sing half the gig with him on my hip … slightly distracting so I started arranging home childcare rather than bring them along.

UKJN: What has surprised you about becoming a parent and remaining engaged with your professional activities and ambitions?

LH: It’s so achievable if it is what you want. I have to be much more organised and efficient these days and use my time more wisely. Also, I am a bit better at being more selective about work because I can’t take on things that aren’t worthwhile if it means that I have to leave the boys for hours, pay child care etc. They have inspired songs too, and it’s an extra reason to make this work and to succeed. To make them proud and keep a roof over their heads most importantly!

UKJN: What boundaries have you set for yourself as a mother in jazz (could be related to travel/touring, riders, personal parameters, child care decisions, etc.)?

JH: Yes as above – time keeping. Time management and being careful about what I do choose to do. To know my own value more than ever before because that also affects them too, if I take a gig for little money that keeps me away from them for 6 or so hours, and return with nothing to show for it & pay the babysitter, perhaps I need to think twice about that kind of thing now. Being more careful with earnings.

I remember to tell them how proud I am of them and also to tell them how grateful I am to them for putting up with my crazy double lifestyle.

When they tell me that they are proud of me too, my heart bursts & I know that hard as it sometimes can be, I am not on the wrong path.

Becoming a mother may be super tiring and challenging and make you feel as though you are losing the plot sometimes – but it is also so empowering, to bring beautiful souls into the world and teach them about the things that you love about the world, watch them grow and to be responsible for more than just your own wellbeing.

Even just to get through childbirth convinced me that if I can get through that, then I can probably get through anything !

Jo’s new album recorded Sept 2023 in Los Angeles, with legendary producer Larry Klein, will be released in 2024, with pre-launch showcases at APAP 2024 and a debut at Dizzy’s Club (Lincoln Center)  in New York on 24 January 2024 and SF Jazz on 19 January 2024, and more dates to come.

Mothers in Jazz was started by vocalist Nicky Schrire. The initiative aims to create an online resource for working jazz musicians with children, those contemplating parenthood, and jazz industry figures who work with and hire musicians who are parents. The insight of the musicians interviewed for this series provides valuable emotional, philosophical and logistical information and support that is easily accessible to all. “Mothers In Jazz” shines a light on the very specific role of being both a mother and a performing jazz musician.