UK Jazz News

Mothers in Jazz: Natascha Roth

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Natascha Roth with her daughter some years ago...

This week’s Mothers in Jazz interview by Nicky Schrire features German vocalist and educator Natascha Roth. For the past twenty years, she has taught at universities in Belgium, Holland, Germany and South Africa as well as giving workshops and masterclasses in Europe and the USA. Natascha is currently based in Berlin, teaching Jazz and Popular Voice at the Universität der Künste Berlin as well as the private University SRH School of popular Music Berlin. She has a twelve year-old daughter, Emily, with her husband, guitarist James Scholfield.

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

Natascha Roth: That you don’t need much to start off your journey as a new parent. No extra room, no changing table. The easiest and least disruptive sleeping model for us turned out to be co-sleeping. It took away the perceived pressure of needing to prepare a fully equipped baby room. Changing nappies was easiest – and very safe – to do on the floor on a little soft rubber mattress covered by a fluffy and washable cotton cloth. Easy to pack and ready to be used wherever. A small child is quite mobile and doesn’t need much to travel with. Especially if you are able to breastfeed.

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)?

NR: That it’s ok to take time off. I believe that I would be much more relaxed a second time around. This kind of crying will quickly be forgotten and does not cause any lasting damage. If in good care your child will be totally fine. Whereas restricting yourself and/or time with your partner away from your child can lead to exhaustion and conflict. You will return rejuvenated and much more ready to be a joyful parent.

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

NR: 1. When I was younger I thought I lacked the emotional maturity to be a good parent. I now feel that being a parent is what helped me grow and mature emotionally more than anything ever before. Making mistakes is fine. It’s all about “rupture and repair”, to quote Philippa Perry (see book mentioned below).

2. You don’t have to wait too long for your life to settle down before starting a family. I did. At 38 I realized things wouldn’t really ever change. At some point it was now or never. Having said that: my late pregnancy was super easy, no complications with a quick and natural hospital birth (3,5 hours) aged 41. So don’t be afraid of becoming a late mother either!

3. Read/listen to “The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did)” by Philippa Perry and “More Than A Woman” by Caitlin Moran. You will feel empowered to find your way through all the ups, downs and doubts.

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

NR: 1. The “Manduca” baby carrier (99€). Especially for airports and on the plane! 2. A good breast pump (Medela Manual), bottles or sachets to freeze the milk and a bottle warmer for my partner to warm it up. It gave me freedom to go off while still being able to breastfeed. It offered an invaluable bonding experience to father and daughter.

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

NR: When playing out of town it made it much easier to take a sitter with us. Not just for the concert but also traveling became less stressful and much more fun for the child. Nowadays I sometimes still take a new surprise game like “Exit Quizz” that she can do by herself. It can shift a cranky mood and keep her occupied (non digitally) while we have time to prepare or simply catch up on sleep.

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

NR: 1. During our early years of parenthood I was happy to be the one staying in town when my partner went out on the road. I was surprised how at ease I felt. It did not at all seem like giving up something or getting left behind. He was the one with the offer and I still felt it was “us” doing our thing as a family trying to live a creative life and making it work. Sometimes Emily and I would join him and get to hang with the band. We enjoyed the attention when everybody wanted to hold or entertain her. Most band members happened to be passionate fathers – yes, not mothers 😉  I was asked questions about what I was working on (not much, haha!), how I liked the show, who I was listening to and when I would record next. I felt seen as a musician. I also felt through my partner’s work I was still able to make inspiring contacts for my own musical journey while getting to spend a lot of time with my child. I am in fact working with some of those very players on a current recording. I would like to think we would have found an equally good solution if I would have had the offer to go on the road. But I don’t know. 

2. Later on it did surprise me to find how two loving partners and friends suddenly have to learn how difficult it can be to communicate about who gets to do what and when. See the above-mentioned book by Caitlin Moran for helpful strategies. 

3. That I had already released a song for my daughter before I knew I would ever be a parent.

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.)?

NR: Shortly after my daughter was born I was offered a freelance position as a lecturer at a Berlin University. Teaching gave me the opportunity to travel less and be present in my daughter’s life the way I wanted to be. I could get involved in parental initiative childcare and spending quality time with my child. It was what I wanted. I admit that as she got older it took some effort to set boundaries. I had to relearn prioritizing my own time and reuniting more actively with that other creative part of myself. It gives me great joy to feel that my child often supports and encourages me.

Natascha’s 2010 recording “Way Out South” will be remastered and re-released in 2024. It features guitarists James Scholfield and Denis Moses and percussionist Kevin Gibson. Original version on Bandcamp.

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.

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2 responses

  1. hi natascha,

    wonderful to read about you and your family! i’m delighted to hear that things are fine with you !! good here too, thanks!!! its been a very long time since we last met and played together with marc’s band in berlin. would love to see you again, meet emily (we have an emily too), and see sco again too. stay happy and healthy too!
    happy everything and let’s help to make this year a bunch better than the past one!

    big hugs,

    jiggs

  2. Loved reading this, tasch, great news about way out south, too! See you all again soon hopefully xxx 💓

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