Multi-instrumentalist Eki Shola’s music transcends genre, as she seamlessly draws from jazz, electronica, and soul music to create a sonic landscape all her own. Born in London to Jamaican parents, Eki was raised in a musical family. She emigrated to the U.S. in 1987 and later as a pre-med student at Cornell, she performed in the jazz ensemble under the direction of Dr. Karlton Hester. She is an ASCAP Plus winner and was selected as one of “23 people to watch in 2023″ by the Press Democrat. She has shared the stage with Dr. Donald Byrd, Steve Turre and more and and has opened for various artists including Habib Koité, Bebel Gilberto, DakhaBrakha, and Georgia Anne Muldrow. Inspired by observing the need for amplifying the voices of underrepresented creatives, Eki was moved to create and launch Unmute Magazine, a digital publication by and mainly for BIPOC artists. She recently collaborated with Tokyo based Nautilus on a release of a single. Eki lives between the USA and Japan and has two children, aged thirteen and sixteen.
UK Jazz News: What is the best advice you received about balancing/juggling parenthood and career?
Eki Shola: In the beginning when I decided to do music professionally, I went to see a medium whom I had seen before. She told me something I didn’t want to hear, which was, it wasn’t the right time for me to proceed. Instead, she essentially advised leaning into being a mom. My children were in elementary school and understandably, it was best that my focus be on them as it would be extremely challenging to launch a music career at the same time – I was also working full-time as a physician and we were in the midst of opening a restaurant. It was hard to accept her advice at that time, but looking back, she was 100% right, and I’m so glad that I was instead there for them. I look back fondly on the time we had together and the fun activities that we did. It’s kind of bittersweet, but now that they’re older and have their own interests, their own friends, and extracurricular activities, I find myself with much more free time.
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)?
ES: Try as many tactics and opportunities as possible and don’t worry about the outcome! Yes, you can be strategic but also literally doing things on a trial and error basis that may even seem random, is okay also.
UKJN: Your top tip(s) for other parents in jazz:
ES: Share with your children what you’re doing and try to involve them when relevant. One of my very first gigs was playing at Starbucks. My kids were little at that time and were so proud to come up and put some coins in my tip jar. A few years later, my daughter who was 8 at the time, helped me plan my album release event. It was a pretty packed event. I didn’t even know she had been passing out stacks of flyers at school. Now that they’re older, they rarely come to my shows, but I still try to keep them somehow tied in, for instance, by performing at their schools or volunteering at career events. I also keep them updated on what I’m doing whether it’s working on an album, doing a show or collaborating with other artists. They may or may not pursue music as a profession, but I want them to develop a sense of what it takes to be an independent artist, to follow their passion and to walk an uncharted yet fulfilling and inspired path.
UKJN: Travel/gigging/tour-with-child advice. This can be gear or gadget-related, or pertain to approach/what to do/what not to do:
ES: I haven’t toured with my kids yet, but I definitely anticipate bringing them with me once they’re a little older. It’s all about getting creative. Our family loves to travel.. one cool thing was that my son attended an overseas residential college camp this summer and so maybe next year if he does the same thing, I may plan a tour during that time.
UKJN: What is one way that figures or structures in the jazz industry could better support parents who are working jazz musicians?
ES: Offer daytime gigs! Also ensure that gigs have an efficiently scheduled load in and sound check.
UKJN: What has surprised you about becoming a parent and remaining engaged with your professional activities and ambitions?
ES: Trying to juggle being a parent, musician and physician has forced me to embrace what I’ve always known and done – which is to do many things and in my way! Being a parent among many lessons has taught me the importance of living an authentic life and not one that is choked by societal expectations and limitations. I hope by honoring my passions and embracing a non-traditional career that my children see the importance of such and will do the same for themselves if they so choose and in whatever fields they embark upon.
UKJN: What boundaries have you set for yourself as a parent in jazz (could be related to travel/touring, riders, personal parameters, child care decisions, etc.)?
ES: The kids come first. I usually schedule my shows when my teens are with their father so that there is no disruption to their school and extracurricular activities. We’re both self-employed and independent contractors and so their father and I have flexibility in our schedules where we try to accommodate each as best as we can which makes it significantly easier for us to not interrupt the kids’ schedules with our work needs.
(*) Parents in Jazz was started (first as ‘Mothers In Jazz’) by vocalist Nicky Schrire in August 2022. The initiative aims to create an online resource for jazz industry professionals with children, those contemplating parenthood, and jazz industry figures who work with and hire musicians who are parents. The insight of the musicians and administrators interviewed for this series provides valuable emotional, philosophical and logistical information and support that is easily accessible to all. “Parents In Jazz” shines a light on the very specific role of being both a parent and a performing jazz musician or jazz arts professional.
