Germana Stella La Sorsa is an Italian London-based singer. She has performed at venues including Ronnie Scott’s and the Vortex Jazz Club, and at jazz festivals like Lebanon’s Al Bustan International Festival and the Ceglie Jazz Open Festival in Italy. In addition to her singing career, Germana currently teaches singing technique and jazz singing both privately and at Morley College in London. She lives in the UK with her husband, musician Joe Boyle, and their 5 month-old son, Leo.
UKJazz News: What is the best advice you received about balancing/juggling motherhood and career?
Germana Stella La Sorsa: To be flexible in terms of scheduling things, most of all while breastfeeding as this can be physically very tiring. This came from another singer friend of mine who shared with me her experience of having to pause and postpone some tasks that she had to do for her release. She knew that I’m always on the go – as she is – so she recommended being kind with myself and to remember that it’s ok to take longer to do things, if necessary.
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)?
GSLS: I wish I knew about venues’ child policies and permission to welcome babies (as not all venues can legally have them on their premises). Also, if a venue can host babies and their carers as guests – make sure that someone is available to help, before booking gigs. It can be embarrassing to make a commitment and then have to turn it down for lack of help. Unfortunately this almost happened to me and I was on the edge of sadly having to cancel a gig for this.
UKJN: Your top tip(s) for other mothers in jazz:
GSLS: Things are not going to be the same but this doesn’t mean that your career is finished so embrace the changes and allow yourself time to adjust. Always ask for help and be honest with yourself and others: you might need more time to sort yourself out with a baby – for example to be back on stage or to hang out at jam sessions or other’s gigs – but people understand this so always be straightforward about your needs.
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:
GSLS: As strong as you can be, always ask someone you trust to come with you to help and give them precise and straightforward instructions to make sure that their help is actually useful and not in your way. Carriers and baby wraps are the best for me: they help you do tasks with both hands free, ensuring that you don’t lose that body contact that babies – most of all when very young – need.
Make sure you have extra changes of clothes not only for the baby but for yourself as well: your stage costume is never safe when your little one is around so it’s better to have a spare one with you!. And wipes! Many many wipes!
UKJN: What is one way that figures or structures in the jazz industry could better support parents who are working jazz musicians?
GSLS: Both the UK government’s maternity allowance and child benefits are definitely not enough to support a self-employed musician/music teacher so this is something that should be seriously discussed – not only for mothers but for fathers as well. My husband is a musician and self-employed music teacher as well: he had no paternity leave, no other rights and he ended up working and being away even more to make sure that we were financially ok! It’s a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Every venue should also have a green room and permits to have babies in the premises by law: if I can’t bring my baby and their carer, I can’t do my job. And this is a problem!
UKJN: What has surprised you about becoming a parent and remaining engaged with your professional activities and ambitions?
GSLS: I was expecting to be more tired than I’ve actually been so I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that I’ve been able to finish my work commitments for my new release (e.g. PR and meetings, gig searching, interviews and so on). I’ve also loved how my musician friends (both women and men) welcomed my son Leo to our rehearsals, gigs and to hang out, how they’ve supported and understood me, even when it came to talking about important topics like “baby blues” or parenthood adjustments as a woman in the jazz business. It’s been heartwarming!
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.)?
GSLS: I decided that my career is important and I won’t stop making music – I’m not good at taking long breaks! But, equally, if my baby needs me, I need to fly to him and pause everything else. I want to raise my son and have him around while I make music so I want to avoid leaving him with someone else (including his grandparents) for too long as much as possible. I’m also determined not to make him appear on social media for music promotion or in general: it’s not something that I agree with.
Germana’s second album “Primary Colours” was released in January 2024 with an album launch at The Vortex (London). The album is available on all digital platforms.
(*) 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.
