Nel Begley is a British vocalist, composer and teacher. She has performed across the UK and Europe with ensembles Rafe’s Dilemma, London Vocal Project and The After Hours, highlights include Pizza Express, EFG London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, an Arts Council funded tour and a Northern Line scheme tour. Nel’s passions are teaching Jazz (NYJC, Guildhall, GMF workshops) , circle singing and leading choirs. After completing her bachelors at Leeds Conservatoire she went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as a scholarship student, then junior fellow, at which point she started up the Guildhall Women in Jazz Society. Nel lives in London with her husband and one-year old son.
UK Jazz News: What is the best advice you received about balancing/juggling parenthood and career?
Nel Begley: My best piece of advice was to completely delve into the first 6 months of motherhood and give myself a break from being a musician. My main problem was shutting off the thought process surrounding what I needed and wanted to do, but when I did, finding presence and self-empathy was so much easier. I had so many ideas of all of the things I could achieve during my maternity leave haha, well they soon had to be reviewed with my new reality.
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)?
NB: Take your time getting back into social situations and gigs. I don’t think I was quite prepared for how long it would take me to feel ‘normal’ again after birth and I threw myself into performing and seeing people. I honestly felt like a deer in the headlights. There is no need to push on, but no-one can really explain how different you’ll feel once you become a mother.
UKJN: Your top tip(s) for other parents in jazz:
NB: I think this might seem obvious but, asking for help!
At the moment I have an hour or so in the daytime and possibly a few more at night (energy dependent) to do work. I just can’t do everything I want to now and I need to ask family and friends to help. It’s amazing when you know other people are rooting for you and your creative projects.
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:
NB: Get your children to your gigs! Since he was born Arthur and I have been to see his dad – Luke Fowler perform a lot. Seeing Arthur enjoy the music so much gives me so much drive to get out there more myself and solidifies why I should be gigging – for the love of it and maybe Arthur will see me perform soon too!
I was used to just getting up and walking out the door for gigs but now I need to prepare a few days in advance (and would recommend doing it as it can take so long to get out the house now) I thank myself when I’ve already pumped and choosen out the outfit.
UKJN: What is one way that figures or structures in the jazz industry could better support parents who are working jazz musicians?
NB: I would love some accommodation with childcare, the option for a room to feed in/ for a carer to be situated- there was a lot of work I couldn’t take because of a lack of flexibility from employers even though I’d figured a way to make it possible at my end. In the early stage I’m in now I feel he’s too young to go to a nursery but still want to engage with as much work and music as I can!
UKJN: What has surprised you about becoming a parent and remaining engaged with your professional activities and ambitions?
NB: I am pretty new to it all but at the beginning I went through a few phases of not knowing whether the two things – being a mother and being a musician – would be possible and whether being a musician was a selfish life choice. I am so glad that I kept my toe in the scene from early on (even if it was hard) because it gave me such reassurance and validation that everything is possible!
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.)?
NB: At the moment I am not doing consecutive gigs as I know it’s quite disruptive for Arthur (and also difficult with childcare). Luke and I are in the luckiest position that we can organise childcare amongst ourselves and some close family and we are aiming to keep it that way for as long as possible.
Nel’s newest album, ‘Small Flame’, came out on 24 January 2025.
(*) 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.