News
30 September, 2024
Grammy winner comes to region
THE Maleny Arts Council is thrilled to announce a special afternoon performance by internationally acclaimed jazz singer Nicole Zuraitis on Sunday, 13 October.
THE Maleny Arts Council is thrilled to announce a special afternoon performance by internationally acclaimed jazz singer Nicole Zuraitis on Sunday, 13 October.
Earlier this year, Nicole won a Grammy for her sixth album, How Love Begins, and her Maleny performance will feature original compositions from the award-winning record. Speaking to GC&M News about her musical influences and career ahead of her Australian tour, Nicole shared that she was a “late bloomer” when it came to her passion for jazz.
“I’ve always sung different types of music – everything from rock and pop to folk,” she said. “What drew me to jazz was the improvisation and the freedom to create melody.” Nicole, a jazz singer songwriter, cited her love for classic Tin Pan Alley songs by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and Cole Porter, alongside her childhood love for theatre.
“I absolutely adored the fact that the pop music of the 1920s to 1950s was jazz,” she added. Speaking from her New York home, Nicole explained that she has always been inspired by ‘big voices’ like Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, as well as singer-songwriters like Carole King and Billy Joel, and song interpreters like Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson.
“I became a musician because, even from a young age, I understood the importance of the arts and the catharsis that an audience experiences when they are transported by a performance,” Nicole explained. Reflecting on her eclectic musical influences, she said that for many years, people struggled to define her sound.
“It wasn’t until I won ‘Best Jazz Vocal Album’ this year, for an album I fully arranged myself, that I realised maybe jazz is ready to take a deep dive into song, as opposed to being a heady, pretentious space that audiences can’t relate to.” Nicole emphasised her belief that music should be intuitive, saying, “The jazz I fell in love with as a child, like Duke Ellington and Black American music like the Blues, doesn’t get more soulful and intuitive than that.
I think audiences are drawn to the aspects of jazz that are the most intuitive and authentically soulful.” As an independent artist, Nicole admits to still feeling “flabbergasted and shocked” by her Grammy win earlier this year. “Winning the Grammy felt like, for the first time, I was doing what was right and worthy of recognition – and I was extraordinarily grateful, delighted, and honoured.”
Looking ahead to her Australian tour, Nicole expressed excitement, “I’m really looking forward to coming to the Sunshine Coast – this will be my first time, and from what I understand, I’ll really enjoy the beer and cheese!” she laughed. “I’m looking forward to meeting new friends and connecting with the community.”
Nicole Zuraitis performs at the Maleny Community Centre on Sunday October 13 at 2pm. Tickets available from www. malenyartscouncil.com
