Ntjam Rosie ....

Jul 6, 2015, by Elisabeth vant Veer

Ntjam Rosie is an amazing addition to the soul/jazz music scene in the Netherlands and, without doubt, soon the world. With Cameroon as her birth-place and the Netherlands as her adopted country this graduate of Codarts in Rotterdam has not only won the hearts of many music lovers but, with an Edison nomination under her belt, she has also gained the deserved attention and respect of the music industry at large. With her unique sound and lyrics, she has become a musical force to be reckoned with.

Ntjam has recently released her new album “The One” and is to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival this year. When I had the opportunity and honor to pose some questions to Ntjam, she kindly responded. Here you can read what she had to say. I wish this wonderful artist and incredible woman a very successful future; with her talent and strength there is no doubting she will receive the attention and success she so richly deserves.

You were born in Cameroon. What brought you to Europe – why the Netherlands?

My mother married a Dutch man. That is how I ended up living here.

How has your African background influenced your music and who do you consider has inspired you?

My roots are important to me, but most of all is the message I want to get across in my music. My roots can be heard or felt as a breeze throughout my repertoire. I am a crossover soul and jazz artist. I like to mix gospel soul jazz and world.

Regarding my influences, many artists have inspired me. Sade, Stevie Wonder, Badu, Laurryn Hill, Oumou Sangare, Alicia Keys and Lizz Wright.

In your biography it says: “ ..striking creativity in the world of fashion has made her into a style icon.” Have you ever seriously consider a career in fashion? or is it a way of expressing yourself and your music?

As a kid all I knew was that I wanted to be in show-business. I am creative, so who knows…maybe if things would have gone differently, I’d now would be in fashion instead of music but then again, music has always been the thing I loved the most. More than dance, fashion, film and all these other art disciplines I love.

The beautiful thing though is that I can express myself in several ways as an artist. You need fashion to show people who you are and you make video’s for example. I also write my own lyrics and music so my creative thirst is quenched by this fountain called music.

With the mix of soul, jazz, gospel, folk and world music, did you face any/many challenges with regard to “where” your music should be placed? With such boundary-crossing genres, you are impossible to place into one “box”.

Yeah, it’s hard to put me in a box, I guess I have my own little box and that’s fine for me. I’ve always been like that, I need my own artistic spectrum. I’m not a follower and I like to create something that I can truly call my own. That is my biggest talent and strength.

You have used the words, “pre-destined” [fate] and Love – romantic and “greater”. Does faith play an important role in the music you write and choose to record?

My faith is what inspires me, lifts me up and gets me through life. My art is a reflection of my being and the core of that being is my faith in God’s love. I’m fortunate enough to have a platform that I can use to spread peace love serenity and positivity.

With regards to Gospel music you have said “I needed the water”. Could you please expand on this and what it means for you?

Look at it like this, to live, one needs air to breathe, water to drink and food for thought. God is all these things for me. His water gives me life and as a spiritual artist I share my spirit with the world. You can feel my spirit in my music.

Water means life, and life needs to be felt and celebrated if you ask me. I am more than willing to share these gifts I have been given. It would feel selfish of me to keep the water to myself.

read more: http://www.jazzineurope.com

Observations from Holland: Ntjam Rosie, Tineke Postma

The North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands is said to be the biggest indoor fest in the world. I have no argument. It's a tremendous event with quality music from start to finish. Like so many jazz festivals, you'll find rock and pop and soul music as well. Names like Price and Snoop Dogg and Seal—Hell, even Pal Simon and Tom Jones were there this year. No question though, jazz was abundant and in all forms, from big band to traditional to bebop to more modern and experimental groups.

It also showcased some Dutch jazz musicians, of which a couple are worth mentioning. Bear in mind, there were 13 stages at the event. To see everything was impossible. To see all Dutch jazz was just as impossible as it was to see all other kinds. It was a dizzying experience in some respects—so much goes music missed. SO MUCH good music experienced and savored.

North Sea Jazz is something fans should try and see. The host city of Rotterdam is warm and welcoming. Friendly. Easy to get around. Laid back. Plenty for tourists to take in. Shopping. Night life. A nice arts community. Dining of all kinds. It's a perfect host city for this huge event and the venue—a huge facility dubbed Ahoy—is unique and impressive.

There's no predicting how the careers of musicians will go. No formula for success. Why this person “made it" and that person didn't, in terms of public recognition, is largely a mystery. The famed jazz producer Orrin Keepnews once told me that some musicians were “inevitable," meaning that regardless of what he did as a producer, or anyone else, that cram was going to rise to the top. The talent was too immense. Coltrane, Monk. Sonny Rollins. That's true.

What becomes of so many others, why some rise and some don't .. who knows. Good fortune certainly plays a role. But it remains a mystery. Just like individual songs. Why this one makes it and that one doesn't. Who knows.

A noteworthy discovery in Rotterdam was Ntjam Rosie, a resident there for a while now, but originally from Camaroon. She's a singer in the manner of perhaps a Lizz Wright or Angelique Kidjo. Soul, world music, jazz, R&B all have a place in her music, as does, certainly, sounds she's heard in Camaroon. She's a trained vocalist who writes just about all of her own material and is bent on carving a career based on that. Her latest album Elle exhibits her songwriting. It's a good disk, but in performance, like most good artists, she is more dynamic and engaging. It should be that way and not the other way 'round.

Performing at Ahoy, she exhibited charm and a relaxed ease, fronting a larger ensemble with percussion, flute and vibes to go with the basic rhythm. She was energized and so was the crowd. Her voice is pristine and she communicates her lyrics directly and clearly. A fine sense of rhythm and harmony. Her influences she channels through her own filter and it comes out a mixture of pop, soul and world music, with underpinnings of jazz harmony. She's not pushing pop hooks in order to be heard. Very musical

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