What do you get when you mix the sounds of Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and Jazz together: the sounds of Loide, A United States based artist. Loide began writing her own lyrics at grade school and has grown from there to become one of the favorites in Jazz houses in the Maryland - DC area. Loide opens up about her background, her love for jazz and her home countries. Enjoy the interview!

At what age did you start writing your own music?
Writing my own music? Well I’ve been penning lyrics since grade school, but always simply to entertain myself. I had a little pal from Madagascar (our mother’s were best friends) and when she’d come over I can remember spending hours tucked away in my bedroom recording songs into a tape recorder, these masterpieces where written on the spot (lyrics, melodies, harmonies and all) we were prodigies in classic form (laughs). I’d pay to find those missing tapes and listen to what in the world we had to sing about! I don’t know if that qualifies as the nexus of my journey as a songwriter. Ah, why not! (smile).

That love pretty much continued on through high school and college, I always had a little poem, story, or a song in my head that I’d write down in a note pad I’d carry around, along with my ‘to do’ list, bills, and such, a habit I continue to this day. It was not until college I thought to get adventurous and write for performance sake. Then I started dating this guy in college who dj’d and made beats, so we had this novel ide, we would be the new Portis-Head duo with more of a hip hop/soul edge. We wrote and composed dozens of songs, but that idea went down the tubes when the relationship died. And so life goes. As is, I’ve half a dozen note pads with lyrics buried between homework assignments, chore lists, and recipes. Some are set to music, but the bulk have yet to have their proper day in the land of music. I’ve recently collaborated with South African guitarist, Mongezi Nkata, Lucky Dube’s original guitarist, and a superb guitarist, lyricist and composer in his own right,we’ve got our sights set on the end of the summer (late July 2008) to put at least 10 of my lyrics to melody and build the next phase in this musical journey. I’m ecstatic when I consider the possibilities.

Was there a particular incidence that pushed you into performing your music?
There was no ‘incident’ per se, I always loved to sing, and I always found a way to sing. Whether it was choirs, solos, duets, quartets, musicals…you name it, I was in it. From pre-first until. But if I were to hone in on where the music was born, it was at home. I grew up in a house were we would have family worship every day. Worship always included a singing session. My papa couldn’t sing a lick but my mother was always singing, and allocating me to the alto or ranks while she sopranoe’d it up. That’s where it all began for me, home.

Describe your first experience on stage - were you scared??
(laughs) I still have a picture of my first time on stage. I was 5 years old, red ribbed tights, green faux suede skirt, white ruffled shirt (brown shoes) singing with 3 other little girls about how Betsey Ross sewed 13 stars on the first US flag. What is really funny is that our family had just moved to the US, like a year before, and I was already singing all hail to the good ‘ol U.S. of A. Oh and stage fright? No, I wasn’t up there alone, I only get stage fright when I’m the only one singing.

Why Jazz?
I first fell in love with jazz when I heard a Nancy Wilson recording in high school. She was singing “Guess who I saw today”, I was instantly enraptured and knew that I wanted to follow that sound! But today, you know, jazz is just an extension or another voice for me. Just a few years back. I’d say “I’m a jazz vocalist” and not think twice about it. But to date, that does not encompass what I do musically or where I’d like to go with the music. I still love and adore Jazz, and implement it into the sounds and layers of where I’m evolving musically, but I’m reaching closer to home now. Home being the melodies and rhythms out of lusaphone Africa, particularly Mozambique and Guinea Bissau.

Who are your main major musical influences?
Whoa, I’m all over the map. I really love music period! I grew up with Zouk, Soukous, Marabenta, Hymns, Classical Music, Classic rhythm and Blues from the 60’s and 70’s, not to mention I was a child of the 80’s! In addition I played piano and the flute in grade school and Jr. High, plus I was in at dozen different chorals and singing groups, and took vocal classical lessons in high school, so the music performed and listened to was all over the map. To this day, my music rotation is a variance of all these sounds.

What are the challenges that you have faced so far on your journey?
Not having 100% to give to the music. That makes my journey slower than most.

How has the African as well as American industry responded to your music?

The “industry” is not hip to me yet. Again, hoping the next year is the year of new horizons for me. I know that you incorporate your African roots (Guinea Bissau and Mozambique) into your music - has that made it more difficult or easer to sell?

In performing, crowds eat up the different vibe I bring to my performance. I think it’s more so because I feel the new direction I’m taking the music more in my heart. And when you really feel it, the audience can sense the intensity and the truth behind the music.

I know that you are an attorney - how do you juggle your musical career and your career as a musician?
It’s able to be done, because I love them both. I am an immigration attorney, and I absolutely love what I do. And the music is not a side hustle for me, it’s a passion as well. And when you love, you find a way to make it work, period.

Does it ever clash?
It has not yet. I’m not naïve to think that I may never have to make a choice, in fact, I’m sure I will one day. But when that day comes, I’ll deal with it then. For now, I’m just thankful to have two things I’m passionate about filling my world.

So what do you do in your spare time?
(laughs)When there is any? I love to cook, and have friends over. I’ve recently started a yoga routine (first thing in the morning) and keeping up with world/current events. Oh and I love to laugh, any chance I get!