Meet Arta Jēkabsone

We recently connected with Arta Jēkabsone and have shared our conversation below.

Arta, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I don’t think I have one specific story of where my resilience comes from. I believe it’s the result of a lifetime of professional and personal experiences…
My journey has provided many valuable and inspiring lessons, and even the tough ones have reinforced my determination to never give up on what I love.
Music has always been my driving force, pushing me forward in my projects and collaborations. Resilience, to me, also involves discipline and staying true to myself, my dreams, and my goals. While sometimes it requires sacrifice, it comes with a deep sense of gratitude and humility for the opportunities I’ve had so far. Furthermore, I am grateful to my peers, community, family, and friends, whose resilience continues to inspire and support me and allows me to grow both as an artist and as a human.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Arta Jēkabsone. I am a NYC-based Latvian vocalist, composer, and arranger. I also play violin and piano, and I love to use the TC Helicon Voice Live Touch 2 (a voice effect box) in my performances.

I have won the Montreux Shure Jazz Voice Competition and placed in other renowned competitions, including 3rd place at the 2021 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Voice Competition. I’ve toured in Europe and North America, mostly performing my original music, which has been a tremendous blessing. I have recorded several albums both as a bandleader (debut album “Light”) and as a collaborative artist.

My artistic journey is a tapestry of diverse musical influences – from the ethereal sounds of my Latvian Roots, lately Gnawa Music, and the vibrant rhythms of contemporary jazz, aiming to transport listeners to a realm of pure musical bliss, where the boundaries between reality and dreams blur.

I regularly present new works at the Jazz Gallery, one of New York City’s premier venues. I was awarded the Jazz Gallery Residency Commission Grant in 2021, and in 2023, I received the highest form of state recognition in the field of music the Latvian Music Award for “New Artist of the Year 2022”. Recently, I was honored by the ASCAP Foundation with an honorable mention in the 2024 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards. In May 2024, I completed The Church Sag Harbor artist residency, where I developed new and exciting music.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance and a master’s in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship from The New School. Beyond performing and composing, I enjoy working in creative production environments as well. Sometimes you will see me running around festivals, house managing, ushering, working directly with artists; and sometimes translating lyrics to Latvian language for well-known animation movie songs…

Currently, I am preparing my second solo album, “Dziesmu Kamoliņš,” (Garland of Songs) dedicated to Latvian Folk songs, set for release in Spring 2025. This project started when I moved to New York 9 years ago. I discovered a deeper connection to Latvian Folk Songs and my Latvian identity. I believe in sharing Latvian culture through my art and I enjoy sharing my heritage with new audiences.

Another exciting project is a big band recording with an incredible Latvian jazz saxophonist and composer Toms Rudzinskis. We are scheduled to record with the Latvian Radio Bigband in early January 2025. The project, titled “The Impressions of Era,” focuses on Latvian-American poets living in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen area. It marries contemporary jazz big band music with poems by Gunārs Saliņš, Linards Tauns, Voldemārs Avens, Elza Ķezbere, Rita Gāle, and Roberts Mūks.

Additionally, two exciting tours are coming up in late October and November, including performances in Boston, New York, and surrounding areas. From October 27th until November 10th, I will be on tour with Latvian pianist and composer Krists Saržants, playing in Boston and New York. This tour will be followed by a solo tour in New York and Washington DC. More detailed information is available on my website.

I am looking forward to these truly wonderful projects and can’t wait to enjoy those precious moments in music with people who inspire me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

This question is something I have been pondering about lately… There is so much that is yet to be discovered, but here are some seeds for thought.
These qualities certainly have been a huge asset in my career and helped me navigate my life:
Curiosity, open-mindedness, and a ‘let’s do it’ attitude.

Stay curious and eager to explore and learn new things. Keep an open mind and an open heart about the possibilities you encounter; they often lead to something valuable. Embrace a proactive approach, especially in this fast-paced world. Don’t be discouraged by other people doing great things too — just stay focused on your dreams and take charge of your success. Each of us is unique and we all have our unique path in this life. It is NOT COMPARABLE! We can only be responsible for our own words and actions, and ultimately happiness…Celebrate not only your successes and achievements but also your friends’ and families’.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Music has been the main reason for meeting so many wonderful people and fostering meaningful connections in both my professional and personal life. I truly feel lucky to be playing with so many amazing and inspiring artists and musicians. Not only do I get to fulfill my dream as a bandleader and a composer, but I also get to collaborate with so many inspiring musicians who have been my musical influences since an early age, such as Aaron Parks, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Edmar Castaneda to name a few. I get to collaborate on projects that truly allow me to grow artistically, musically, and also as a human.

I’m currently seeking to clarify the next steps in my artistic career and feel ready to elevate my work further. Therefore, I’m looking for booking agents in the US and Europe to help expand my concert reach. With an upcoming album and several other projects, I have ambitions and visions that require a collaborative team effort. If you are an aspiring or experienced agent or creative collaborator, I would be pleased to connect and explore potential opportunities together.

Let’s embark on this exciting journey and create amazing music and experiences.

You can leave a note on my website’s section: CONTACT

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Kristīna Šnepste
Antonio Mazzei
Jānis Romanovskis
Oscar Zepeda
Ance Ozola
Evilena Protektore

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