Rebekka Salomea studied vocals in Cologne and Copenhagen. She and her high class band have performed at renowned festivals like Jazzablanca (Morocco), Avignon Jazz festival (France) or Moers Festival (Germany). Her music is a contemporary multi-genre melting pot: The unique mixture of hiphop infused jazz, rnb and contemporary electronic music finds its perfection on the three pieces of “Conversations”. The current album “Bathing in Flowers” was nominated for best album and best vocals for the renowned German Jazz Awards and received a lot of attention from media and streaming platforms.
“Find your people, your community, and do what you can to be safe and content and to do good. It will need resilience. It will need complaining. And then it will need action. I was struck by Sophie Yukiko’s story, her precise language, and her insights into Ballroom Culture past and present. Our Conversations were foundations for this warmer yet edgy hymn.” – Salomea
FACTS
1. It all comes down to love and fear.
2. Eat sour every day!
3. Bitch, be humble.
QUESTIONS
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Today is can say: It is the urge to touch and be touched. To express thoughts and emotions in all their complexities. To make statements and contribute something to society that might be demanding at times. The responsibility that comes with culture. To invite people to really listen and be open to a kind of artistic innovation. To move bodies and minds. To empower and motivate. To counter prejudice and expectations. To find the most honest and sincere way of expression. Following paths that legends like Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Kurt Weill, Missy Elliott or J Dilla created. To play with my band and sing my guts out.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
I grew up in a household filled with music. My parents are/were musicians. There was always some Telemann, Billie Holiday, Barbara Streisand or Joni Mitchell on and we would play chamber music at home when I was small. I played the flute. At the age of 8 I started singing in school choir and church choir, that’s what there was, and later in bands. I performed in school musicals like “The Sound Of Music”. I only started writing my own music when I was 22. That’s when I started studying Jazz & Pop vocals and found my own band. Making my own music, using my own words and melodies opened a whole new world to me.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Solange – When I Get Home
Thundercat – Apocalypse
Hiatus Kaiyote – Choose Your Weapon
Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
Joni Mitchell – Clouds
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
An overload of cultural events, parties, inspiration, interesting spots and people. The city that’s taking all my friends and where I might have to live for some time, too. And some pretentiousness.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
It really depends on my mood. A lot of the times I’d have to say: my home, my man, my cat. But I think we all need some variation, so here are some more spots: the north part of Cologne, by the Rhine river is beautiful and perfect for long walks at any time of year. Greesberger is a bar I’ve spent many long nights. Loft concert venue. Melaten graveyard is a special place that inspired some of my songs. Recording studio Nummer Drei. And so many more…
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
It’s almost impossible to imagine that. I believe there will always be at least singing and drumming – there always has been. If I weren’t a musician I’d hope to be on stage as an actor. Otherwise I’d be an end-of-life doula. Or an activist.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
John Coltrane – A Love Supreme
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Tierra Whack, Tyler, The Creator, Flying Lotus, the list goes on and on!
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
It was probably Amok Amor at Loft in Cologne.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Very. Technology, such as Ableton, has enabled my creative independence and allows me to sharpen my sonic vision. I can experiment and search until I find what I feel like I’m looking for. And then some more. Also, social media platforms or zoom were the first, sometimes only ways of communicating with some of my creative collaborators. To be able to make music together across the globe is pretty amazing.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
My older brother – my heart, brain and home – built his own recording studio and recorded the first SALOMEA album. He has always been one of my biggest supporters, never questioning any of my decisions or changes in style. He has always shown sincere interest, asked questions and listened to my lyrics. I think he’s happy and proud. My younger brother is quite a bit younger – nonetheless he’s seen some of my shows and I think he really likes the music. I know he likes my bandmates and has a signed tour poster hanging on the door to his room.
