Michelle Rounds :: Singer profiled in Hotelier Indonesia Magazine

from Hotelier Indonesia Magazine

www.hotelier-indonesia.com

April 2013

Hotelier Indonesia has had the sincere pleasure of catching up with international jazz diva, Michelle Rounds who is performing at Sheraton Beach Walk in Kuta, Bali in February and March.

[HI]  We’d like to welcome you back to Bali.   You’ve been here in the past.  What engagements have you had here on the island?

Hotelier Indonesia Magazine
April 2013

[MR]  Thank you - it is always wonderful to be back in Bali.  In 2008 I did a month of New Orleans style jazz for the promotion of Westin's (Nusa Dua) special steak menu in August, and am now at the newly opened Sheraton Beach Walk in Kuta for Feb and March 2013.

[HI]  Having performed in both Nusa Dua and Kuta, what are your impressions of Bali?

[MR]  Bali is a truly delightful holiday destination, fabulous all-year-round climate and the people are so kind and friendly and accommodating - high on the top tourist destinations list !

[HI]  Island life isn’t new to you, as you’re of Pacific Islander heritage.  Could you give a bit of your background and how that’s influenced your career in music.

[MR]  I have European, Fijian, Tongan and Samoan blood - I spent half my life in the islands growing up and listened to lots of string bands.  My father (guitarist, singer, composer and recording artist) and grandmother (first all-girl band in Fjji, ukulele, fiddle, piano, vocalist, guitar) were professional musicians and played, sang and composed.  My dad mainly listened to jazz and so the leaning towards it was very early - I only heard pop songs later when we had a radio

[HI]  Keeping with the “island” theme, what other island destinations have you performed on?

[MR] Two jazz tours of Nouvelle Caledonie, the first with renowned Fijian jazz guitarist Tom Mawi; Aotearoa (aka New Zealand - a very large group of islands) for three years; almost another 5 years on Kyushu, one of Japan's 300 islands; residency gigs in Fiji for many years; twice on Tonga, once for the previous King's birthday celebrations and once for Miss South Pacific Pageant; and sat in on some gigs in Hawaii too !!

  

[HI]  When you’re not traveling, you make your home in Cairo.   How long have you been based there, and how is the music scene in Egypt?

[MR]  3.5 years in Cairo and more than a year in Luxor.  Egypt's music scene is interesting and most genres are covered by local bands. The classical music and opera scene are magic as they have international standard works that you can attend for almost nothing - in other countries I have lived in it was extremely expensive to attend such concerts (Japan, Australia, New Zealand etc)

[HI]  Which musicians have influenced or inspired you?

[MR]  Bob Marley, Prince, Leontyne Price, Earth Wind & Fire, Sathima Bea Benjamin, Betty Carter, Burt Bacharach, Doris Day,

[HI]  Other than performing, you have also written and produced music and cds.   What are a few of of your releases?

[MR]  Latest is a single "Time & Space" produced and composed by my son, with my vocal and rap by an 18 year old Egyptian rapper - this is on the soon to be released album "Michelle Rounds And Her Amazing Friends" for this year 2013

Others include: Autumn Leaves 2010 (Spectra Records USA), A Matcha Chocolate Love Adventure (Michelle Rounds JAPAN) 2005, Coffee Time Jazz - duets with the wonderful Cleve Douglass (PI Inc, JAPAN) 2005

[HI]  What are your preferred venues and performance styles?

[MR]  I prefer good concert halls and jazz, but i love outdoor concerts for soul, funk and rap too - I enjoy both immensely.

[HI]  You’re very well traveled.   What are some destinations you’d like to visit in the future?  

[MR]  Europe !!!   Haven't done Europe !!   France, Sweden, Denmark, ......

[HI] Would you welcome a return to Indonesia?

[MR] Of course, Indonesia is almost another home now.  I have caught up with and stayed in touch with musicians from my earlier gig in 2008, and have met more now in 2013.  I would always love to continue my relationship with Indonesia and her wonderful musicians - I think I am most glad that I could give her something she doesn't have much of. There are so many rock bands, I hear reggae being played live but very little jazz - it is my pleasure to jazz up Bali and give her some soulful grooves !!!

For more information, and contact details:

Email: mr@michellerounds.com

Website: www.michellerounds.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Michelle.Rounds.Music

Twitter: www.twitter.com/michellerounds

YouTube : www.youtube.com/michellerounds

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/mrounds