Musician, composer and physician, Eki Shola, is originally from London but now calls both the San Francisco Bay Area and Japan home. Born in Hackney to Jamaican parents, Eki Shola was raised in a musical family. She emigrated to the U.S. in ’87 and later as a pre-med student at Cornell, she performed in the jazz ensemble under the direction of Dr. Karlton Hester. In 2016, fueled by grief, she was inspired to release her debut album, Final Beginning. Subsequently, after a traumatic escape from the Sonoma County October 2017 wildfires, Eki Shola was further moved to focus more on her music and she composed Pieces, a trilogy, each album portraying a particular stage of reflection and healing. Her latest album 還 Kaeru was recorded predominantly with local Japanese talents such as drummer Hidenori Tsugita, shamisen and shakuhachi virtuoso Uma Ebina, and Mongolian Morin Khuur maestro Tatsuya Okabayashi. This fifth album represents a captivating mix of traditional Japanese instrumentation with electro jazz elements.
Kaeru, translating to “to return home,” delves into themes of belonging and self-identity, inspired by Eki Shola’s extensive global travels and personal reflections. Drawing from her encounters in Hiroshima, Lisbon, and Addis Ababa, Shola finds a deep resonance with Japan, a connection rooted in her initial visit two decades ago as a medical student. Collaborating with local talents and recording at Studio Tepemok, a former community hospital, Eki Shola intricately weaves cultural and personal narratives into her music.
Beyond genre confines, Eki Shola’s music encompasses jazz, electronica, soul, and more, reflecting her multifaceted artistry as a vocalist and pianist. As a practicing physician, she skillfully employs music as a means of healing, a role she’s embraced while sharing stages with luminaries like Dr. Donald Byrd and Steve Turre. Notable for her performances at the Blue Note Napa, Kyotophonie Borderless Music Festival in Japan and opening for Habib Koité, Bebel Gilberto, DakhaBrakha, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Kitaro and others, Eki Shola’s accolades include receiving the ASCAP Plus Award yearly since 2019, six NorBay Music awards and participation in prestigious artist residencies like the OBRAS foundation in Portugal. Her Japan and Europe tour in support of “Kaeru”, which continues to receive significant domestic and international radio airplay, underscores her commitment to cultural exchange and musical innovation. She is currently completing a triple album and has been collaborating with Germany based Oonops Drops and the Japanese artists Nautilus, Shin-Ski and SWING-O a.k.a. 45.
