With a Grammy and an APCMA nominations and eight wins at the Native American Music Awards, Independent artist Jana Mashonee is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. However, her achievements do not stop here. She is also an author and a philanthropist. So sit down and relax, you are in for a treat today!
Cendrine Marrouat: Hello Jana, thank you for answering my questions. As a starter, tell us a little more about you.
Jana Mashonee: Thank you. I am mainly a singer/songwriter but I have just recently added “author” to my resume. I am also starring in an upcoming film to be released next year. I am Native American from the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina. I am also honored to be a GRAMMY nominee.
CM: Your last album, titled "New Moon Born," has been received with wide acclaim. What is its story?
JM: This album is about rebirth, renewal, change, hence the title. It is a departure from my previous albums that were concept albums – this album is a collage of my experiences and feelings of life for a period of one year in making the album. It is a deeply personal album, yet an album that touches on emotions that all of us feel at different points in our lives.
CM: In a couple of weeks, you will be in Winnipeg, Canada, for the 2010 Aboriginal People Choice Music Awards. "New Moon Born" has been nominated in the Best Pop CD Category. How do you feel about this nomination?
JM: I am so excited for the nomination (my first)! It is wonderful to be honored when there are so many amazingly talented artists out there.
CM: Your other recent releases include a book, "American Indian Story - The Adventures of Sha'kona" – based on your Grammy nominated concept album, "American Indian Story" – and "American Indian Christmas," a ten-track CD with traditional Christmas carols sung in different Native American tongues. Tell us a little more about them.
JM: “American Indian Story – The Adventures of Sha’kona” is my first written novel, along with Stephan Galfas, my songwriting partner for many years. We took on the mighty task of taking my previous album, "American Indian Story," and turning it into a full-fledged book. We had a short story in the jacket of the CD three years ago, and now we turned it into an almost 300-page novel. I am thrilled that we challenged ourselves to delve into a medium we had not previously been engaged in and I hope that we have the opportunity to do it again. Our story is about a young girl named Sha’kona from thousands of years ago and her journey into the New World. It is full of adventure, magic, and mystery that is truly a fun read for anyone.
My “American Indian Christmas” CD I recorded a few years ago has ten familiar Christmas carols sung in ten different Native American languages. I had always wanted to record a Christmas album, but this one has a twist. I am very proud that I did not sing these songs phonetically, but actually learned the pronunciations for each of the languages and worked with language advisors for every song. A lot of work went into this CD but I am proud of what we were able to accomplish.
CM: In an effort to help the youth in your community, you created the Jana's Kid Foundation in 2002. This non-profit organization raises funds to offer scholarships to young members of the Native American community for academic, artistic and athletic achievement. How have people responded so far and what are your long-term goals with the foundation?
JM: The response has been great and grows each year as more and more kids receive scholarships. We gave out our first scholarship in 2006, and I hope to continue to raise a lot more money in order to give out larger scholarships for more kids. My future goal is to continue awareness that there is money out there for education for kids, especially for Native youth, but you have to be proactive and work for it – and don’t give up.
CM: Proceeds from the sales of “A Change is Gonna Come,” your extraordinary rendition of Sam Cooke's classic, go to the foundation. Why did you choose this song in particular?
JM: This song parallels the concept of my album "New Moon Born" and exemplifies what I believe - that through adversity we can make positive change.
CM: What is next for you?
JM: Continuing to promote my music and book, possibly working on another movie in the spring, and hopefully meeting new friends along the way.
CM: Any last words?
JM: “Sing your song as you look to the sky.”
For more information on Jana Mashonee and her work, visit her official Website.
---------------------------
Do you like this article? Leave a comment and/or share it. You can also subscribe – by clicking the "subscribe" button above – to get alerts every time Cendrine Marrouat publishes a new article.
---------------------------
Cendrine Marrouat is a freelance writer/reviewer, published author and translator living in Canada. Official Website: http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com
Comments