Singer-songwriter Tamami Maitland speaks on art's profoundly positive impact
Lay yourself down on the grassy hill and look up the blue sky. The sky is your canvas, draw anything with the white clouds.These are also the lyrics to her original song, Sky Canvas, which she wrote during a period of sadness followed by a moment of healing.
The Burnaby-based jazz artist and songwriter remembers the moment inspiration struck for those lyrics. She was reeling from the loss of a friend, she said. As she sat staring ahead of her at nothing in particular, she became aware of the reflection of white clouds cast on a nearby glass table. The white clouds rolled in, giving her company on a lonely day and prompting her to breathe calmly and slowly. Looking back, she credits those clouds with inspiring her and rescuing her from an abyss of grief. Sky Canvas was written as a response to finding light on a dark day. Maitland encourages others dealing with their own struggles to do the same. She holds to a maxim: “Tomorrow will be a better day.” Maitland was born in Osaka, Japan. Until 2011, her horizons didn't extend beyond the borders of her homeland. Shortly after the Great East Japan Earthquake, she found a home across the ocean, in Burnaby. She was very young when she discovered her love for words, she said. By the age of eight, she had become a poet.While her early musical days included writing songs with Japanese lyrics, she later fell in love with jazz, which prompted her to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, and, closer to home, Capilano University for an extensive jazz education. Maitland said the "complex chord progressions” in jazz first attracted her to the genre. “Then the harmony has more depth. Plus the ability of improvisation gives you more freedom than classical music,” she said. After a decade of making Canada her home, she started writing in English, drawing inspiration from nature and people around her. Often, her songs are related to the seasons and love. As an introvert, she explains, she is able to use music to form connections with people. And she hopes to spread positivity through her words and music — especially to people going through difficulties in life. “It's very soothing,” she said. “When people are feeling sad, have bad health or something doesn't go well, then just play music and feel better.” Her first concert of the year will be at Joanne Probyn’s art studio- at the Parlour in Vancouver for the 'First Saturday' open studio of the month. Beyond that she has a couple of concerts lined up in January and February in Vancouver before she embarks on a musical tour back to her hometown in Japan in March. Although she has visited her homeland in the past to see friends and family, this is her first musical tour there.Maitland is thrilled to be performing in Japan for the first time – and has been inspired to write more Japanese lyrics. Being bilingual can have its own sets of challenges, and Maitland is no stranger to this — some languages have specific words or expressions that are hard to translate accurately. “I had a word in Japanese —I tried to translate it into English and I couldn't find that same expression,” she said. “Then sometimes, I have a Japanese way of expressing my thought and I try to put that in English. When I check in with the native speaker if it sounds natural, they say no. I don't know what to say, but I want to stick with my expression, with a kind of Japanese influence. But sometimes it’s a lot. So it's a struggle.” In 2022, she performed at five music festivals in Lower Mainland. She has released 21 singles so far and an album. “Without music, I will probably be very lonely,” she said. “That music is giving me the chance to meet new people, opening so many doors to connect with people.”
Please follow us on Google to support us Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Emerging Burnaby musician puts her life into songUp-and-coming performer April Liang talks about the pending release of her debut EP and life as an artist.
Read more »
Burnaby strata ordered to pay owner nearly $29K after kitchen sink backupThe Civil Resolution Tribunal rules the strata at a Brentwood condo tower was 'negligent' because it didn't clean its drain pipes on 'a reasonable basis.'
Read more »
Burnaby housing prices are dropping — but interest rates show no signs of going down'Data shows that the Bank of Canada’s decisions to increase the policy rate at seven of the eight interest rate announcement dates in 2022 has translated into downward pressure on home sale activity.'
Read more »
It’s all about the jazz, BurnabyWeekend Jazz The Bolt festival returns with live performances and full-capacity audiences after pandemic hiatus
Read more »
Five of Burnaby's top 10 priciest homes are in this neighbourhoodBC Assessment has valued Burnaby’s 10 most expensive residential properties at a combined $80M. Together, they've gained a total of $7,585,000 in value since last year.
Read more »
Here's one way to get rid of your Christmas tree in BurnabySTM Green Team will be hosting a tree chipping and bottle drive fundraiser this weekend (Jan. 7).
Read more »