Bio

I'm an Americana singer-songwriter and guitar player, who's really into soul music, rhythm & blues, and gospel. I was born in Los Angeles and I’m based in Chicago now, but grew up in Sweden with my mother and grandmother, who both came from Poland.

I play lead as well as rhythm guitar. 

I was incredibly honored to be featured in the November 2019 issue of Guitar Player Magazine, interviewed by the great blues artist Sue Foley.


One EP, Two Singles and an Album 
 
Many of my songs were written with lyricist Paul Menser. We collaborated on my 2017 solo album, ‘‘Love Will Lead You Home, ” the 2018 singles ‘‘When Do I Tell Him” and ‘‘Where Luck Can Find Me,” and my latest album, "World is Waiting," which is out on Blackbird Record Label.


Inspired by Pops Staples and Paul McCartney

As a guitarist, I’m really into soul pickers like Pops Staples, Teenie Hodges and Prince, and Carlos Santana was an early inspiration. Singing-wise, I love Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, and Dinah Washington, but I always aim to sound like myself. My songwriting has always been inspired by soul, gospel, and classic rock, with colorful harmony and great melodies (my favorite writers include Sly Stone, Jerry Ragovoy, Dan Penn, Paul McCartney, Carole King, Burt Bacharach and even ABBA's Bjorn and Benny... hey, I grew up in Sweden after all!)


Guitar Book,  Writing for Guitar Player & The Chicago Tribune 

I wrote a rock guitar instruction book called “Women’s Road to Rock Guitar” (Alfred Music – you can get it on Amazon and iBooks.) I have a guitar lesson channel on TrueFire.com called ”Twang, Soul & Rock 'n' Roll,” and I'm a contributing writer for Guitar Player Magazine and The Chicago Tribune. I also teach workshops and classes in guitar and songwriting at The Old Town School of Folk Music, and do interviews and lesson articles for Guitar Girl Magazine... it's important for me to encourage and give back. 
 

Last but not least, I have a great passion for world travel, and for the last four years, my husband and I have explored the cuisine and music of every country in the world in alphabetical order. We call our project “Around the World in LA — and Chicago” and post about our explorations on my Facebook page. Since 2022, I also write an article series on this subject for The Chicago Tribune.
 

2023/2022

My Chicago-based band features Chris Corsale (lead/rhythm guitar, backing vocals); Teddy Myers (keyboards); Chris Stanford (bass, backing vocals), and Rich Lackowski (drums, backing vocals). Watch moments from our 2023 shows!

We’re currently working on my songs for my next album, and performing around clubs, festivals and house concerts in the Chicago area. We were also selected by the Illinois Arts Council to be a part of their ArtsTour Roster in 2023-2024.

I interviewed Courtney Barnett for Guitar Player, and it became the Feb -22 cover story.

I played in Nashville during the 2022 AmericanaFest week with many of my mates at Blackbird Record Label.

 

2021

I played my first shows in Chicago (my husband and I moved there as 2020 was wrapping up), and “World is Waiting” was officially released in Europe.

I started teaching at The Old Town School of Folk Music, and also had the honor of interviewing and writing stories on two of my personal guitar heroes for Guitar Player: Carlos Santana and Teenie Hodges. 
 

2020

My latest album, “World is Waiting,” came out on Blackbird Record Label (which I joined in September.) One of the songs was recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis. The album is produced by myself and Joshua “Cartier” Cutsinger, mixed by Ethan Allen (Mavis Staples) and mastered by Gavin Lurssen (Robert Plant & Allison Krauss.) The album got a 4 out of 5 star review in American Songwriter, and received very positive reviews in Americana and other roots music press in the U.S. and Europe, as well as radio play.

 

Back in 2019... 
...I played actively with my LA band, who are featured on “World is Waiting”: Joshua Pessar (guitar, vocals), Rob Fresco (bass, vocals), and Rich Lackowski (drums, percussion.) 

I played at the 2019 Americanafest week in Nashville as part of the ”California Country” showcases, and opened for Stax artists Southern Avenue in Los Angeles. 

In the fall, I was featured in Guitar Player Magazine, and launched my guitar lesson channel on TrueFire.com. 

 

Artist Endorsements

I'm endorsed by Seymour Duncan pickups. 


Stay Tuned!

Sign up to my mailing list to stay tuned, and check out my music (and e-book) on iTunes, Apple MusicSpotify, Amazon, Bandcamp, and more!

Live at a NAAM show in Anaheim. Photo: Chris Moseman

My feature in the Nov 2019 issue of Guitar Player, in Sue Foley's column, "The Foley Files."

My rock guitar instruction book, released by Alfred Music.

Making a music video during the pandemic for "You're the Only One Who Gets Me." Videography, directing and editing by Adrienne Cohen-Isom.

In downtown LA. Photo by Deb Morrison-Littell

In LA with Manda Mosher, co-owner of Blackbird Record Label, and Emily Zuzik. Photo by Eric Craig.

With my LA band, who are featured on my "World is Waiting" album: Rich Lackowski (drums), Rob Fresco (bass), me, Joshua Pessar (guitar). Photo by Stephen Fahlsing.