Rebeka Jaqua A few words with singer-songwriter and classically trained musician, Rebeka Jaqua. Leicester Bangs: Tell us a little about yourself. Rebeka: I am the youngest of a big musical family. All three of my brothers are talented songwriters. One of my brothers is a successful songwriter in Nashville. My father was a folk guitar teacher while I was growing up. We all had to be enrolled in his classes and sing 4 part harmonies before we were old enough to go to school.   LB: How did you start out making music? Rebeka: I have been performing since before I can remember. My first solo performance was when I was 11 years old. My brothers and I formed a country/folk trio when I was legal age to be in a bar. We played 2 nights a week for many years in two different taverns outside of San Francisco. 4 hours each night. I played a lot of fiddle back then. Later I joined singer-songwriter Hope McLeod and we formed a bluegrass band. It was then I began to write my own songs.   LB: Who did you grow up listening to and how do they influence what you’re doing now? Rebeka: The list would be too long. My father was a folk musician from Kentucky but loved opera. We listened to everything from Burl Ives to Paul Robeson, Willie Nelson to Luciano Pavarotti. I personally chose to listen to music as diverse as Motown and R&B to Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. I think my music reflects the soulfulness, the purity and the honesty of all the countless artists who have influenced me. LB: Tell us about your latest release. Rebeka: The album that I have just released to the public was in fact recorded some years ago as a project instigated by a non-profit environmental organization in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have always been involved in environmental action groups and much of my music is a reflection of my undying devotion to the protection of the Earth, the Divine Feminine and a fairer world. The album, which falls under the genre of power-folk, includes musicians such as guitarist Hershel Yatovitz (Chris Isaak) and drummer Ronny Crawford (Lisa Loeb).    LB: Do you get out and play your music live, and if so, what can an audience expect at one of your shows? Rebeka: I love to perform and would love to do more but right now I am rather tied down to living on an organic farm in rural France and raising a son. When the time is right to get back up on stage, an audience can expect this humble singer songwriter to spill her heart and soul.    LB: What aspects of playing and recording music do you most enjoy? Rebeka: I love it all really. I love to perform and I love to record. Right now I am back in the home studio, working on new recordings when not working in the field or kitchen.   LB: Where can people find (and buy) your music? Rebeka: MySpace and CD Baby (links below) www.myspace.com/rebekajaqua www.cdbaby.com/cd/RebekaJaqua