The Notes Between with Germana Stella La Sorsa

Women in Jazz Media: The Podcasts

Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series’ The Notes Between’ with Lara Eidi. Conversations exploring everything behind and about the world of songwriting! Our theme music ‘Breathe Love’ is from Lara Eidi herself available here

In this episode, Lara talks to songwriter Germana Stella La Sorsa

Italian London-based singer Germana Stella La Sorsa migrated from Puglia, Italy in 2017 and quickly established herself on the London jazz scene. "Nudging boundaries as she goes” (The Slow Music Movement) and exploring “the crossroads of many musical components, including story, composition, genre and style as well as instrumentation and effect” (London Jazz News), La Sorsa released her debut album 'Vapour' in 2021 on 33 Jazz Records.

The singer melds her disparate influences in her second studio album, 'Primary Colours', released in January 2024 - once again on 33 Jazz Records - with the support of Help Musicians. Following the success of 'Vapour', 'Primary Colours' continues to ride the contemporary/avant-garde jazz wave, further exploring the boundaries of improvisation and sound experimentation, drawing upon modern sounds and grooves, from drum’n’bass to Latin music.

Both eclectic and versatile, La Sorsa has performed in the most iconic London jazz venues - such as Ronnie Scott's, The Spice of Life, Vortex Jazz Club, Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club and Oliver's Jazz Bar - but also Internationally, playing at Jazz Festivals such as the Al Bustan International Festival (Lebanon - with Faris Ishaq and Kham Quartet), Taranto Jazz Festival and Ceglie Jazz Open Festival (Italy).

La Sorsa started performing in Italy at an early age, working her way up through the Italian Jazz scene to ultimately perform at the side of one of the most influential European jazz musicians: Franco Cerri (Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, Django Reinhardt and many more). Besides her singing career, Germana currently teaches singing technique and jazz singing both privately and at Morley College (London). Website: Germana Stella La Sorsa

Athens born to Lebanese Canadian parents, Lara Eidi is an artist that thrives on being different. As an independent artist, singer and multi- instrumentalist, she has carved a path for herself that continuously aimed at reshaping and developing her voice as a storyteller. An accomplished and reputable singer-songwriter, pianist, recording artist and jazz- folk vocalist of her own accord based in London and Athens. Her music has gained her critical acclaim as a genre bending artist (BBC Artist, 2020), described as “a singer with true gift of a voice, a kind soul, and a captivating presence.” (Jazz UK). At the heart of her being as a multi-disciplinary artist, she is sought after as a composer for vocal film scores, writes as a freelance music journalist, and is in demand as a creative workshop leader. Her music seeks to elevate and heal, and as a result, she creates genre- defying songs with a great emphasis on story telling. Her latest album ‘Sun’, her long awaited debut album, is all about pulling the threads of her folk, acoustic rock and jazz-classical upbringing to her message of hope, empowerment, and freedom. As a soloist, her recent debut performance at the infamous Royal Albert Hall, singing select pieces from Greece and Lebanon form the MedievalByzantine Traditions sees Lara engaging on a series of select and innovative performances with the SAUDHA Indian Classical Music Association. Lara Eidi website