Meschiya Lake has an unconventional past for a New Orleans based jazz singer. Born in southern Oregon, and raised in South Dakota, she first came to New Orleans in the year 2,000 as a glass eater in a traveling sideshow.
Immediately smitten with the Crescent City’s unique, diverse culture, and beautiful dilapidation, she’s called it home ever since. Her musical career began at the tender age of nine in a South Dakota Steakhouse, where she won an adults only singing contest, netting $500 and a regular gig. In 2007 she joined up with traditional jazz outfit, The Loose Marbles, and began what she affectionately refers to as “jazz boot camp”, completely immersing herself in music. Unsatisfied with the position of being a sideman in the band, she formed her own group, The Little Big Horns.
Her self-produced, and self-released debut album, Lucky Devil, with the Little Big Horns has gone on to garner international acclaim. David Kunian named it one of the four top New Orleans releases of 2010 for NPR’s All Things Considered, and her tireless dedication of her craft has earned her the Big Easy Awards title of Best Female Performer two years in a row, 2010, and 2011. The Little Big Horns are now in high demand, both at home in New Orleans, and internationally. When not playing nearly nightly at home, they can be seen on regular tours throughout Europe. Keeping strong ties in the New Orleans tradition, they’ve brought their love of the art form to such places as The Lincoln Center, The I Love Jazz Festival in Brazil, Tonder festival in Denmark, Take Root festival in Holland, and counting. Meschiya is currently working on producing and releasing her sophomore release with “The Lil Bigs”, due out early 2013.
“With the superlative and atmospheric playing of The Little Big Horns providing the perfect musical setting, Meschiya Lake has given this fantastic music a new lease of life.”
– Dave Haslam, R2 (Rock ‘n’ Reel) magazine, UK.
Drew Landrys’ music can be described as a personal mix of interesting, original tracks about politics, the economic crisis and hard life choices.
On Wednesday the 12th of June a documentary about Meschiya Lake called “True Family” is programmed at Filmhuis Den Haag. Visitors of that documentary receive a €2,50 discount on their concertticket at Paard van Troje when presenting your movieticket at the door (only at night). Click here for more information.