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NOMI YAH is a songwriter, producer, singer and musician. She has
worked with dozens of artists, performed over a thousand shows internationally
and written hundreds of songs.
Nomi was born in the Bronx, New York, and raised
in Mendocino, California. She lives in the Bay Area with her son. Her name was
originally Naomi Batya Ginsberg, her nickname was Nomi. For a stage name she
tried Nomi Batya, but it was too hard to pronounce and people started calling
her Nomi Yah.
Her mother, NICOLE MILNER, an accomplished composer and pianist
taught Nomi to read music and the alphabet at the same time. She began
performing publicly at age 7 and writing songs at age 8. At 13, she co-wrote KING OF KINGS (Maranatha! Music), an internationally
known church song, considered a classic. At 19, she began performing
professionally with bands as songwriter, singer, keyboard and bass player.
In 1984, Stevie Wonder and Prince were using
multi-track home studios; writing, performing and producing nearly everything.
She was inspired to get equipment and learn to produce.
Nomi has been a promoter in clubs, concerts and
festivals including Palookaville (Santa Cruz), Ashkenaz (Berkeley), Storyville,
Club Foot and Radical Culture Festival (San Francisco).
Nomi has been compared to Joni Mitchell, Gwen
Stefani, Madonna. She was inspired by Linda Perry, Bob Dylan, Bone
Thugs'n'Harmony, the Bible, J.S. Bach, Grandmaster Flash, Paul Simon.
Career Highlights
2008: Receives 8 forwards in the first half of the year from
various publishers and A&R companies for film/tv and artist recording
opportunities. Manages the West Coast Songwriter Competition at the Freight
& Salvage in Berkeley.
2007: Receives 14 forwards from various publishers and A&R
companes for film/tv and artist recording opportunities. Performs on various
stages at the Songwriter Festival on Music Row in Nashville. Manages the
monthly West Coast Songwriter Competition at the Freight & Salvage in
Berkeley.
2006: Receives over 20 forwards from various publishers and
A&R companies for film/tv and artist recording opportunities. Wins ASCAP Popular Music Award.
2005: Releases debut CD 2 NOMI IS 2 LOVE ME,
songwriting, producing and performing. Recorded at Nomi Yah Music, Oakland CA.
Mixed by Rankin Scroo at Crucial Youth Studio, Oakland CA.
Wins ASCAP Popular Music
Award.
2004: Produces,
composes and performs SALAGA
MARKET CD by XSample. Recorded at
Nomi Yah Music, Oakland, CA. Mixed by Rankin
Scroo at Crucial Youth
Studio. WinsASCAP Popular Music Award.
2003: Wins Tonos A&R Pick for CONSPIRACY from GET 2 NOMI CD. Wins ASCAP Popular
Music Award.
2002: Songs from GET 2 NOMI featured on film ISLAND PARADISE.
2001: Releases
compilation CD PEACEFUL WORLD,
a benefit for UNICEF, with Nicole
Milner and XSample. Recorded at
Nomi Yah Music and Crucial Youth Studios, Oakland, CA. Participant in the
lucrative fundraiser for Red Cross Katrina Response sponsored by CD Baby.ALL
PROCEEDS DONATED TO UNICEF.
2001: Releases
CD single GET 2 NOMI,
songwriting, producing and performing. Features guest artist Xsample. Recorded by Elio Schiavo at Mom's Studio, Oakland, CA. Vocal
production by Claytoven and mixed by Dennis at Subway Studio, Oakland, CA.
1999: Composes
and performs music for PRISON on the CD EEKSPERIENCE by Eek-A-Mouse.
Recorded by Elio Schiavo at Mom's Studio, Oakland, CA.
1988: Releases
single IN THE WAKE OF A DREAM,
songwriting, producing and performing.
1986: Produces her
first single RHYTHMS &
CHANGES, songwriting, producing and performing.
1985: Composes
and performs original music for theater piece TRAUMSCHUHE in Berlin.
1982: Composes, writes
lyrics and records original musical SOMEWHERE
IN BETWEEN.
1974: Co-writes KING OF KINGS (Maranatha! Music).
Here's a partial list. If you know
a show or artist I’ve left out, please send me an email so I can update the
list.
Artists performed and collaborated with:
Amlak Tafari / Area Leader Music
Syndicate / Beth Custer / Brimstone / Buppy and the Uplifters / Cannon and the
Lion of Judah / Claytoven / Clocks / Sarah Shelton Mann and Contraband / Culture
Canute / CSBV / Dennis D Menace / Dr. Jinglez / Dread and the Chosen Few / Eek
A Mouse / Elio Schiavo / Emsley Frazier and Razor Blade / Faisel / Found
Objects / Genie Majeeda / George and the Wonders / Grand Son Demus / Hurricane
Gilbert / Jules Beck / Jeffree Mooney / Junior B / Keith Hennessy / Kingston 12
/ Kristyle / Kulture Kanute / Kwama Roots Mama / Lickshot / Lionel “Mr. Music” Randolph
/ Living Theater / Locura De Amor / Lucky Kat / Majah P / Majestic / Major
Terrer / Mark Eitzel and the American Music Club / Nao Bustamante / Obeyjah /
Oonka Symeon / Ralph Eno and the Twitchers / Rankin Scroo / Ras D / Raskidus / Red I / Richard Marriott and Club Foot
Orchestra / Ron “Hookstown” Brown / Ryan Daisley / Jeff Miller and SFSF /
Sister I Live and the 48th Street
Band / Sly Fox / Sonar Eclipse / Starhawk and the Black Cat Band / Stevie Love
/ Sweet Chocolate / Tequila / The Backups / Theater Action Group (TAG) / Toho /
Tony D / Traumschuhe / Triplex / Twelve Year Olds / Twisted Roots / Unda P /
Vince Black / Wadi Gad / XSample / YahWanag
Venues:
CALIFORNIA:
Alameda - Island Paradise
Berkeley - University of California Berkeley / Ashkenaz / Juneteenth
Festival / Seen Festival at People’s Park / Club Chibbo / Club Muse / Freight
& Salvage
Chico -
Chico State University
Davis - University of California Davis
Fresno – Club Fred
Hollywood – Key Club / Kulak’s Woodshed / Universal City / Roxy
Theater / The Gig
La Honda - Greenpeace Benefit
Monterey - Monterey Bay Reggae Festival
Mount Shasta – Mount Shasta World Music Festival
Oakland -
Club Jjang Ga / Reggae in the Hills / Sweet Jimmy’s / The Continental Club / FM
Smith Recreation Center
Palo Alto - Fanny & Alexander's Pamona – Glass House
Petaluma – Pheonix Theater
Sacramento - Ricki’s / Jamaica House / Red Lion Inn / Scratch 8
San Diego - Viejas Casino / Belly Up Tavern / House Of Blues
San Francisco - Club Foot / Maritime Hall / Rad Cult Fest / Mabuhay
Gardens / Slim’s / Sound of Music / Eagles Club / El Rio / Pier 23 / Paradise
Lounge / Great American Music Hall / Valencia Tool and Die / On Broadway /
Jelly’s / Juneteenth Festival / Club Foot / Maritime Hall / Reggae in the Park
/ Jillian’s At The Metreon / El Rio / Storyville / Bamboo Hut / Klub Komotion
San Jose – Waves / Agenda Lounge / Club Ibex / Fuel
San Juan Capistrano - The Coach House
San Rafael – Fourth Street Tavern
Santa Ana – The Galaxy
Santa Barbara - The Coach House / The Shack
Santa Cruz - University of California Santa Cruz / Positively Front
Street / Vet’s Hall / Catalyst / Palookaville / Boulder Creek Brewery /
Brookdale Lodge / San Lorenzo Park Duck Pond (AIDS Walk)
Santa Rosa – Sonoma County Fair
COLORADO:
Boulder - Tulagi
ENGLAND:
London – (I’m still
researching the names of the clubs)
GERMANY:
Berlin – (I'm still
researching the names of the clubs)
HOLLAND:
Amsterdam – (I'm still
researching the names of the clubs)
MARYLAND:
Baltimore - 8X10 Room
MASSACHUSETTES:
Cambridge - House of Blues
Nantucket - The Muse
Northampton - Pearl Street
MEXICO:
Cabo San Lucas – Cabo Wabo /
Cabo Mil Festival
MICHIGAN:
Royal Oak - Fifth Avenue
Billiards
NEW YORK:
New York City - Joe's Pub at
the Public Theater, Brooklyn College
Buffalo – Calumet
NORTH CAROLINA:
Kill Devil Hills -
Port-O-Call
Wilmington - Saxons By The River
OHIO:
Cleveland - Agora Theater
OREGON:
Eugene – The Wild Duck /
Oregon Country Fair / Wow Hall
Portland – Berbati’s Pan / Roseland Theater
RHODE ISLAND:
Matunuck - Ocean Mist
SOUTH CAROLINA:
Charleston - The Music Farm
SPAIN:
Cadeques – Los Pirates.
Barcelona, Gerona, Rosas – (I’m still researching the names of the clubs)
TENNESSEE:
Nashville - Nashville
Songwriter's Festival on Music Row (Curb Records stage, American Songwriter
Magazine stage, Sure Fire Music stage).
UTAH:
Salt Lake City - Safari Club
VIRGINIA:
Hampton - Mill Point Park
WASHINGTON:
Seattle – Bohemian Club / Doc
Maynards
Artists shared the bill with:
This list will be very long if I
ever get started remembering them all. I'll add more later:
Alpha Blondy / Andrew Tosh / Arkansas
Man / Bedlam Rovers / Ben Bacot / Born Jamericans / Buju Banton / Chris Isaak / Clan Dyken / Donny Rasta and Roots Vibration
/ Elbows Akimbo / Foundation / Frankie Paul / Fully Fullwood Band / Grandson
Demus / Higher Heights / Invertebrates / Israel Vibrations / Itals / Kosono / Lady
Saw / Lucky Dube / Jah Levi / Makka B / Mark
Eitzel and the American Music Club / Michael Franti / Michael Rose / Pato
Banton / Rankin Scroo and Ginger / Reggae Angels / Sanchez / Sean Paul / Skatalites
/ Vibes Supreme / Zodiac Sound
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