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 48^th 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