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Having always loved music I first came across Javanese gamelan music at the South Bank Centre in London in 1999. Fell headlong into an intense relationship with it which resulted in 3 years of living learning and then perfoming in Java, Indonesia. Wow, a great journey which led to all kinds of adventures, performing on television and radio in Java and being an established member of a troupe of musicians accompanying every performance of the well known pupeteer Ki Purbo Asmoro in his all night 8 hour(!) wayang performances.

In 2005 I returned to the UK and since then have been singing with the South Bank Gamelan Players as well as Laras Laris, and also travelling across Europe as a singer of Javanese music. Now the time has come for new possibilities and so alongside the continuation of traditional gamelan singing I am exploring other ways to use what I have learnt through studying and practicing this beautiful art form.

At present I am finding new ways of singing traditional Javanese songs with a range of non-javanese instruments, such as the song Ngimpi here arranged for string orchestra by Pete Smith and played live in Kingston Parish Church on 20 mins rehearsal time! (Thanks to Wupadupa for the opportunity to get involved in their amnesty festival.) Most recently I spent 2 weeks studying Hindustani Dhrupad singing with Ashoka Dhar in Kolkata.