Noga Ritter is an exciting singer-songwriter poised to release her 2023 debut album. As a much-loved and respected London-based eclectic jazz singer, Noga’s upbeat global grooves have sold out recent London shows including a performance as part of the 2022 EFG London Jazz Festival and the first Jewish fringe festival in London, Tsitsit. Translating from Hebrew as ‘mother’, ‘Ima’ is being released on 12th of May through Galileo Music.
The title track ‘Ima’ is a very special and personal song for Noga who wrote both the music and lyrics for her mother, Michal Ritter’s 60th birthday. Michal was a super creative woman who worked professionally as a Feldenkrais therapist for many years. Due to unforeseen and a very unfortunate turn of events, in her 61st year Michal Ritter was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in Israel in March 2022. At the time of her mother’s passing, Noga Ritter was completing work on her debut album, IMA. At this time, Noga decided to continue on with her creative project using the healing power of music and singing to help her to deal with and heal the loss of her mother. As Noga says,
“This song celebrates women, mothers as the creators of life, infinite love and creativity. Featuring Seckou Keita's unique kora sound on this song really brings to life the blessing I wished for all women to fly high and express their full creative power. Dedicated to my mother, Michal Ritter, who passed away from cancer in Spring 2022, this song is a tribute song with a wider message of empowerment and inspiration for women to express their creative voices and celebrate their art.”
As much a tribute song for Noga Ritter’s dear late mother, ‘Ima’ is also a song of empowerment and inspiration for women around the world. ‘Ima’ is beautifully enhanced by the sounds of the African kora as performed by Senegalese star kora player, Seckou Keita. As Noga sings,
“She continues to create/And gives life/Revealing ways to understand ourselves/ Mother/This is your time.”
Noga Ritter is a gifted songwriter, blessed with great songwriting craft but also an ability to actively engage with her audiences. Noga’s music fuses Hebrew Jazz with global grooves, her lyrics weave intimate and personal stories into a potent narrative of social-global issues Noga Ritter was invited to perform on BBC 1 television with her band as part of the 2022 Jewish New Year Rosh Hashana celebrations. Noga’s live shows are characterised by her natural effusive personality and dynamism whether performing as a solo artist, trio, quartet and up to her full 9-piece band.
Noga Ritter also uses her skills as a singer and communicator in a wide social context as a key workshop facilitator and singer for Music Action International, where she works with children from refugee and migrant backgrounds. For the last eight years, Noga Ritter has assisted and run workshops for young refugees across the UK. Music Action International provides creative sessions for refugees, asylum seekers and Roma people. They also provide programme consultancy, refugee & trauma awareness, talks, performances and commissions.
Noga Ritter’s new single ‘Ima’ and album IMA was made possible by an Arts Council England Project Grant (national lottery fund), Help Musicians UK and by a crowdfunding campaign. The single ‘Ima’ is releasing on 8th March 2023 through Galileo Music ahead of Noga Ritter’s debut album, IMA, scheduled for international release on 12th May 2023.