Singer-songwriter and Portland native Tahirah Memory developed a passion for music at a young age. With humble beginnings singing along to R&B records at home, Tahirah grew up to become a highly sought-after vocalist. She has collaborated with musical heavyweights including KD lang, Esperanza Spalding and her late, GRAMMY-winning father, trumpeter Thara Memory, and has toured internationally fronting her own band. Her second album, 2019’s Asha, garnered nominations from SOULTRACKS for Best Female Vocalist, Best Album and Best Song. Currently, Tahirah can be seen showcasing her catalog live, while working on new music.
Arietta Ward, affectionately known as Mz. Etta, is a pillar of Portland’s music scene and a torchbearer of its rich blues, jazz, soul, and funk traditions. The daughter of the late piano legend Janice Scroggins, Arietta carries forward a legacy of musical excellence. Known for her unmatched versatility and commanding presence, she has graced stages as a featured artist at the Sawtooth Valley Gathering, the Waterfront Blues Festival, and opened for Macy Gray at the Elsinore Theatre. Her collaborative resume includes work with Esperanza Spalding, Linda Hornbuckle, Curtis Salgado, Obo Addy, Jarrod Lawson, Nigel Hall, and more. “All of the music, all the songs…” she says, “these are my stories. They’re stories that need to be told, and I am here to tell them.”
Inspired by the soulful sounds of the 1960s, PDX Soul Collective is a new soul music collective from Portland. At the core of the project are bandleader and trumpeter Farnell Newton, guitarist Gus Berry, keyboardist and bassist Michael Elson, and drummer Tyrone Hendrix. Drawing inspiration from masters of the style from the past and present, including The Chi-Lites, Otis Redding, The Isley Brothers, Lee Fields, and Sharon Jones, PDX Soul Collective’s sound and raison d’etre are encapsulated in their name. With ample groovy drum breaks, driving bass lines, rhythmic guitar interplay, rolling keyboards, and soulful brass, the Collective is reviving Portland soul music.
