Meet Judette Elliston | Vocalist, improviser, and composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Judette Elliston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Judette, what are you inspired by?
Any practice – singing, meditation, going for a walk – that immerses me in a sense of stillness. Allowing my mind to wander is crucial, though it often requires patience and a bit of facilitation. It’s in this state that I feel most creative, able to let go of my ego and enter a flow state. I believe it’s a bit of a myth that you have to be alone to access this sense of stillness; I am equally inspired by witnessing others access this state, especially in musical settings.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a Haitian-Canadian vocalist, improviser-composer, and sound artist based in Brooklyn, New York. My work focuses on amplifying our inner worlds; exploring the emotional and ancestral histories that reverberate within. Through song, I hold space for listeners to engage in collective remembering, self-exploration, and ultimately move towards healing. My music draws from the improvisational spirit of jazz, singer-songwriter storytelling styles, and the rich rhythmic traditions of Haitian folkloric music.

The cultivation of vulnerability is an integral part of my collaborative process. I learnt a lot about this when writing and recording my EP “Tiny”, which will be coming out in the fall. These original songs, written for a quartet of voice, harp, cello, and guitar, paint a portrait of my early childhood. The EP features a lot of free improvisation, and balancing the emotional vulnerability of the lyrics along with the risks in the improvisation was quite daunting for me. To be true to my vision, I realized I had to surrender myself to this vulnerability. Once I, the bandleader, let go of the need to be in control, the other musicians were really able to open up, and the music flourished.

I grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald and watching old musicals as a kid in Ontario. My family noticed my passion for music and signed me up for voice and piano lessons at a young age. When I was a teenager some intense shifts happened in my home life and music became my anchor. It was then that I started writing more of my own music and realized I wanted to pursue it as a career. I finished high school at The Wellington Jazz Academy in Nanaimo BC, where I played piano in big band and found a community of other young jazz musicians. In 2016, I received a scholarship to study jazz at The New School, where I further developed my voice as a composer and fell in love with free improvisation.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to always act in service of the music. In NYC, it’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others, and let external pressures cloud your artistic vision. These days I’m pretty intentional about how I share my art and how I cultivate community with my bandmates. I always check in with the intention behind my creative and business decisions, ensuring they align with the music’s mission of healing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love hosting friends, so I’d start by making a nice breakfast at my apartment before we head out for a morning walk. We’d grab coffee and a mochi donut from Win Son Bakery and stroll through Cooper Park. After that, we’d head into Manhattan for the day, checking out some museums and stopping for lunch and shopping in Chinatown. If the timing is right, we’d grab a slice of pizza at Joe’s before heading back to Brooklyn to catch a house show. I really enjoy the intimate nature of a living room concert!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have immense gratitude for The Makers’ Ensemble and the community it has cultivated. This grassroots ensemble of emerging artists, predominantly queer people of color, provides vital programming and support for artists like myself. I’ve had the pleasure of performing for their ‘Intimate Artist Nights’ at their venue The Makers’ Space over the years. The Makers’ Space has been a transformative space for my music, always allowing me to experiment and bring in new material. It was actually at a Makers’ Space show in 2022 that I played my first solo synth and voice set, which has since become a cornerstone of my artistry. But more than that, The Makers’ Space has helped me find my queer community in the music scene. Being a part of this community has been incredibly grounding, especially as an artist navigating their career in post-pandemic NYC.

Website: https://judetteelliston.com

Instagram: @jud_ette_bagu_ette

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@judetteelliston

Image Credits
Federica Borlenghi
Hailey Rozenberg
Nicholas Emery
Willa Folmar
Samantha Feliciano
Jealyn McFadden