Kenya Hall of Portland is a sensational R&B and soul singer. The Kenya Hall Band CD “Learning for Miles, Vol. 1” was released in 2010, and there is a follow-up on the horizon. Hall recently gave GO the skinny on her background, performing live and what’s happening with her band.

“Learning for Miles” is a terrific album. What’s your favorite song on it, and why? 

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Kenya Hall

Tough call. In fact, I think it’s changed a few times over, because I’ve heard and played those songs so many times by now. The last track, “Understanding,” which is one we don’t play out very much — in fact, I think we have only played out once — sums up the phrase “learning for.” Whether it be for yourself or another person; learning for growth or for profit, it’s hard to gain your next lesson if you can’t understand the situation. And too many times, we as a whole tend not to understand others’ (let alone our own) issues, so we get hung up on uncertainty, and uncertainty will never let you advance.

How old were you when you started singing? What were the circumstances? 

I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t singing. In the basement of the house I grew up in, in choir, to my sister, to my parents, in between verses of my brother’s rapping, during commercials in between our afternoon cartoons. The easier question to answer is what were the circumstances when I was quiet.

What would you say are your biggest sources of inspiration?

Living, growing and learning. Acknowledging those three gifts and accepting where I am.

What’s your favorite part about performing live? 

To be honest, it’s taken a long time to have a favorite part about performing. When I first started performing, it took me so long to become comfortable with being myself in front of a group of people. That’s not easy for someone who is not an attention ham. For me, entertaining and being a musician are two different arts.

Don’t get me wrong, they complement each other beautifully, but not everyone is capable of both, because sometimes you become so immersed into the art you are trying to convey that you just don’t look right — you stand crooked, your eyes close, your mouth contorts, your feet dance without you acknowledging it. Your body is on stage, but your mind is out trying to paint a masterpiece, and at one point you have to stop worrying how you look to others and tell the story of how you look to yourself. So to answer your question, everything from the first downbeat to when I say goodnight to the audience.

What have you been up to lately in terms of music? 

Working a lot on new material. We’ve also recently had a few members change over, and just like any relationship, it takes time to get to that comfort level that makes a band sound like one unit. I do think we are at that point, so now writing as a band is on the forefront. I’m also looking to expand our playing area while cutting back how often we play in town. When you’re a new band, it makes more sense to play in town as often as possible, because you’re trying to get your name out there. But as your name gets older, I feel it’s important for bands to make each show more of an event and not play as often and try to draw larger crowds a few times, rather than small crowds often.    

When can we expect a new CD from you and your band? 

There is one in the works. When it will be done, however, is another story. A wise person said, “You can’t rush inspiration,” and he’s right. I want it to be finished and fulfilling and not rushed. But next fall or winter would be nice.

Staff Writer Aimsel Ponti can be contacted at 791-6455 or at:

aponti@pressherald.com