Atlantic Canadian poet, multi-genre composer Bethia, brings us into her orbit with compositions in the soft jazz, alternative blues and inspirational genres. With five self-published books of poetry: The Secret Road, Transcendence, Praising the Rare, Poems from Queensland and Love in Reverse, a common theme running through her work is the hope for a better world through the practice of compassion in our daily lives.Influences on her music include such greats as Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, John David Souther, Kenny Loggins, Sting, Sade, Aretha Franklyn, Al Green, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Pat Methany, Lee Ritenour, Earl Klugh, Chaka Khan and Anita Baker.As an Atlantic Canadian songwriter, these are hard acts to follow with talents such as Lennie Gallant, Bruce Guthro, Russ Brannon, Ross Anderson, Doug Mallory, Ginger Seaboyer, George Antoniak, Laura Smith and Lisa MacDougall but Bethia continues to strive to do her part.Her literary inspirations include the great mythologist, Joseph Campbell whose life work in bringing the significance of myth and ritual into an every day context have had a major influence on her work. As well, the works of Jesus, Kahil Gibran, Marianne Williamson, Joseph Murphy and of course, the great and ageless poets and playwrights of all time, William Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, have all contributed to both to her drive to create as well as her priority in raising consciousness through her work and her life. Bethia has a particular fascination with Christian mysticism, which it is safe to say, is a guiding force both in her creative works and her every day life. She would say that sitting in front of the fire playing her guitar is one of her favourite pastimes. It’s all about “being in the moment, Eternity is right now…â€Bethia is currently making her music available for other artists to consider. Among those she feels would do a great job with her songs are the amazing Faith Hill, the lovely Wynonna Judd, the incomparable Bonnie Raitt and the soulful Chaka Kahn.
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