birth_place background instrument genre article_title name occupation
winnipeg , manitoba , canada solo_singer piano , flute , vocals indie , pop carla lother
 carla lother singer , songwriter , musician
carla lother

carla lother is a singer , songwriter , pianist , and flautist originally from winnipeg , manitoba , canada and currently based in new york city .
lother was born into a musical family .
her mother was a classical pianist , and her father was a cabaret and jazz singer .
in her early years she studied classical piano , and won her first competition at the age of six .
much of her formative years were spent travelling and participating in various festivals and workshops .
she also sang in choirs , which lother later credited as an influence in her style of writing harmony .
at 15 , her brother invited her to join his rock band , and she was exposed to the likes of todd rundgren , the police , and led zeppelin .
in 1978 she took home first prize at the concours de musique du canada and the canadian outstanding artist award in 1987 .
lother studied at university of manitoba and the banff school of fine arts at the university of alberta .
she eventually hitchhiked to new york city to attend the mannes college of music on a scholarship .
going to school in the united states also provided her with a visa .
she received a masters in piano performance and a professional studies diploma in voice , all while working cleaning bathrooms and answering phones at the school .
after graduation , she continued to work at mannes as director of continuing education .
lother borrowed $ 2,000 from a friend for studio time and a producer in order to record her first album .
she was introduced to david chesky who in turn introduced her to producer joel goodman .
from there , she signed to chesky records and her first album , `` ephemera , '' was released in 1999 .
a second album , `` 100 lovers , '' followed in 2004 .
four songs from this album are collaborations between lother and plasmatics guitarist richie stotts .
apart from her studio albums , lother does session work , has recorded for cri recordings , and performed vocals on a bang on a can release .
she sang in advertising for dove soap , mastercard , kit kat , kitchen aid , and maxwell house .
she directed musical theater for aspira 's project enhance which teams professional musicians with at risk students .
lother also maintains a private studio of piano students .
