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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Life-long Yellowknifer Roya Yazdanmehr is inspired to build a career in music.

She attended the intensive four-day workshop at Northern Arts and Cultural Centre last week alongside established performers such as Diga, Pat Braden and Randy Sibbeston.

Singer Roya Yazdanmehr will perform on Saturday evening during an open mic at Javaroma. The aspiring professional performer attended the intensive four-day workshop held at Northern Arts and Cultural Centre on the business of marketing for artists. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

The 20-year-old singer said she is taking what she learned about the business-side of the music industry from professional music manager Debbie Peters to plan toward a career as a professional performer in coming years.

"This workshop helped give me a clear sense of direction so my goal now is to really work on the music," Yazdanmehr said.

"It was good to have the workshop to give me a future perspective on how this could evolve."

She has been taking voice lessons from vocal teacher Deanna Roos for the past year and has participated in the choral society. At Sir John Franklin she sang in the school choir. She plans to attend a jazz camp in Whitehorse.

She said she enjoys covering jazz and blues standards.

"I love Frank Sinatra," she said.

She also sings traditional African songs she learned from her friend Daniel Christensen, who moved to Yellowknife from Zimbabwe.

Christensen taught Yazdanmehr how to play the mbira, an African instrument that uses thin metal strips to create a unique staccato sound.

"I'm working on writing my own songs as well," she said.

She performed her original song Playing It Tough as well as a Coldplay cover onstage at this summer's Music in the Park competition, accompanied by guitarist Noel Taylor. She plans to compete again next year.

"Music really is such a powerful thing and it uplifts people," she said. "You can convey very positive messages, especially in this world where there are a lot of negative problems and things that people are focusing (on) and I think to have a message of hope is really important."

Yazdanmehr plans to sing tomorrow night during the open mic at Javaroma. The music begins at 7 p.m.