Naomi Louise Warne

Ukamusic is a new century global music collective founded by vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Naomi Louise Warne . It’s spontaneous and ever changing, from the band members to the style of music, its artwork and fashion. Naomi’s 24 year collaboration with the great saxophonist Charles Neville culminates in Ukamusic new release “You Are There.”

The original band U-ka was created by native Australian Naomi in 1993 when she lived in New Orleans. The inspiration of this city and her collaboration with the great jazz saxophonist Charles Neville (The Neville Brothers) produced some fabulous live performances, including the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival, and the U-Ka Live at Snug Harbour CD. 

Naomi began her career at an early age singing lead vocals for Australia's Young Northside Big Band. They performed at the esteemed Monterey Jazz Festival where Naomi caught the eye of Jazz Legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, Joe Williams, and Buddy Rich. John Lewis of the ‘Modern Jazz Quartet’ was so taken by her voice that he compared her to the “Late, great Julie London.” 

Naomi graduated from the New South Wales Music Conservatorium in Jazz Studies, and holds a BA in Psychology from Sydney University. She spent her 20s making a mark in the Australian music scene as the voice behind numerous movie and television theme songs, including the popular national children's show Wonderworld, TV commercials and, as an in-demand session player. She acted in Sydney theatre productions and movies while her original music turned up all over Australia, featured in TV mini-series and, the pick for theme song for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Her song, "Shine on Me," co-written with Nicholas Charles, beat out thousands of entries, including submissions by world famous artists such as INXS.

Naomi has worked with such industry giants as Falchner 0’Kelly (Sinead O’Conner, Bananarama) and Malcolm McLaren (Sex Pistols, New York Dolls, Bow Wow Wow); and Jazz and Blues great Charles Neville. Rob Hirst from Australia's iconic band Midnight Oil calls her “One of Australia’s most gifted blues singers.”