Michelle Ishida on Music, Creativity and Gathering Stars
Michelle Ishida is a Columbus-based musician, visual artist and writer who sings and plays keyboards for Gathering Stars. Learn more about her creative journey, musical inspirations and what she’s looking forward to as Gathering Stars takes the stage Aug. 2 at the 16th Annual Goodale Park Music Series.
Liz: For readers who may be discovering you and Gathering Stars for the first time, how would you describe your sound in your own words?
Michelle: Our sound is a classic live-band experience featuring three women singing stories full of emotion.
Liz: As a seven-piece ensemble, how does having so many voices and musical influences shape your songwriting and performances?
Michelle: We have a lot of diverse influences. It’s a band where everyone is encouraged to bring their own individual energy into the mix, and I think it works because we listen to each other and try to support the spirit of the song. We’ve covered artists ranging from Black Sabbath to the B-52s, but we make it sound like us. Our performances reflect how much we enjoy each other’s musicality and personalities.
Liz: How do you know when a song is finished and ready to share with an audience?
Michelle: We don’t truly know until we’ve shared it with an audience. Once we agree on the form of a song, we premiere new material at one of our happy hour shows and give it a test run. It’s always fun and exciting to see how people react.
Liz: What has been your most memorable live performance to date, and why?
Michelle: One of my most memorable performances was at Dick’s Den when so many friends from the local music scene and past connections came out. It felt like a mini reunion. I also loved all of our ComFest performances because they’re outdoors, and the atmosphere is so positive and community-focused.
Liz: What are some of your favorite Columbus venues, festivals or artists that people should know about?
Michelle: My favorite venues are Dick’s Den and Natalie’s. My favorite festivals are ComFest and the Columbus Arts Festival. Two local artists I think more people should know about are The Worn Flints for indie rock and Honk, Wail & Moan for jazz.
Liz: What keeps you inspired to continue creating and performing in Columbus?
Michelle: Gratitude. I’m grateful that we’re able to express our experiences and stories and connect with others. The best feeling is when someone tells me they were moved or felt better because of a song they heard at one of our shows.
Liz: What projects, recordings or performances are on the horizon for you and Gathering Stars?
Michelle: We recently released our second full-length album, A Day in the Life, and recorded our album-release concert live at Natalie’s Music Hall in May. We’re currently mixing that recording for a future live album release. Upcoming performances include ComFest on June 28, Dick’s Den on July 3, the Goodale Park Music Series on Aug. 2 and our annual Garden Party concert on Aug. 15. The Garden Party serves as a fundraiser that helps us continue producing new recordings.
See Michelle Ishida and Gathering Stars live Aug. 2 as part of the 16th Annual Goodale Park Music Series. The free concert series returns to the historic Goodale Park Gazebo every Sunday from July 12 through Aug. 9, bringing together exceptional local music, beautiful summer afternoons and the Columbus community from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
About the author
Liz Martin is a Goodale Park Music Series committee member.
This article is part of a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council as part of the Art Makes Columbus campaign. Explore a calendar of events, public art database, artist-curated public art tours and stories at columbusmakesart.com. To learn more about GCAC grants visit gcac.org.