Singer-songwriter Machan steps out Friday night - Former backup singer and guitarist for Sting, Aretha and Pink Floyd plays the Warwick Inn

Warwick - A few years back, following an extensive tour with Sting, the singer/songwriter and guitarist Machan finally felt the confidence to strike out on her own as a performer. “Even though I had some great experiences, working as a background singer wasn’t what I really wanted to do,” she said in her promotion material. “ When I was younger, I hadn’t found my direction or my voice as an artist, so I hid behind other artists.” Granted, those artists also included Pat Benatar, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Hiroshima, Government Mule and Pink Floyd. “The guys in Pink Floyd were mega rock stars yet they were down to earth and wonderful to work with,” Machan added. “They taught me that success doesn’t mean you have to be out of touch with reality or change who you are. You decide who you want to be and what to do with that kind of power.” Machan decided she wanted to be out front. Today she continues her musical journey with the release of her second CD - “Motion of Love” on Nu Groove Records, which showcases the many facets of her exotic adult-pop-meets-jazz sound. Machan appears Friday evening, June 20, at The Dautaj at Warwick Inn from 8 to 11 p.m. Her new CD features guest appearances by jazz greats John Medeski, John Scofield and Randy Brecker and Brazilian percussionist Portinho, as well as strong musical contributions from Government Mule’s Danny Louis (who is Machan’s husband). Her mother was a Japanese jazz vocalist who met Machan’s father when he booked her trio, which also featured pianist Toshiko Akioshi, into a post World War II officers club in Yokohama. Raised in the U.S., by the age of twelve Machan had taught herself to play the guitar, emulating her early musical heroes such as Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, and had begun to perform in venues around her hometown. By the age of 16, she was supporting herself as a performer. She studied jazz theory and vocal performance at William Patterson College, and soon found herself sharing the stage with artists ranging from Pink Floyd to George Benson to Sting. “Now I feel like I’m back on the path that I started down when I was a teenager. I’ve come back to my own main road now, and I am so happy to feel back on track. “I hope that my music will touch or inspire them in some way. After all, isn’t that what everyone wants - to contribute and make a difference?” If you go: Singer-songwriter and guitarist Machan, accompanied by a bass player and a Brazilian percussionist, appears Friday night, June 20, at The Dautaj at the Warwick Inn Show time is 8 p.m. There is no cover charge. For information, call 845-986-3666. To listen to Machan’s music beforehand, visit www.geishagirlmusic.com or www.myspace.com/machanmusic.