Lynette Powers is a mother, a wife, a daughter of music, a sister, a friend, a woman of faith, and a musician who uses her creativity as a tool. It is a powerful tool of self-reflection, personal growth, survival, and is meant to inspire others to navigate the challenges and joys of life.

As a child, I got my first taste of singing at about age six in a small church in Camp Springs, Maryland. The first song I remember singing was called "Give Me My Flower While I Can Smell Them," with my two sisters LeAnn and LaVedia. As time went on, I performed in my junior high school glee club, the choir, countless open mic nights, and with cover bands.

Yes. My parents, William and Marion Powers, were talented musicians. My dad played the percussions, and my mother was a gifted vocalist who played the chitlin circuit with the Sunlight Stars in the '60s. She also sang in the choir at 2nd Union Baptist Church in Washington, DC.​Jazz appeals to my love for all things abstract, especially art. I love all the possibilities and vibes that come with jazz. There are no limits on how I approach music. I recall countless jam sessions with my parents, witnessing them engage in an amazing creative process. My dad and his friends would start with popular music of their time and transform it into something unique and remarkable, doing their own thing. Ultimately, I gravitated to a more organic sound, with an authentic vibe. I simply get a group of musicians and we start jamming.

That is a tough one for me because I love and admire so many artists, both men and women. They all have a special place in my soul and my life. But if I must be specific, on a good day I channel my inner Billy Holiday, Phyllis Hyman, Al Jarreau and I love Jill Scott.