SONJA BISHOP Just released her best album so far! 14 songs written by all times best melody maker from Eastern Europe- the one and only Mr. Raimonds Pauls! Album released in Baltic States and Finland. Lyrics for the album written by US writer Molly-Ann Leikin , an ASCAP awarded lyricist previously working for Cher, Placido Domingo, Billie Jo Spears e.t.c. Big dreams spur Sonja Bishop on in her music career. Performing for fifteen years in venues all over northern Europe, she finally realized a taste of her real dream in the summer of 2002 when she sang in the United States for the first time as a contestant in the Washington State Colgate Country Showdown. A total newcomer, after three competitions, Sonja was only two points shy of becoming the Country Showdown winner for Washington. "It would have been great to win," Sonja said, "But, coming here twice this summer and making some good connections makes me want to pursue my dream of singing in the United States even more." The dream began when Sonja Lindh was three years old and living with her parents and three brothers on a dairy farm that has been in the family since 1752. It is located near the small town of Kronoby, Finland (about 500 kilometres or 310 miles north of Helsinki near the west coast). One of Sonja's earliest memories is pretending the back porch was her big stage and the porch lights her spotlight. She sang to the cattle and the wind, but in her mind she was singing in America. Sonja's career began early. At age 10 she was performing gospel and other music for church and school. She grew to love country music, initially, by listening over and over to a Jim Reeves tape that her parents had. When asked why she sings country, Sonja replied, "I sing all kinds of music, but country music is so expressive, and it comes from the heart. I love traditional country like the Texas Swing." At the age of 15 Sonja was discovered when a neighbour told the leader of a local country band that Sonja could really sing. Borje Nylund was so impressed with her ability that he invited her to join his Country Life Band. Sonja smiles when she remembers how nervous she was for her very first performance with them at a community festival, but the moment she stepped on the stage the fear disappeared in her joy of singing. The audience was amazed at such a young woman's voice and skill, and proud to have a professional vocalist in their small community. Sonja frequently is invited to sing for community events, weddings, funerals and parties. In 2000 Sonja and two other female vocalists held a very successful church concert to raise money for underprivileged people in their community. In 2002 she organized and performed for two large Christmas concerts. Sonja sang with Country Life for five years, mostly performing songs written by Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, and Borje Nylund. Her fine mezzo soprano voice allows her to sing a broad range of hits. Sonja's parents have continually been a source of support, even allowing her to go on tour with the all male band to Sweden when she was only 15. They later performed for dances and concerts throughout Scandinavia. In 1990 Sonja recorded her first album, "My Best Friends", at The Barn, Country Life's own studio. While singing with Country Life, Sonja met another vocalist, Helene Nylund, with whom she formed a vocal duet. They travelled and performed extensively in Finland and Sweden for ten years. Helene's husband, Peter Nylund, produced their first joint album "Straight from Our Hearts" in 1992. Their second album was a collection of Swedish Christmas songs. Wanting to try different styles of music like jazz and pop, Sonja contacted the director of the Kokkola Estraadi School of Art. The first time she sang for Alf Mylloari he said that she is a real "Swing girl", meaning that swing and jazz suit her. Sonja took jazz lessons from him for about a year and a half. She also performed Swedish dance music in 1988 with a group called Husbandeth. Although it was fun for the brief time she performed with them, she discovered that her heart was more in country and jazz music. "I love to do the music people like. That is why I'm multifaceted," she said. "When I sing jazz I feel so relaxed and satisfied. I also have a strong feeling for singing gospel music, and I do concerts with a four piece band and sometimes with a choir in church."