With a voice that has been described as powerful enough to “stop time and open the floodgates of the mystery,” Peruquois (Instagram: peruquois) is more than a singer — she is a living instrument of awakening. In this intimate conversation, the internationally acclaimed artist opens up about her remarkable journey: from jazz beginnings in Australia to shamanic transformation, global tours, and the creation of healing practices for women. Now, with over 30 years of experience, Peruquois continues to evolve as a voice of love, power, and feminine truth.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how has your journey evolved?
I wanted to sing ever since I was a child. I remember my first performance at just four years old in a pub in the small fishing village where I was born — I was placed on a stool and sang “Yellow Submarine.”
My grandparents were jazz musicians, always touring but often short on money. My mother, their daughter, toured with them too, which meant long drives, sleeping in cars, and cheap cafés. She didn’t want that for me. Her dream was for me to have a stable job — ideally, as a psychologist — or even better, to marry a rich man.
She almost succeeded in steering me away from music. But just before I turned 18, I visited my aunt, a clairvoyant. She told me she had a vision: I wouldn’t be a psychologist or even a musical actress, which was my dream at the time. She said I would become a jazz singer, succeed in Australia, and then take my music to the U.S. and the world.
At the time, I had no formal musical training. Her vision included me studying at a conservatory — despite only having one year to prepare and intense competition, I studied hard and miraculously got in.
I formed my first band a year later, and that launched a long, dramatic journey filled with twists, turns, betrayal, and relentless determination. The more successful I became in jazz, the less happy I was. At the peak of that success, I hit a crisis so deep I felt nearly suicidal. I kept asking myself, “Where did I go wrong?”
Then I remembered something. When I was 17, a flatmate — a female musician — once asked me, “If you could sing for anything, what would it be?” I wrote on a piece of paper: “If I could sing, I would sing for healing.”
Years later, standing by the ocean outside of Sydney, I cried out to the universe: “Please help me find my way.” I had a profound awakening — I felt the Earth holding and loving me. That moment changed everything.
Two weeks later, I met a Native American shaman. I left Australia, my career, and my entire life to follow him to the U.S. But it wasn’t a fairytale — he didn’t hand me power or knowledge. I had to reclaim it myself.
It was a deep, challenging path. But I emerged from it renewed. And I’ve never stopped learning. For the last 30 years, I’ve continued exploring the voice, sound, frequencies, and inner truth — and transforming that into music and healing practices for women.
Your voice has been described as having the power to “stop time and open the floodgates of the mystery.” How do you cultivate such a unique vocal presence?
During that awakening period, I touched what I now call the “origin of sound” — which, paradoxically, is pure silence. It’s a mystical space beyond time and form where everything is possible.
I learned how to become a bridge between that space and our physical world. Over time, my voice developed the capacity to shift people’s state of being — we’ve even measured it. I have soundtracks that, after just 10–15 minutes of listening, increase a person’s energy by up to 14 times and reduce blood oxidation, like getting four hours of deep sleep.
Could you tell us more about your musical influences — from jazz to Native American, Indian classical, Middle Eastern, and electronic sounds?
I never stop learning. After my jazz education, I immersed myself in Native American traditions, then lived in India to study Indian classical music. I trained with Middle Eastern musicians, and later with European electronic producers.
But eventually, I stopped thinking in genres. My music became a unique blend that adapts to the emotion or healing intention behind it. Some songs are more pop, some soul or R&B, others mystical or cinematic.
What drives your passion for touring globally, and what are some memorable moments from your travels?
I’ve been touring for over 30 years, though I’m more mindful now than I was in my 20s. I value endurance and presence. I don’t try to conquer the world in one go like some superstars — I go step by step, savoring each moment.
I love combining touring with travel. Performing in Bali, then resting in nature. Experiencing futuristic Dubai and singing in the desert. I don’t separate work and life — my life includes everything I do.
Can you elaborate on the practices you’ve created — Vocal Yoga, Vocal Tantra, and Emotional Cleansing — and how they support your music and teachings?
I’ve been facilitating women’s workshops for about 27 years. I was among the first to bring authentic feminine energy into modern spiritual spaces. It wasn’t easy — in the mid-90s, very few women resonated with what I was offering.
But things shifted. And I believe my energy and work helped fuel that change. My music has always been part of the practices I create — it’s not just a performance tool, but a healing modality.
And the truth is, a woman’s own voice is her most powerful healing instrument.
I’ve led workshops with women from 63 countries. Today, much of that work continues in digital form — through online courses available at peruquois.com.
How do you approach composing music and writing lyrics that express the human experience — especially longing, love, and awakening?
I love life. I feel it deeply — the ecstasy and the pain, the beauty and the shadows. I don’t avoid the difficult parts. I embrace them fully.
Despite a tough childhood and chronic physical pain due to genetics, I remain deeply grateful for every day. When my father died suddenly at age 3, he left me the gift of urgency: Life is short. Live and love now, because tomorrow is not guaranteed. That’s what wakes me up every day — to love, to live, and to create.
Looking ahead, what aspirations and future projects do you have for your music and your mission?
I want my healing soundtracks, women’s songs, and feminine practices to reach every woman on Earth. My dream is for every woman to feel fully alive, free, and radiant — expressing her essence and offering her sacred gifts to the world.