VI.BE

Joni Sheila is a Belgian singer-songwriter with Filipino roots, known for her soulful voice and raw, honest songwriting. Named after Joni Mitchell, she grew up in Ghent and first made waves as one of Belgium’s pioneering crowdfunding artists. Her debut album Change (2014) was entirely fan-funded, a bold move at the time.

From the streets to the stage, Joni built her career by busking across Europe and beyond. She played major Belgian venues such as Ancienne Belgique, Arenbergschouwburg and 404 and was crowned best street performer not only in Belgium and the Netherlands, but also in Melbourne, Australia.

Her story drew international attention, earning her a TEDx talk in Vienna (2015) and a feature in the Dutch documentary Hessels Herberg (NPO2), highlighting the best street musicians in the Netherlands.

In 2016, she followed her adventurous spirit to Australia for a year-long musical journey. Upon returning to Belgium, she launched another successful crowdfunding campaign to release Acoustic Sessions II.

When the pandemic hit, Joni (like many artists) had to press pause. But the time away from the stage sparked something new: a growing awareness of the lack of Asian representation in Belgian media and arts. In 2022, she decided to curate a musical showcase with Asian artists: Asian Persuasion. What began as a single event has since grown into a recurring platform and movement.

After years of traveling and performing on the streets, Joni closed that chapter in 2023 to refocus on her own music and full-band performances. Though she traded busking for the stage, her mission remains the same: connect, create, and amplify unheard voices (her own included).

To be continued...