WaterSaw Band Members

Nicole Laby‘s formal training as a vocalist began in her early 20’s. She utilized classical skills to create a solid foundation for the development of non-conventional vocalizations. Nicole‘s travels to Africa, Asia and the Middle East inspired her to create an array of vocal sounds and textures influenced by local music, urban sounds, and organically occurring sounds in natural habitats, such as jungle and desert terrain. For three decades Nicole performed her original music as a singer-songwriter and guitarist in Bay Area bands. She enjoys the challenge of creating varying styles of music, including non-lyrical sound scapes, folk, electronic, rock, country and ambient. She has recorded upwards of twenty albums over the past thirty years. Nicole draws inspiration from artists such as Meredith Monk, Habib Koite, Juana Molina, and Tom Waits. 

Michael Tornatore is a self-taught drummer of 32 years. His passion for the instrument has kept him consistently involved in musical projects ranging from Jazz to Metal. Michael spent 7 years in the Los Angeles music scene & the last 14 in San Franciscos' which has exposed him to many different opportunities & challenges. His thirst to grow & love for the profession has him currently involved in nine projects with varying styles, personalities & commitment levels. Michael possesses a solid meter while presenting creative parts to serve the song while channeling his love & energy for the music. Michael recently left the corporate world to enjoy a more family & musically-oriented life balance. 

Mia Pixley, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, mother, composer, and musical artist who uses her cello, voice, and performance to study and represent aspects of self and others, community, and the natural world. Mia has performed on GRAMMY award-winning albums (Fantastic Negrito), off-Broadway musicals (Futurity), and in national tours (Windham Hill Winter Solstice). Recent commissions also include a piano and violin duet for concert violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. Mia has collaborated with artists in the San Francisco Bay Area and NYC. She received her professional studies' diploma in cello performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Jennifer Culp. Mia's discography includes a full-length album (Margaret in the Wild, 2021) and two interdisciplinary EP projects (Spar Suite, 2020 and Passage, 2022). She is excited about her soon-to-be-released project via the immersive virtual art residency wildly, "Sound of the Reef: Coral Enneagrams," which is based on the nine enneagram personality types alongside Mia's love of marine life. You can find all of her music on streaming platforms and Bandcamp.