sound
Through the world of Roy Hart theater, I have been exploring the mystic world of vocal archetypes and improvisation over the last 20 years. Through experimentation, I have adopted elements of jazz, classic and lament singing in my vocal expression. A fascination for pre-linguistic sounds, breath modulation and extended vocal techniques makes the body an essential collaborator in my musical journey. Familiarizing myself with sound synthesis and sound design has allowed me to transform the voice into compositions including narrative and poetry, as well as techno and more experimental electronica.
This song is inspired by Shervin Hajipour’s “Baraye”, written during the current protest movement in Iran. 16 year old Nika Shahkarami starts of the song. Expressing her right for freedom during the protests she was unrightfully killed. I was deeply touched when I heard her beautiful angelic voice for the first time. It was clear to me that she had to start the song in the same way that the many brave women did start the courage of the masses. Then whispers are following, for me they symbolise the many invisible connecting forces conjuring up a revolution, despite the suffocating sound of an inhalation. This song should give support and contribute to the momentum of the freedom fighters in Iran.
Concealed behind our masks and in national “safety” nets of surveillance, ways of “protection” can feel fake in this era of climate emergency and ongoing pandemic. My sanity tries to find ways to resist in an overwhelming world. Can the cocoon of the confinement era be a transformational opportunity to mature, break out of the corset and heal our “natural” contact with others and the environment? In my dreams my subconscious runs “back to the woods”, wanting to join the animals living there.
Listen to the soundtrack of the performance “The Memory of Voice” which I composed to sonify the journey of a voice to find herself back. Expressions such as sighs, shrieks, laughs or “oh!”s of surprise put human expression at the center. Breath and movement are knitted together with harmonious melancholic singing and techno beats
