Soul Sounds - Natural Voice Communal Singing

Soul Sounds is a monthly communal singing group led by Damien Mahoney, using the Natural Voice approach and introducing some group improvisation practices.
Natural Voice (NVN) is a network of people who work with song and voice, believing that singing is everyone's birthright, regardless of musical experience or ability.

Natural Voice is about celebrating the voice you were born with, rather than trying to train it to an ideal of perfection. It's about building non-judgmental, accepting communities that sing together.

'If you can talk, you can sing!' (Zimbabwean expression)

For our ancestors, chants and songs would accompany every kind of activity. Individuals and communities expressed emotions through their songs – joy and celebration, grief and despair. Songs fulfilled a myriad of purposes both practical and profound.

Coming together as a community to reclaim this vital form of expression is a powerful way to loosen and release emotional blockages in the body. It can be particularly helpful for issues relating to communication, creativity and connection to others.

A session will often involve some physical movement, toning and voice warm ups. The musical pieces are often short, using simple call and response chants and songs from around the world.

FACILITATOR:
Damien is a Manchester-based musician and producer. He trained as a Natural Voice Facilitator with Frankie Armstrong and has also trained with Phoene Cave (The Musical Breath), Jenni Rodditi (Vocal Tai Chi) and Guillermo Rozenthuler (Circle Singing / Training For Vocal Leaders).
Passionate about the healing power of sound, Damien regularly provides live music for therapeutic events including meditation, dance, breathwork and yoga sessions, retreats and ceremonies. This work includes the live improvisation trio, The Order Of Love. He also writes, produces and sings for the band Caulbearers.
He is the curator of Music As Medicine, a live music event aiming to bring communities together through music & dancing, drawing on world influences and encouraging collaboration and improvisation between artists.

“Natural Voice is about each of us finding a way of connecting to our unique, authentic voices which can help us feel more alive, energised and expressive. My role is to help guide people through this process so we can connect with the healing power of our own and each other's sounds. There is no need to know musical theory, or be able to read music. The songs and sounds we share are generally learned by ear, in the oral tradition.”

***the session will start at 7pm but please arrive from 6.45pm***

£7.50 advance tickets (+bf) & £10 on the door

VENUE:
Ascension Church in Hulme is a warm, inviting space close to the city centre, with plenty of room for participants and is wheelchair accessible.