These Songs of Freedom

These Songs of Freedom Won't you have to sing, These songs of freedom? - Redemption Song Bob Marley As I write, XR Rebellion actions are taking place across London and only two weeks ago Greta Thunberg united millions in the #ClimateStrike.  Business as usual is being disrupted to urge our governments to face the greatest emergency of our lifetimes and our species.  Song, chant and voice is at the centre of this movement, as it has been in so many revolutions, marches and protests. For when we claim our voices, whether for our own personal transformation or for that of our communities and global family, freedom dawns. Personal Rebellion Even the most subjected person has moments of rage and resentment so intense that they respond, they act against. There is an inner uprising that leads to rebellion, however short lived. It may be only momentary but it takes place. That space within oneself where resistance is possible remains. - Bell Hooks  Singing is an amazing force to free our mind, body and spirit from enslavement - liberation comes to the person who by singing reclaims their voice from a teacher who shamed them as a child. In my one to one sessions, I am honoured to witness people owning and releasing the power of their voices from the grip of old stories and writing a new chapter for themselves. It takes courage and commitment to unpeel the layers and claim new levels of empowerment, creative expression and energy in our lives. Social Rebellion The supreme task is to organize and unite people so that their anger becomes a transforming force. - Martin Luther King The signature of XR is Love and Rage.  In polite English society we are taught to swallow rage with the result that it lives on in our bodies, emerging as disease or depression.    When we allow ourselves to register that our boundaries have been violated and our freedoms oppressed, the rage that arises, when channelled creatively can open doors to personal and social freedom.  Singing channels powerful emotions into action - the activism of social change. So much contemporary music - jazz, RnB, soul, gospel, pop - finds its roots in the spirituals of Afro-American slaves who sang as a way of surviving, overcoming and escaping slavery. Songs such as Let Your Little Light Shine were coded messages about the Underground Railroad that allowed slaves to escape via a route of safe houses.  The photo above is of singers at the Civil Rights Movement, in which SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committees) was a leading organisation.  When one of the leaders Sam Block went to Missippi to start voter registration campaigns the first thing he did was teach people freedom songs, realising that:  I began to see the music itself as an important organizing tool, not only to bring [people] together but also as an organizational glue to hold them together. Creative Rebellion In art, rebellion is consummated and perpetuated in the act of real creation, not in criticism or commentary.  - Alfred Camus The making, doing, living, breathing act of creation holds immense power.  All oppressive regimes understand this and seek to censor and control artistry.  There are also more subtle forms of oppression that pervade our societies - institutionalised forms of discrimination, prejudice and exclusion of the voices of those labelled 'other.'  However history teaches us that these untruths cannot hold, that the voice of truth will rise up to challenge, rebel and find freedom.  Creative action is at the core of liberation. A song, a poem, a dance can strike a chord that resonates far more powerfully than a multitude of talking heads trolling, carping, critiquing, commenting.  Singing together can unify, harmonise and make a symphony from cacophony, celebrating and liberating the contribution of every voice. Global Freedom Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. - Arundhati Roy   It was an amazing experience to be amongst so many young people singing and chanting at the Climate Strike.   The young voices of our world are rising and making themselves heard, carrying their love, care and vision for the future on their wings.  A new world is being birthed through their songs and voices and we must listen to their call.

October Overtures As the Autumn leaves bronze, the singing season is getting into full sway for choirs. Please click here for the full October line up and a special thanks to everyone how made this years Sing for Water London such an amazing experience. If you'd like to liberate the revolutionary power of your voice  121 or at a choir do drop me a line. Wishing you a rebellious October Photo -  Jon Parke, Sing for Water

Singing Our World Well

Singing Our World Well In a gentle way, you can shake the world  - Ghandi The world feels especially topsy turvy at the moment on a local, national and global level. The rise of right wing governments is accompanied by brutal misogyny, racism, environmental destruction and oppression of minority groups including the LGTBQ community. For me the question comes repeatedly, how can I serve, what can I do?during these very intense times.  For me, empowerment and peace comes from starting with what I can do in my corner of the world - small daily actions like smiling at strangers, making ethical consumer choices, protesting intelligently and of course singing where and whenever possible.... Whatever your gift, whatever your abilities, whatever your situation - just by being here, you are contributing to the wellness of the world. Singing Makes Magic In Mayhem When the world turns upside down, the best thing to do is turn right along with it - Mary Poppins The mistress of magic, Mary Poppins, teaches us to seek the possible within the impossible and to look for new perspectives available when life turns upside down. Anyone who does yoga will have felt the benefit of turning themselves upside down in a downward dog. Similarly walking backwards can press the reset button on our brains.  We have the capacity to alchemise our challenges, to find the magic in the madness. Singing sprinkles some magic and brings a fresh perspective on day to day life: as Jack Pelham, MD of Men's Chorus Sing Montana identifies It is for me one of life’s most meaningful experiences, and yet its meaning is strangely non-pragmatic. I mean, it’s not like the economy does better because of men singing, or that it solves congested traffic patterns. But its value lies in something of a different sort; there’s something so “human” in the experience. And I find that Jack is simply a better person when there’s something like that to be experienced, and to be looked forward to each week. Caveat: Actually, we know that singing does boost the economy - an Arts Council report demonstrates that arts and culture industries generated £3.4 billion in 2015. :) Singing Activism It's a folk singers job to comfort disturbed people and to disturb comfortable people - Woody Guthrie. There are multiple ways in which singing has been used to bring wellness, strength and peace to those who are suffering. Singing is now being prescribed as to alleviate the suffering of those with many health conditions including COPD, dementia, Parkinsons and mental health issues. Singing has also been used as a revolutionary tool to disturb oppressive systems and regimes - singers including Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Joan Baez and Peter Seeger were all at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.  Some evolutionary theories suggest we started singing as a noisy display tactic to frighten away predators and enemies.  This ancient battle cry can be found ringing around football stadiums and a recent study showed that football teams who sang their national anthems with great passion were more likely to win! As I write, huge amounts of people are taking to the streets to protest the proroguing of the UK Government. There are also ongoing events and protests by Extinction Rebellion. If you are interested in joining mass chants at events in October with the leader of the Spooky Man's Chorale, please email Stephen Taberner.  There is also an Extinction Rebellion Choir Facebook Group As singing activates our inner wellness, we are motivated to contribute to the wellness of the world. It's a natural cycle of giving and receiving from the magic of song, that rides on the wave of every breath.

Coming Up... After a wonderful summer, I'm excited about the new term of Autumn singing - please visit my choir page for the full line up. If you'd like to flex your activism and wellness singing muscles  either 121 or at a choir do drop me a line. Wishing you an awesomely active, wellness boosting Autumn Photo - sunset perspectives, Recent wonderful trip to Aarhus