On 11th November 2023 we were visited by Iraqi-Kurdish singer Nawroz Oramari who gave a masterclass on the voice then spent the afternoon making music with some of the Alchemy artists. Nawroz was born in Kurdistan in the rural area of Zakho where he says he learned to sing from the goats and sheep by copying their sounds to entertain himself, as there was little to do and no electricty. He was a talented singer as a child and even featured on national radio. He became a non-violent freedom fighter, singing to keep people’s spirits up during Sadam Hussein’s regime. He was arrested and suffered greatly, and much of his family lost their lives. He came to the UK as an assylum seeker in 1989 and has lived in London since. He is still singing, and is also an activist working to educate young people that they should challenge oppressive systems of control. You can hear his story in detail in his BBC radio interview “How I Sang for my Freedom” here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1k2z.
Nawroz did a fantastic masterclass for us at the Goldsmiths CCA. He sang for us and told us a little about his life, how expressing himself as a teenager meant that his life was in danger, and how he uses his voice to sing to his body to heal himself when he’s unwell, which is something his father used to do. He also told us about his ‘electricity voice’ technique where he sings straight to the hearts of listeners. The technique works by allowing emotion into the voice, singing ‘through the eyes’ and pouring emotion through the sound, connecting to the people in the room. He showed us how he uses a ‘yodelling’ method to create the slides the cuts in his voice which is creates the distinctive Kurdish sound, but can also be heard in lots of traditional music around the world, including the Middle East, Asia and Europe. He also explained how different scales tell different stories and create different emotions.
Kenny (as you can see from the video!) was blown away by Nawroz’s voice and spent the afternoon singing with him. You can hear them working together here on Kenny’s song Never Give Up. Nawroz brought in harmonies and invited Kenny to expand his voice even further, and work on his dynamics (loud and quiet) sections.
You can see how Nawroz listens to Kenny and sings at the same time, supporting while giving space. Much of what he is doing is improvised. He also helps Kenny where to feel the resonance in his chest and his head with some simple gestures. Towards the end of the day, Reese, Taiwo, Kenny and mentor Andrés gathered in our main Alchemy room, joining Nawroz as he sang a traditional Kurdish song, adding guitar, harmonies and clapping. There are incredible stories in all of the voices in this video, and the connection between all of them in this moment was so inspiring to see. All cultures, genders and ages can intersect to make something beautiful happen, and music as always acts as the most incredible bridge, not to make everyone the same, but to build new rhythms and melodies out of everyone’s differences.
Nawroz will join Alchemy Artists in the Goldsmiths Music Department on Saturday 9th December at 2pm for FREEDOM! An Alchemy Showcase of some of the new music and spoken word that has been created at Alchemy this term. The event is free and refreshments will be provided.
Thank you to the Goldsmiths CCA for including us in their residents scheme and giving us the space to make these masterclasses possible.
