Dronechoir + Special Strength + Spitgod
As director, composer, curator and performer, my aim for Dronechoir is to present beautiful musical experiences that provide deeper connections between women of different cultures and communities.
Dronechoir performances require no fewer than four female vocalists of various ethnic backgrounds and musical interests who perform an unrehearsed piece that I’ve composed. Each singer is given musical and movement cues through earphones.
Although the base composition of the piece is a constant, Dronechoir continuously reshapes itself through space-specific movement directions that are fed to generous, adventurous vocalists of diverse backgrounds whose voices vary in volume, range and timbre — which is where the movement directions come into play, physically foregrounding specific singers at different points in the piece. As a result, the singers may move closer to members of the audience than expected, bringing depth to the listener’s experience by challenging comfort barriers and introducing a heightened sense of engagement with the performance.
But discomfort is also a factor for the performers: Dronechoir combines unfamiliar collaborators with an unrehearsed performance, and everyone is singing together for the first time with people they may never have met before. We’re given the opportunity to become comfortable with our discomfort, settling into the unknown. Throughout the piece, the vocalists learn what their role is within the choir and composition. By committing to this unrehearsed performance they naturally demonstrate a sense of hope and support, acceptance with what is in the moment, love and respect to our audiences and each other.
Confirmed vocalists and dancers for June 6th:
Claire Duncombe, Arone Dyer, Stephanie Morgan, Katie Richter, Charity & Lively Cimarron, Whitney Moore, Lavender Blue, Grace Engel, Julia Christgau, Coco Nuco, Isabel Castellvi, Madelyn Ilana, Isabelle Celeste, Sol, CaroMia Tiller, Dominique Warfield, & Jazmin Rogers.
Arone Dyer is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer & director, a founding member of duos Buke and Gase & Mistresses. Since February 2015 she has been examining dis/comfort within performance through a series of long-durational choral pieces, aptly titled Dronechoir, which was initiated during the first edition of 24-hr Dronefest at Basilica Hudson, and has since metamorphosed into a moving meditation of subtle sonic changes. In addition to her own projects she has made appearances on the National’s 2018 Grammy-winning release Sleep Well Beast, creating the introduction to their #1 Billboard Hit “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”, and collaborated with Deerhoof‘s Greg Saunier on a cover of Connie Converse’s “Playboy of the Western World” featured on David Garland’s Spinning-On-Air podcast. (photo credit: Shannon Greer)
Special Strength!
Moon darkness through eyes sunlit. Resting on time and talent on moment. The noticing of the world. The glimpsing of a path. The flowing of an idea. The soul of the world is not crying. Special Strength! is a trio with Pam Howe’s voice and songs. Fatty on bass and Ryan Oslance on drums.
