A space to sing without judgement
What is Noisy Joy – and who is it for?
In this audio, Deb Wilkes chats to Anna Carr, leader of Noisy Joy - a women’s singing group meeting in Bitterne Park that Anna describes as “raucous… playful… and tender”.
It’s not a choir. There are no auditions, no sheet music and no pressure to be ‘good’.
“It’s about being able to let go and enjoy making noise together,” Anna says.
That’s part of the appeal. Some arrive convinced they can’t sing, but are quickly put at ease.
“I’ve been that person,” Deb - who attends the group - says. “But I feel really comfortable in those sessions.”
Anna says the idea grew from her own experiences of singing - and how vulnerable using your voice can feel.
“We all have voices about voices inside us that judge ourselves,” she says. “I wanted to create a space where there was less judgement… where women could feel freer and more invited to take up space and have fun and be playful.”
Sessions are simple and informal: a cup of tea, a gentle warm-up, then a handful of easy, repetitive songs learned by ear, with space to add harmonies and movement.
For some, it feels like “a cosy space… to be silly and make a noise”. For others, something of “a secret club”.
A new block of sessions is coming up at The Old Chemist on Wednesday evenings - see the flyer, above, to find out more.
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