Tak The Buckles_ Scottish Folk Foray

With L2 CAP student Christopher Adams we worked together to learn some Scottish folk songs to sing together. We shared an interest in folk songs as story telling devices and a way to express an experience or feeling. Using traditional songs I wanted to queer the narrative. I wanted to experiment with the ‘gendered voice’ (see #AnneCarson) and so Chris with his deeper baritone voice would sing the lines of the ‘female character’ and with my alto voice I would take ‘the male vocals’. I sing to him “Tak the buckles of ye shin, ma bonny lassie-o”. A simple ploy to subvert expectations. #uncanny #voice #genderedvoice

I took our singing and experimented with simple time stretches and subtle pitch shifting, listen below.

I try to release the voice from it’s ‘natural anchor’ and allow it become something other. The uncanny sound of a voice that has been affected. #scifivoice #otherworldly #lipsynch #dennispotter #bluerememberedhills

Richard Layzell’s Performance Masterclass

During the masterclass we improvised in groups working to simple briefs to create experimental performances. I found it challenging as it was necessary to give oneself over to the experience, making me feel vulnerable and mentally drained by the end of it. I felt it was a worthwhile exercise as it made me me understand further the kind of performer I was.