Odeya Nini is a Los Angeles-based vocalist dedicated to the exploration of voice and its relationship with space, body, and mind. In A Solo Voice, Nini showcases how the natural resonance and energy of the environment react to her vocal instrument. I was able to chat to Nini over the phone about this project and its evolution since its creation ten years ago.
“I was really curious about understanding how these sound waves that come out of our bodies move the space and air around us… and then there’s something else that comes back from the space, depending on what it’s like, and that’s just magical to me”
Although the work continues to change thanks to her drive to experiment with the push and pull of vocals and acoustics, Nini still maintains the central themes of human connection, being present, gratitude, and love around her art.
Lately, Nini’s work has taken a refreshed and renewed focus on sound healing. Sound baths are an immersive experience of meditation and deep relaxation typically done under the sound of singing bowls. In the case of voice baths, Nini’s full rounded vocals carry you through a mental and spiritual clearing. Now imagine if Nini’s voice was brought to the front of your doorstep. I See You did just that, inviting people across Los Angeles to connect with her during the isolation of the pandemic.
“A big part of it was eye-gazing. I was looking at their eyes the entire time… it was an invitation to be seen and for me to see you. We’d been seen on video, but generally we weren’t being seen by other humans…It was extremely moving.”
Odeya Nini will be performing A Solo Voice at the Live Arts Exchange (LAX) Festival presented by the Los Angeles Performance Practice on Thursday, November 4, 2021. Tickets and more information are available here.
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