We’ve got a wide range of experience

Between us, we have a wide range of musical skills, experience and backgrounds which when glued together creates a vibrant musical fusion for our listeners. We have arranged all or part of many of the songs we sing by using our collective skills of written musical notation, singing by ear and creative imagination.

Either together or individually we’ve performed at National Street Music and Raise Your Banner Festivals since1988, fundraising and charitable events, folk clubs and local festivals, indoors and on the streets!

Between us we’ve sung and performed in other harmony singing groups including Bradford Voices Community Choir (visit www.bradfordvoices.org.uk), Achord (visit www.achord.org.uk) and instrumental groups such as Codarajo, Red Herrings Street Band, Leeds/Bradford Samba Band. Read more about each of us on this website.

DAVE - JONNY - KEITH

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Dave
As a 14 year old paper boy I sang to myself on the round, providing that nobody was in sight! There was no music happening at school, and my next memory of singing was in the 6th form room, when, on some comedic pretext, I burst into a current ballad, “may I have the next dream with you?” As the laughter subsided, someone said “actually that wasn’t bad”, and I thought “I could enjoy singing!”

Eight years later, at college (teacher training), I had a go at learning guitar plus singing, with the idea that such skills would be useful as a first school teacher. Teaming up with another student to sing was both nerve wracking and exciting, but unfortunately I was not destined to be a teacher at that time, and instead spent the next 10 years working with stained glass, where there is little call for singing! Although I didn’t use my learnt guitar skills for teaching I did carry on my guitar playing and have performed in several places and with groups such as with Voicemale, but also with Codarajo – a former instrumental folk band which included singer songwriter Rehal Guzelian.

Years later, chatting to two friends, one said that he used to enjoy singing, and the other two of us agreed. Almost like a revelation, we realized that there was nothing stopping us from getting together to sing, and for a few months we enthusiastically tried to arrange 70’s favourites, complete with harmonies and fumbling guitars. One week, Richard, one of the trio, reported that he had been to a new community choir in Hebden Bridge, led by the wonderful Kate Howard, and I went along the next week. The result was to set up a similar choir in Bradford, which I instigated as a WEA class in 1996 with Kate as the teacher…… and it’s still going strong today.

For me this 25+ community choir, Bradford Voices, (visit www.bradfordvoices.org.uk) was the real start of singing, and at 42, definitely better late than never! Being in the choir gave me so much and I like to think I bring this experience to Voicemale. – 1) A love of harmony singing, and especially songs from around the world. Quite a few of these express themes of justice, and peace, which is a bonus. 2) A basic understanding of written music, which is useful! 3) A love of performing. 4) Opportunities to link up with various people to collaborate and sing in different contexts, from folk clubs to outdoor stages to formal concert venues. Whilst with Bradford Voices I had go at arranging some of the songs and helped lead some of the choir’s performances for various events.

Apart from singing with Voicemale I also sing with the 7 piece mixed harmony singing group, Achord (visit www.achord.org.uk). I do some song writing and sing solo, and in 2007 I set up a community choir in Ilkley. Leading this is a new and exciting challenge! Probably inspired by this, I have written a song which is about encouraging anyone, anywhere who lacks the confidence but feels the urge – to SING!

I run music activities for ‘Sacar’, a support group for people with asperger’s syndrome and autism. I also encourage singing through my voluntary work with ‘BIASAN’, a support group for asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK from a range of nations.

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Jonny

I’m the tallest youngest singer of our trio and my name is Jonathan though everyone calls me Jonny. I have sung ever since I can remember from the days of going to church and being out on my horse. Although I am not, my mother was an evangelical Christian which provided me great opportunity to sing my little heart out. I have always been awed and struck by the beauty of harmony and melody. In secondary school I played and sang the lead role of John Travolta in Grease the musical as well as Nicholas Nickelby in SMIKE and Dandy Dan in Bugsy Malone. I played clarinet in a swing band and the local orchestra until I left the Orkney Islands to start University. I have always enjoyed playing and singing music but like a lot of people I didn’t keep up with my practice and playing until a few years ago.

Through Bradford Voices community choir I found my voice again, as well as the two blokes featured on this website. To me, my music is all about emotion and meaning. In Voicemale we collectively bring our styles, ideas and beliefs of how a song should sound, be arranged and performed.

Although I mainly sing bass, I love pushing to the top of my register so don’t be surprised if you hear me changing parts, even part way through a song!

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Keith

I’ve been singing since 1995 and although I play guitar, prior to 1995 my main interest has been in rhythm. I’ve always been a drummer/percussionist and played in the 80’s as a member of the Manchester People’s Band, Bradford’s ‘Red Herrings Street Band’, Leeds/Bradford School of Samba and I’ve been in bands as far back as a teenager when I got my first drumkit. I aim to bring my creative sense of rhythm into Voicemale whether it’s through voice, instrumental pieces or with actual use of percussion.

I have been a long standing member of the 25+ Bradford Voices community choir (visit www.bradfordvoices.org.uk) as well as Achord (visit www.achord.org.uk), the 7 piece mixed harmony singing group. I’ve sung at over 15 National Street Choir and Street Music Festivals including being an organiser for the one held in Shipley/Saltaire in 2005 and have helped organise community choirs to sing at the 2007 Raise Your Banners Festival of political song and campaigning arts. I arrange songs more through sound and I like to work a lot through improvisation - something I take from my background in drama/theatre work.

I am just mad about getting on stage and performing to an audience. It should come as no surprise to hear that I was trained as a drama teacher, got a job as a community drama worker and have appeared on stage in repertory theatres, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and have even done some street theatre.

By the way I’m the smallest man of the group but often sing in the highest of pitches!

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