Melissa James | Singer-Songwriter | Official Website — Tag Archive — inspirationinspiration Archives - Melissa James | Singer-Songwriter

Supporting Emile Sandé

An absolute joy it was to support Emile Sandé, and to appear at the 10th anniversary of the Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival on Monday.

An absolute joy it was to support Emile Sandé, and to appear at the 10th anniversary of the Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival on Monday. The experience was Divine, situated in the beautiful setting of St Mary’s Church in Rye alongside a warm and welcoming audience. So grateful am I for the invitation to be part of this event. And it was lovely to hear and meet Emile personally.

Stronger on Sundays – Sunday 24 April, 1800-2000 BST

Stronger on Sundays had been on pause while plans are made for the upcoming series. In light of the war in Ukraine, this special pop-up programme has been planned.

Stronger on Sundays had been on pause while plans are made for the upcoming series. In light of the war in Ukraine, this special pop-up programme has been planned. Discussing the plight of African people in Ukraine who have been forgotten in the midst of conflict, I am pleased to be joined by guests who can inform us on the situation on the ground in Ukraine for people of African heritage. All donations from ticket sales will go directly to Africans Rising in support of their work aiding Africans in Ukraine. To book, please visit the Eventbrite page.

Stronger on Sundays – Sunday 31 October, 1800-2000 GMT

My guest on SOS this month is Roger Wilson, co-founder of Black Lives in Music which has been carrying-out a survey to gather experiences of black and brown musicians in the UK.

My guest on SOS this month is Roger Wilson, co-founder of Black Lives in Music which has been carrying-out a survey to gather experiences of black and brown musicians in the UK. Roger will discuss some of the findings and alongside Roger will be Michael Eakin of the Liverpool Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Leslie Kwan, founder of The Monarch Network – a new media-production company that commissions and presents music-based exclusively in support of hospital staff, patients and their families at NHS hospitals. As always, you are welcomed into the SOS space. For more details and to book, please visit the Eventbrite page.

My Favourite Toons

I recently had the great pleasure of speaking with attorney Michael Fuller for his podcast, Drop Da Biscuit.

I recently had the great pleasure of speaking with attorney Michael Fuller for his podcast, Drop Da Biscuit. I am always happy to have a conversation about music so I was glad for this opportunity to talk about songs I love that have meaning to me. A little like Desert Island Discs – but a bit longer and fewer song choices.

Stronger on Sundays – Sunday 26 September, 1800-2000 BST

I am looking forward to hearing first-hand from writer Alex Renton about his discovery in recent years

I am looking forward to hearing first-hand from writer Alex Renton about his discovery in recent years of his own family’s direct involvement in the slave trade in the West Indies; learning about the impact of this knowledge on he and his own family. Plus hearing from human rights activist and Scientist Sir Geoff Palmer and Trinidadian based political commentator and author Rhoda Bharath. What an episode. For more details and to book, please visit the Eventbrite page.

Stronger on Sundays – Sunday 11 July, 1800-2000 BST

Stronger on Sundays returns with music held right at its centre. S.O.S offers an online space in which music is used to build community around social issues. Musicians and artists offer their expressions through live performance. Together guests share their thoughts on matters ranging from injustice and equity to our shared human experiences and connections to each other. Together, we can listen. We can learn. We can reflect. What started as a bit of a whimsical idea has turned into a daily song performance every weekday for the last thirteen weeks. I never quite "got" why I would do this initially. I knew it felt right to do it - and I always follow my heart and gut. But initially, I couldn't quite see the benefit.

Really pleased to announce the next Stronger on Sundays programme which is set to be another engaging discussion. We will hear from Rehena Harilall a South African activist who grew up during the apartheid era. Kwaku of British Black Music will join us too and together we will hear about the powerful importance and impact of music as part of rights protest. Tickets are by donation with a range of suggested amounts to suit all budgets. For more details and to book, please visit the Eventbrite page.

Stronger on Sundays – Sunday 25 April, 1800-2000 BST

Registration is open to join the next Stronger on Sundays session which will take place on Sunday 25 April, from 1800 to 2000 BST.I am really pleased to be holding another S.o.S which will invite a conversation with compassion on the notion of Being White Awake in a heart-centred space that is filled with music.

Registration is open to join the next Stronger on Sundays session which will take place on Sunday 25 April, from 1800 to 2000 BST.

I am really pleased to be holding another S.o.S which will invite a conversation with compassion on the notion of Being White Awake in a heart-centred space that is filled with music.

Please visit the Eventbrite page for further information including details on all the guests and how to gain entry into the S.o.S Zoom Room.

PLEASE NOTE

Stronger on Sundays is part of Melissa’s SING4SANE community Big Sing & mental health project. You can learn more about this on YouTube.

Mind, Body & Song – monthly

Last Saturday's Mind, Body & Song session was all I intended it to be, and much more. A beautiful ceremony of song, it was.

Last Saturday’s Mind, Body & Song session was all I intended it to be, and much more. A beautiful ceremony of song, it was. Intuitive, Annie Chen offered her gifts in breathwork and guided meditation. Following this, I led a musical ceremony of sound using my voice and song. It transpired to be a warm and deeply nourishing space, so I am planning another.

The next session is to be held on Saturday 20 March, 2021 from 1900 to 2100 GMT. Lorna McLean is a Meditator, Reiki Teacher and Holistic Therapist and I am pleased to say Lorna will join this session, bringing her healing gifts.

MBS is a space for connecting, healing and empowering women. And for building community.

Bookings are open via Eventbrite, with an early bird ticket priced at £13.50 until 16 March when the price will then become £15.50. Concessions are available at £6.

To book, and to receive further details, please visit the Eventbrite page here: bit.ly/mindbodysongmarch

Mind Body & Song: A Sacred Ceremony of Sound

This Saturday 20 February, 2021, I am pleased to be offering a sacred ceremony of sound as part of this special online event.

This Saturday 20 February, 2021, I am pleased to be offering a sacred ceremony of sound as part of this special online event.

The intention is to create a deeply healing and nourishing meditative space through the use of sounds and song. Annie Chen, an intuitive energy healer, joins as a guest to offer a group energy healing.

All tickets and details are to be found on the Eventbrite page:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mind-body-song-sacred-ceremony-with-melissa-james-tickets-141320983867

Stronger on Sundays – Sunday 24 January, 1800-2000 GMT

Stronger on Sundays returns with music held right at its centre. S.O.S offers an online space in which music is used to build community around social issues. Musicians and artists offer their expressions through live performance. Together guests share their thoughts on matters ranging from injustice and equity to our shared human experiences and connections to each other. Together, we can listen. We can learn. We can reflect. What started as a bit of a whimsical idea has turned into a daily song performance every weekday for the last thirteen weeks. I never quite "got" why I would do this initially. I knew it felt right to do it - and I always follow my heart and gut. But initially, I couldn't quite see the benefit.

You can now register to join this Stronger on Sundays event taking place this Sunday 24 January, from 1800 to 2000 GMT

TO REGISTER FOR THE ZOOM LINK, PLEASE CLICK HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkd-Goqz0iGtGjuqZAto_bOjnHx5w-OsD2

This Sunday, Stronger on Sundays returns with music held right at its centre. S.O.S offers a safe space in which music is used to build a community of like-minded seekers of spiritual answers to current social dilemmas. Musicians and artists offer their expressions through live performance. Together guests share their thoughts on matters ranging from injustice and equity to our shared human experiences and connections to each other. Together, we can listen. We can learn. We can reflect. We can grow.

Joining me in the room this Sunday is:

Ben Okafor: a Nigerian born “Socio-spiritual conscious” musician whose music and early life were shaped by his childhood experiences as a victim of the civil war in Nigeria and at the age of 13, he fought as a boy soldier. The pain and destruction he witnessed during that period soon began to influence the lyrics he wrote; his songs reflecting a heart-felt plea for justice, truth and love.

Rowland Sutherland: an esteemed flautist of West Indian heritage whose accomplishments have seen him enjoy an international career in varying fields from orchestral (Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic) to pop, jazz and world music, having worked alongside Nitin Sawhney, Courtney Pine, Marc Almond and Joss Stone.

Dr Kathy Bullock: is an educator, scholar, singer, accompanist, arranger and choral conductor who specialises in gospel music, spirituals and classical works by composers from the African diaspora. A Professor Emerita of Music from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, she is currently teaching, performing, and conducting workshops and other programs on African American music throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa.

REGISTER TO JOIN US ON ZOOM – SUNDAY 24 JANUARY, 2021 – 1800 TO 2000 GMT

TO JOIN US PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE ZOOM LINK HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkd-Goqz0iGtGjuqZAto_bOjnHx5w-OsD2

DONATIONS: Give What You Can

As well as encouraging important reflections around spiritual and social matters, Stronger on Sundays invites us all to consider our thoughts on how we give and receive. S.O.S endeavours to foster in us all a desire to keep the giving-and-receiving wheel turning and in a balance.

The invitation is to be guided by your heart centre in deciding what monetary contribution you can offer.

As a rough guide, a contribution of £5 to £25 (or your currency equivalent) is suggested but please adjust the amount to comfortably suit your own budget. This is about heart-giving.

All monies offered will be equally shared between all participants. In choosing to participate in this event, each contributor is donating their time, gifts and energies as they believe in the importance of giving voice to the subjects being raised.

Monetary offerings can be made via the Stronger on Sundays Paypal account by clicking here: http://paypal.me/strongeronsundays

PLEASE NOTE

Stronger on Sundays is part of Melissa’s SING4SANE community Big Sing & mental health project. You can learn more about this on YouTube.