Joy, Friendship, and Song: Meet the L.A. Ladies Choir
Talk About a Glee Club
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When Aska Matsumiya left her friends in Seattle to try to break into the Los Angeles music scene, she never expected to find someone as simpatico as Becky Stark. Both are musicians -- Matsumiya (left) a pianist and singer, Stark (right) the frontwoman of folk darlings Lavender Diamond. And both had the same crazy fantasy: to create an all-female choir.
No auditions. No talent required. And no men. Simply women singing for the pure fun of it. "There were so many women I wanted to meet, but in L.A., you're driving all the time," Matsumiya says. "I thought a choir could bring us together."
From Dream to Reality
Two years ago, Matsumiya learned from a mutual friend that Stark was collecting vintage Laura Ashley dresses and prom gowns for the group she dreamed about. Matsumiya met Stark at a party and asked point-blank, "Want to start a choir with me?" They spread the word to friends -- musicians, but also actresses, bakers, designers, and writers.
A Boost of Energy
When Nicole Disson, a producer and actress, got the invite, she was exhausted after completing a 12-week run of Frank Zappa's rock opera "Joe's Garage" and coming out of a breakup. "I needed a burst of energy," she says. "The choir changed my view of my existence in L.A. It was a huge confidence boost."
Singing Joyfully
The first practices were held around model Frankie Rayder's piano. In a shy hush, 10 or so members sang covers of Yoko Ono and the Velvet Underground. "We barely let sound out," Disson says. "But eventually we stopped trying so hard. We just sang from the heart."
They named themselves the L.A. Ladies' Choir and settled on a mantra: Sing joyfully. "It's magical to hear our voices together, even if we aren't very good," Matsumiya says.
After a few performances at folk festivals and friends' art openings, women from all over L.A. began asking to join. Now the choir has about 40 members, all friends of friends. Sometimes they go a cappella; other times they sing with guitar, piano, or harmonium.
Singing for Happiness
Last September the choir released a record, "Sing Joyfully" -- a feel-good set of original pieces about togetherness and a cover of Ono's "Sisters O Sisters." The album sounds like a big, warm hug. "We sing not because we're happy, but because it makes us happy," Stark says. "Singing in the choir is a powerful emotional experience. To feel your voice become one with a group of women is incredible."
The women meet every Sunday for a lunchtime vegetarian potluck and practice at member Jenny Park's Trails Cafe, Stark's house, or Matsumiya's Hollywood bungalow. Sometimes new women show up, and Disson often greets them with a hug. Over roasted eggplant, hummus, spinach pies, and vegetable casseroles, deep friendships form. Members vent about their day jobs, brag about their kids, and swap words of advice and support.
Get Jenny Park's Veggie Goat-Cheese Quiche Recipe
Finding a Voice
That connection is what helped Park, who had never performed in front of people, find herself. "Before, I couldn't even sing to one person," she says. "I felt vulnerable. Having a cosmic cluster of strong, talented, and intelligent women to join forces with has definitely strengthened my voice, both in singing and in the community."
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Park has since collaborated with many of the choir's members, recently performing in one of Disson's productions called the Series. The group's reach extends far beyond their small circle: They've sung with residents at a women's shelter, organized a silent auction and performance for Children of the Night (a nonprofit that rescues minors from prostitution), and set up a song exchange with a Ugandan choir as part of the Voice Project, a nonprofit that promotes peace.
The Ugandan choir sent the Americans video of themselves singing an original song, "We Want to Come Home," along with clips that helped the L.A. choir learn it phonetically. In exchange, the Ugandans learned "Pray to Us All," which was written by L.A. Lady Ariana Delawari.
Connections Through Music
"The fact that we could bond with people thousands of miles away through song was remarkable," Park says. "It definitely created a feeling of oneness." The choir has also inspired other women's vocal groups in Southern California; Portland, Oregon; and New York City.
Besides singing joyfully, the Ladies' only other rule is to treat one another with kindness. "We're taught our whole lives that women are competitive with each other, but that's not true for us," says musician and restaurant owner Astara Calas. "We're here to support each other in our work and lives. It's redefined my sense of what it means to have female friends."
Lessons in Friendship
In fact, rehearsals have also become a practice in friendship. "We've created a way to make time to be kind to each other," Stark says. "If you practice anything, you'll get better. We're getting better at being friends."
The Ladies' Favorite Tunes
"Hallelujah," Leonard Cohen
"Oh My Beautiful World," L.A. Ladies Choir
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
"There Are Many of Us," L.A. Ladies Choir
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Belting out your favorite tunes does more than lift your spirits. We've got proof that singing also has some real physical benefits.
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