Vogue Ball 2024

Thank you to House of Suarez for inviting me to judge the Vogue Ball this year.

North Star Belfast

North Star is a live music spectacular, inspired by writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ historic visit to Belfast in 1845.

Douglass, considered a fugitive slave at the time, delivered a landmark speech, declaring, “wherever else I feel myself to be a stranger, I will remember I have a home in Belfast.”

This live performance sees an incredible array of artists all share the one stage, including Grammy winning multi-instrumentalist and DJ Kaidi Tatham, rising stars Leo Miyagee and Winnie Ama, the Arco String Quartet, poet Nandi Jola, Ivor Novello winning composer Hannah Peel, actor Colin Salmon, and pupils from four Belfast schools!

Together, they will perform North Star, a collaborative blend of music and poetry, rooted in Black Cultures, and inspired by Douglass’s story, philosophy, and his deep connection with Belfast.

This groundbreaking show, commissioned especially for Belfast 2024, also features Joseph Leighton, Ben Flavelle, Steve Davis, Rick Swann, Thomas Annang, and PVN Gospel Choir led by Angela Ifonlaja with arrangements by Jennifer John.

The Narrative Liverpool

After years of working as a singing leader, vocal coach, and music mentor—empowering communities locally, nationally, and internationally—it’s time for me to step back onto the stage. Music has always been my first love, and I’ve been so fortunate to use it as a powerful tool for social change and personal transformation. But now, I’m ready to return to my roots as a singer, songwriter, and composer.

I’ve had the privilege of supporting countless artists in finding their voices and clarity in their creative journeys. Now, I’m focusing that same energy inward, ready to tell my own story through song once again. I’m honoured to be a featured guest at The Narrative, an incredible monthly event that showcases the work of invited singers and songwriters. I’ll be sharing the stage with the amazing Sub Blue and Maddie Lara, and I can’t wait to share some of my new music with you all.

The evening will be structured in two halves, with each of us performing four songs, taking turns to share our stories and music in a uniquely intimate setting. It’s going to be a dynamic night, where the audience will experience a rich tapestry of sounds and personal narratives.

Join us for the October showcase of The Narrative on Tuesday, October 1st, from 7 pm at Liverpool Arts Bar, 22 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BY. It’s going to be a night filled with inspiring music, stories, and creativity, and I would love to see some familiar faces in the audience!

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Vocal Performance and Stage Presence 2-Week Course

Vocal Performance & Stage Presence - A Special Singing Project for Black History Month!

Join me for an inspiring two-week singing project which is designed to empower singers of all levels. In celebration of Black History Month, this series will focus on developing your vocal technique, stage presence, and artistic confidence.

🌟 Week One: Vocal Performance (Tuesday, 8th October)
Explore vocal techniques, breath control, voice maintenance, and song interpretation. This session will help you connect more deeply with your voice, refining your skills to deliver powerful and authentic performances.

🌟 Week Two: Stage Presence (Tuesday, 15th October)
Take your performance to the next level by mastering stage presence. Learn how to command an audience with confidence and authenticity. This session will cover body language, storytelling, and how to make every performance unforgettable.

What to Expect:

• 2-hour interactive sessions with expert guidance.

• Personalised feedback and tips to enhance your unique vocal style.

• Space for Q&A throughout to address your specific needs.

Who's it for:

• Singers aged 16 and above, who participate in pop music, including soul, jazz, blues and RnB.

Dates & Times:

• Week One: Tuesday, 8th October, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

• Week Two: Tuesday, 15th October, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location:
The Black E

The Blackie, 1 Great George St, Liverpool L1 5EW

Pricing:

• £20 per session

• £35 for both sessions when booked together

Spaces are limited, so book your spot today to be part of this transformative musical experience!

Swing for Sickle Cell

Back for the third time for what is sure to be another sell out event to raise awareness and funds for Sickle Cell.

The Halcyon Syncopators will be performing in collaboration with singers Tyrone Lewis, and Rebecca Loy.

A glamorous evening of big band jazz with special performances by Hayli Kincade & The Wavertree Community Gospel Choir plus this years guest artist, award-winning vocal coach and singer/songwriter, Jennifer John.

In loving memory of Naomi Loy.

Folk to Folk

Now more than ever, we need opportunities that bring us together and unite us across communities & cultures.

Folk to Folk will see a globally diverse range of Liverpool-based women share stories and songs from their places of birth.

These songs will be developed into collective singing experiences that create a deeper sense of belonging and human connection.

So, if you would like to sing collectively & have a story to share, please apply and be part of this free project!

Back by popular demand! Small Jazz Singing Group Course | May 2024

After the success of the first new jazz course in February, we are repeating it throughout May! The course will ensure that all participants improve their vocal techniques and experience group singing while also having the opportunity to develop individually. There will be 4 weekly in-person sessions throughout February 2024 and each session will last for 2.5 hours. The course which will led by our special guest tutor, Jazz Singer Amber Kuti and cover the following:

Physical and vocal warmup techniques

• The development of vocal flexibility throughout your range.

• An understanding and exploration of syncopation.

• Exploration of vocal textures.

• Work with vibrato - how and when to use it

• The history and exploration of different styles within jazz e.g. Swing, Bebop, BigBand etc.

• Understanding the structure of major, minor, blues and pentatonic scales

• Understanding the “push and the pull” of phrasing within jazz

• Learning about the principles of improvisation for singers known as “scatting” by exploring the use of different syllables and wordless sounds to think of the voice as an instrument - understanding the role of the singer as an equal band member when it comes to understanding the changes in the chord structures, taking a solo and appreciating the freedom that is available within this structure to improvise and bring your own unique interpretation to the experience.

• Understanding the difference between copying/echoing and creating freely.

• Exploration of standard jazz repertoire to support all the above

ABOUT THE TUTOR:

Amber Kuti is a professional singer who hails from London. She has performed with many artists across the UK as well as performing and teaching globally in Nepal, India and Brazil. Her musical influences started in Folk and Musical Theatre but since then she has transitioned into Jazz, Soul & Motown, Funk, Pop/Rock and RnB. Some of Amber’s most notable work includes singing on the soundtrack for Marvel’s Black Panther and Wakanda Forever at Abbey Road Studios and most recently at the King’s Coronation Concert, providing backing vocals for Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Take That, Andrea Bocelli and Bryn Terfel. She has also performed at The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, London Palladium and BBC drama, Anthony with Sense of Sound Singers.

WHERE   Studio 1, The Bluecoat, 8, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX
WHEN    Tuesdays throughout May: 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th

TIME 5.15pm - 7.45pm

WHO    This will appeal to all singers working in the world of jazz, folk, soul, blues, RnB and pop
PRICE    £200 + a 3% booking fee
There are spaces for 10 people so early booking is recommended.

For all inquiries please contact sing@jenniferjohnmusic.com

NEW! Free Course: Art of Breath Control for Singers

As a professional music industry vocal coach, I work with a lot of singers, songwriters, bands, and choirs. The issues are generally always the same: vocal fatigue (especially for touring artists), vocal strain when trying to reach notes, the need for vocal agility (riff and runs), chest voice/head voice negotiation etc and the icing on the cake is when stage fright or a complete lack of confidence kicks in too.

I've always believed strongly that singers, and in particular, soloists and lead singers in bands need a special kind of treatment because, unlike performers whose instruments are external to them, singers are the instrument. How do you navigate this profession when you have had a terrible experience, are suffering from anxiety, have been called for everything on social media/in the press and are then expected to go onto a stage and act like it's the happiest day of your life and everything in your back yard smells of roses? It ain't easy!

In addition to teaching vocal techniques, I like to talk to my students and clients about the psychology of being a performer - because it matters. How you feel about yourself and what you do matters and being able to find tools to manage your mindset matters.

I believe that my role as a vocal coach is obviously meant to provide the necessary vocal techniques that promotes "good" singing for the masses to enjoy and the performer to feel sufficiently prepared. I have been thinking about vocal technique, in general, and for me, breath control is the hands-down favourite cure-all for so many things. It works technically in supporting all of the aforementioned vocal issues and it has a calming and centering effect when used mindfully. It increases clarity and focus, boosts a sense of well-being and stimulates creative energy.

In light of this, I have created ‘Art of Breath Control for Singers’, a free 4-week online course that will run throughout March 2024. Dates TBC.

My aim for the course is to advance you to the next level of your vocal development. Please find the application form below:

Art of Breath Control for Singers

Small Jazz Singing Group Course

After the success of the first new jazz course in February, we are repeating it throughout May.. The course will ensure that all participants improve their vocal techniques and experience group singing while also having the opportunity to develop individually. There will be 4 weekly in-person sessions throughout February 2024 and each session will last for 2.5 hours. The course which will led by professional Jazz Singer, Amber Kuti and cover the following:

Physical and vocal warmup techniques

• The development of vocal flexibility throughout your range.

• An understanding and exploration of syncopation.

• Exploration of vocal textures.

• Work with vibrato - how and when to use it

• The history and exploration of different styles within jazz e.g. Swing, Bebop, BigBand etc.

• Understanding the structure of major, minor, blues and pentatonic scales

• Understanding the “push and the pull” of phrasing within jazz

• Learning about the principles of improvisation for singers known as “scatting” by exploring the use of different syllables and wordless sounds to think of the voice as an instrument - understanding the role of the singer as an equal band member when it comes to understanding the changes in the chord structures, taking a solo and appreciating the freedom that is available within this structure to improvise and bring your own unique interpretation to the experience.

• Understanding the difference between copying/echoing and creating freely.

• Exploration of standard jazz repertoire to support all the above

ABOUT THE TUTOR:

Amber Kuti is a professional singer who hails from London. She has performed with many artists across the UK as well as performing and teaching globally in Nepal, India and Brazil. Her musical influences started in Folk and Musical Theatre but since then she has transitioned into Jazz, Soul & Motown, Funk, Pop/Rock and RnB. Some of Amber’s most notable work includes singing on the soundtrack for Marvel’s Black Panther and Wakanda Forever at Abbey Road Studios and most recently at the King’s Coronation Concert, providing backing vocals for Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Take That, Andrea Bocelli and Bryn Terfel. She has also performed at The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, London Palladium and BBC drama, Anthony with Sense of Sound Singers.

WHERE   Studio 1, The Bluecoat, 8, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX
WHEN    Tuesdays throughout May: 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th

TIME 5.15pm - 7.45pm

WHO    This will appeal to all singers working in the world of jazz, folk, soul, blues, RnB and pop
PRICE    £200 + a 3% booking fee
There are spaces for 10 people so early booking is recommended.

For all inquiries please contact sing@jenniferjohnmusic.com

Jamie Webster ft. Sense of Sound - Live at The Hope Street Hotel

Sense of Sound Singers feature in Jamie Webster’s new track This Place, live from The Hope Street Hotel in Liverpool.

Mandela Freedom Festival

A free festival taking place in Liverpool to celebrate the visit of Nelson Mandela’s family to the city as a new memorial to the revolutionary leader in Princes Park nears completion.

The event is part of a week-long celebration being organised by Toxteth-based charity Mandela8 which commissioned the official memorial.

The afternoon festival has been curated by Africa Oyé who recently celebrated their 30th anniversary with their own milestone festival in June.

The musical offering promises ‘live performances from the best of South Africa and Liverpool talent’ with headline slots from international stars, BCUC and Nkulee Dube. Merseyside will be well represented by Ni Maxine, Sense of Sound Singers, AMBA, Staged Kaos and Stuart B.

Boss Night - European Cup Final in Paris, ft. Sense of Sound Singers

European Cup Final here we come! Super excited to be performing and representing the city as part of this amazing line up!

Liverpool Fan Meeting Point

LFC supporters meet to soak up the atmosphere ahead of the European Cup Final, in Cour de Vincennes (Nation).

The event includes music and entertainment from Jamie Webster, the Lightning Seeds, Cast frontman John Power and Sense of Sound Singers.

The Fan Meeting Point will also be screening the match on the big screen for Liverpool supporters.

Liverpool Against Racism

Liverpool Against Racism is a brand new festival which takes a stand against racism, brought to you by Culture Liverpool and Liverpool UNESCO City of Music.

The line-up features The Christians, Rebecca Ferguson, The Farm, John Power, Jetta, Sense of Sound Singers.

Launching Liverpool City Region Music Board's Black Music Action Group

I was really proud to be able to be part of the launch of the Black Music Action Group (BMAG) on behalf of Liverpool City Region Music Board.

As the chair of the BMAG subgroup, it is a huge step in the right direction towards creating equality and inclusion for black people working within the music sector in the Liverpool region.

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Liverpool City Region Music Board hosted an event at the British Music Experience, to officially launch its sub-group, the Black Music Action Group and the Music Board’s recently published Black Lives Matter Manifesto. The event was part of ON RECORD 2021, a festival celebrating and exploring Black music across the city region, at a public event at the British Music Experience.

The Black Music Action Group is a collaboration of music industry professionals with a wealth of experience and a cross-section of skills and experience; who come together to redress imbalance and proactively create a sustainable and dynamic sector that supports black artists across all music genres.

A key component of this pivotal launch was the announcement of the ReMap project, which explores the challenges in establishing music careers experienced by Black musicians and industry practitioners living and working in the Liverpool City Region (LCR).  A collaboration between ON RECORD and the Institute of Popular Music at the University of Liverpool (UoL).

On Record event curator, and lead on the LCR Black Music Action Group Yaw Owusu said:  “The research seeks to address three key questions:

• Why recent Black music initiatives have had no sizeable impact on the opportunities for LCR-based black music artists?

• Why the Black music community remains underrepresented in the LCR’s wider music economy?

• What can be done to increase parity between LCR-based emerging and established Black music artists and their equivalents from other demographics?”

Phase One of this project took the form of a short documentary film that can be watched here:

The Wo-Down podcast

I was invited on the Christmas special edition of The Women’s Organisation podcast. We sat down and talked about how much music plays a big part in Christmas spirit.

We also talked about my journey in the music industry, the power of music, and I got to share some of the things that inspire me.

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The Wo-Down is a monthly podcast by The Women’s Organisation hosted and by Cynthia Ajayi.

This podcast aims to connect & empower, ambitious and tenacious women towards a fruitful future for themselves, their businesses, and their careers.

An evening with Sense of Sound Singers

Sense of Sound Singers will be performing at the Unity Theatre on Wednesday 22nd December as part of the 2021 Unity Winter Festival.

Join us for an evening of Christmas music!

The evening will consist of a combination of traditional festive songs and original perspective on how the world has changed in the last couple of years. Our need for reminders about humanitarianism and compassionate are needed now more than ever and the evening's repertoire will reflect that in the music and the messages.

DATE Wednesday 22nd December
TIME 7:30pm
VENUE Unity Theatre, Liverpool

I have the music in me - Podcast

I was invited on Michelle Walter’s podcast “Talk on to Walk on”. I got to share my story, talk about my passion and purpose, and about how I have been using creativity, community, connection and music for many years to help people not only find their singing voice but also to discover who they are.

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“Talk on to Walk on” is a podcast with inspirational guests selected from Michelle Walter’s personal network, who come from different parts of the world including, of course, her city of Liverpool. You will hear about their life experiences, how conversations with others and with themselves have led to pivotal moments in their life journeys and how they have found the courage and determination to “walk on” to where they are today.

Calling All Choirs

This autumn Music Declares Emergency in partnership with Jennifer John Music will be inviting choirs from across the Liverpool City Region and surrounding areas to sing a message to the world, ahead of COP26 - the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.

We aim to place action on climate at the heart of public thinking by mobilising choirs to create a huge musical moment. On October 30th, choirs of up to 1,000 singers will perform the iconic Louis Armstrong song ‘What A Wonderful World’ arranged by acclaimed choir leader Mark De-Lisser. We want you to join us in this event called SING THE CHANGE.

The performance of the song will take place on the steps of the Liverpool’s Catholic Cathedral on October 30th.

Here’s how to join SING THE CHANGE:

• Sign up to tell us you’re taking part. We need the name of your choir and how many members will be singing. Please send that information to sing@jenniferjohnmusic.com This will count as your choir’s registration.

• Download the parts and backing track for Mark De Lisser's arrangement of 'What a Wonderful World' to learn with your choir. Sheet music is available or you can learn individual parts by ear. You can download the full package HERE.

• Rehearse the song with your choirs to the best of your ability ready to perform with all the other choirs on Saturday October 30th at 12pm on the steps of Liverpool’s Catholic cathedral.

• Details of arrival times on 30th October will be sent to you all once you have registered your choir’s involvement.

• The dress code for the choir’s involved is blue, green and white. Any combination of those colours is fine.

• There is a lot of press interest about this event and so they may wish to come and film/interview some of the choirs in their own rehearsals leading up to the main event. There will also be press present on the day to record the performance so if anybody has objections to being filmed please let us know by emailing sing@jenniferjohnmusic.com.

The main thing is that everybody has a lot of fun and supports an incredibly important cause. Thank you so much.

The Ultimate Seminar - Cre8ing Vision

My world has definitely opened up since being accepted on the PowerUp programme through the PRS Foundation.

I am now part of a national network of music industry professionals who are actively seeking to make sustainable changes and implement new strategies that work towards equality for all people working within the commercial and independent music sectors.

I am being asked to host panel discussions and be a key note speaker for various events and seminars which has been amazing.

On Saturday 25th I will be moderating a panel discussion as part of a free day-long event: The Ultimate Seminar. My panel discussion will consist of representatives from Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), Performing Rights Society (PRS) artists and songwriters and will be a chance to fully understand what benefits there are for musicians to join both organisations in order to receive royalty payments.

This seminar is definitely worth you signing up to if you work within the industry and it’s great that the event will be held in Liverpool as it usually only ever happens in London.

Local Hero Award

I was really shocked when I received a call from BBC Radio Merseyside presenter, Dave Monks to let me know that I had won another award for my Lockdown Love Sings project.

This time it was through the Association of Independent Musicians (AIM) for my contribution as a “Local Hero”.

As with anything like that there is a whole team of people who are responsible for making it happen. So my thanks goes out to everyone who sang on the project, Zut Media and Parr Street Studios. Without the efforts of everybody involved I wouldn’t have a gorgeous award in pride of place on my mantlepiece. Thank to you all I now have smooch appreciation and love.

If you would like to listen to the interview you can do so here. It’s one hour and 3 minutes into the programme.