Experimental & free improvised music

"Free improvised music is derived from free jazz, but differs by having no prearranged tunes, chord sequences or tempos. Instruments may move away from their traditional roles. Interaction is continuous and vital. Groups can be any collection of instruments, voices and sound sources." - Steve Beresford

"Free Improvisation is a grassroots and community-driven practice of inclusive, spontaneous music-making. For over 70 years, experimental communities of improvisers have come together across the world to explore and make together, negotiating musical and social interactions through vibrant, spontaneous play. Free improvisers come from all kinds of genre backgrounds, disciplines, and life experiences. Many of them enjoy working with unusual or uncommon instruments, objects, using their voices, or their bodies, as well as more conventional instrumental playing.  The techniques of free improvisation - active listening, accepting what emerges, and exploratory sound making - have been used within teaching, within health and wellbeing initiatives, and even applied within business contexts." - Dr Henry McPherson

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Faradena was first introduced to Free Improvised music at a regular workshop run by long term pioneer Eddie Prevost. During lockdown she started working with Maggie Nicols, Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra (GIO) and Steve Beresford on Zoom. Her debut gig in this style of music was on Zoom and at GIO's 2020 annual international festival online. From conversations with Maggie about inclusion and helping make music more diverse and an attractive place for women musicians, Faradena founded The Noisy Women. The Noisy People Project became a long-term project as an exploration into the social demographics or spontaneous creativity across the arts. As a long time, viola player, Faradena has co-founded along with Benedict Taylor an all viola playing improvising group called Aviolanche, making its debut in November 2024.

 

two people embracing in a warm hug showing love and connection with joyful expressions and feelings of comfort

two performers on stage during a live music show one plays flute and the other dances in a purple dress

 

 

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Collaborations

At the heart of her experimental music are collaborations with talented performers and musicians across many creative disciplines. Faradena works alongside various artists, including:

 

Duos

Marion Treby, the Exning International Experimental Improvisers Orchestra, piano, voice, objects

Steve Beresford - Oven Gloves Duo, piano, electronics

Maggie Nicols, voice, tap dancing, piano,

Charlotte Keeffe, trumpet, flugelhorn, voice

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Trios

Bee Reiki Trio featuring Steve Beresford, piano, electronics and Paul Khimasia Morgan electronics and guitar body

Breathing Colour Trio with visual artist and poet Aurelie Freoua and electronics player Tony Hardie-Bick

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Quartets

Hu Quartet with Beibei Wang, percussion, voice, Steve Beresford, piano, electronics and Khabat Abbas, cello

Asadullah Quartet featuring Ansuman Biswas, instruments, voice, Beibei Wang, percussion, voice and Rowland Sutherland, flutes

Noisy Women Quartet with Jo Morisson, voice, costume, objects, Nicky Smith, percussion, voice, movement and Bettina Schroeder, electric ukulele, objects, poetry

Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate with Jo Morrison, voice, costume, objects, Iris Gerrelfs, voice, objects and Milana Sarukhany, voice, costume, poetry

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Large Ensembles

The Noisy Women Present/The Noisy People Project

LIO London Improvisers Orchestra

GIO Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra

Aviolanche co-led with Benedict Taylor, viola player

 

 

The Noisy Women Present/The Noisy People Project

Co-founded by Faradena Afifi, Marion Treby, Gwendolyn Kassenaar and Maggie Nicols.  The Noisy Women/ Noisy People Project is an inclusive, multi-disciplinary creative hub dedicated to championing diversity and using Social and Collective Virtuosity (developed by co-founder Maggie Nicols) as an active, intentional, practise. The project provides an inclusive, supportive space for women and non-binary performers across all disciplines as well as for musicians with long term health conditions. Our concerts, workshops, and events embrace improvised and experimental community music, alongside dancing, art, film and poetry. We believe individual expression is key to a collaborative and liberating experience and at the same time making meaningful connections through co-operation and listening. The Noisy People's Improvising Orchestra, an associated ensemble, explores these ideals on a grander scale and welcomes performers with neuro-diversity and learning differences. The project has started collaborating with the long-established Otolith Group to develop socially inclusive events from 2025. We look forward to seeing you at our next event and encourage collaborations from like-minded performers.

 


 

The Noisy People's Improvising Orchestra

The Noisy People's Improvising Orchestra was born from heartfelt conversations between Faradena Afifi and co-founder Dominic Mulvey, a talented poet and artist who lived with schizophrenia and a chronic lung condition. Dominic passionately used music, art, poetry, and his spirituality to create a fulfilling life filled with friendships and love.

The inaugural concert of the Noisy People's Improvising Orchestra took place on 15th July 2022 at St Pauls Church, Cambridge, celebrating Dominic's inclusive approach to connecting with others through the arts. This orchestra comprises 80 individuals with mixed abilities, cultures, genders, and sexualities, including international musicians, vocalists, poets, dancers, and visual artists. Also participating were members of the Tuneless Choir Cambridge, a mental health-focused on-site art workshop, alongside photographers and announcers with learning disabilities. The Noisy People's Orchestra embodies Dominic's philosophy of valuing and uplifting all human beings through the arts, continuing to champion social inclusivity.

 

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