Vocal Lab
Vocal Lab Artistic Residency in St. Hilaire-sur-Benaize!
Vocal Lab offers a unique space for vocal exploration—beyond genre, stylistic, and technical boundaries. Our artistic residency, held from June 23 to June 30, 2024, in central France, brought together performers, musicians, and producers from Croatia, France, and Italy who share a passion for vocal expression and the search for an authentic voice.
Under the guidance of Dutch-French artist and vocal pedagogue Annette-Martha (Anne-Marie) Blink, participants explored the ‘primitive voice’ through somatic and vocal practices—a voice embodied in the body, free from cultural norms and stylistic conventions. Through improvisation, experimental vocal techniques, and traditional singing practices, they opened new pathways for both individual and collective expression.
The residency gathered actress and theatre author Lucija Barišić, singer and artistic director of the cultural center Le Âmot Lucie Chauchat, performer and curator Jagoda Cupać, performance artist Silvija Dogan, producer Matteo D’Ercole, performance artist Gloria Lindeman, actor Marko Jelić, actor Hrvoje Perc, and producer Silvija Stipanov.
Alongside the participants’ collaborative research, the residency included public presentations—open rehearsals, workshops, and performances that connected the artists with the local community, attracting more than 120 visitors.
The program was supported by artist Annette-Martha Blink, the municipality of Saint-Hilaire-sur-Benaize, led by Mayor Marie Laure Frisch, the municipality of Bélâbre, which provided a working space in L’Église de Bélâbre, as well as the cultural center Le Âmot and Lucie Chauchat, who facilitated the artists’ work in Liglet.
Vocal Lab continues to build a space for experimentation, exploration, and dialogue—opening the voice, mind, and body to new expressive possibilities.
