Leonard's Lullaby - A Sound Journey

A gentle sound journey inspired by the music of the late great Leonard Cohen. Performed by Dave Starke, Nish Pillay and Daniel Franks, this unique performance has been specifically designed to be experienced in a deep restful state, so bring along a yoga mat, blanket and cushion to get comfortable. We will be exploring Cohen's compositions from a purely melodic and harmonic perspective, using voice but without words so as not to activate the language centre of the brain. In this way, we consider the dynamic and timbral aspects of the music and create an emotional landscape built from the melodies alone. About the performers:Dave Starke is a songwriter, teacher and counsellor based in Kalk Bay. A graduate of UCT Drama School, he has been an active performer on the South African music scene for over 25 years. He has released two original albums and composed music for film and television. In 2024 he participated in the multidisciplinary program in “Music and the Environment” at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland. His full theatrical tribute to Leonard Cohen has garnered regular critical acclaim with well over 100 performances nationwide since 2016. Nish Pillay is a tabla player, looper and hybrid percussionist, who studied under tabla master Rahul Pophali in Bangalore, India. He has performed extensively in South Africa, collaborating with artists such as Steve Newman, Jack Mantis and Ard Matthews. In addition to his versatility as a world/fusion musician, he has also led contemplative sound journeys with several local and international healing practitioners. Daniel Zachariah Franks is a string wizard, acoustic engineer and instrument builder based in Muizenberg. He holds masters degrees in Performance Art (Wits) and Music Technology (Stellenbosch) with a research focus in harmony, frequency, rational tuning and just intonation. For this performance he will play fiddle and upright bass as well as being technical producer and sound designer.