“I wanted to keep it the same way – a very living-room, friends-jamming kind of experience at Flash Jams,” he shares. This weekend, you don’t have to be a pro in singing to find your voice in a choir. At Flash Jams, a one-day choir pop-up in Bengaluru, people come together to sing familiar songs, experiment with vocal harmonies and make music as a community. For Danish Abdi, the Choir Director, the idea grew from a desire to recreate the camaraderie of college music sessions. The format began with small sessions among friends and grew into larger events across India.
“Community is actually the first draw of a Flash Jam,” he says. “It’s always community first and then the harmony aspect,” Danish says. They are then grouped according to their vocal ranges and taught different parts of a familiar song. Danish says the sessions are designed to be low-pressure. “The aim is not to turn participants into skilled harmony singers in a couple of hours, but to help them experience the joy of singing together,” he adds.
The sessions offer people a chance to unwind, meet others who share their interests and spend time away from their phones. Participants come together to sing their favourite songs, meet fellow music lovers and find a sense of belonging. others simply enjoy singing familiar tunes in a group While some are curious about how harmonies work. At a session, participants begin with icebreakers and simple exercises that introduce them to vocal harmony. As the individual parts come together, participants hear how multiple voices can add depth to a melody they already know. Those who feel shy can sit back, listen and join in when they feel ready. Song: Kahin Toh Hogi Woh – AR Rahman Song: Thriller – Michael Jackson Song: Have you ever seen the rains – CCR Song: Castle of Glass – Linkin Park
‘Community comes before the music’ For Danish, the appeal goes beyond learning the technicalities of music.