Session singers Joel Virgel and Ayana Haviv come from very different corners of the globe and musical training backgrounds, so it’s perhaps surprising that the two see each other as musical soulmates - yet they’re bound together by the way they bare their souls and hearts to the microphone, creating truly unique and memorable sound worlds. Ayana is from Jerusalem via the US, and Joel is from the West Indies via Paris. Together their heritages span 4 continents, and their musical influences extend even further - to truly merit the “world music” designation. 

For years, Ayana and Joel separately have been the voices that composers from Danny Elfman to Marco Beltrami to Hans Zimmer have reached for when their music needed something soulful, something raw, something that would jar the audience out of their comfort zone into that magical realm of newness - a place where the unfamiliarity would open their hearts to the emotions evoked on screen. From intricate ornaments to ethereal themes to layered improvised harmonies, they have helped to create the throes of battle, fervent prayer, otherworldly soundscapes, and intimate scenes of mourning or passion. 

Joel and Ayana have often found themselves singing on the same projects and always greatly admired each other’s artistry. Whenever they were able to work together, improvising and harmonizing inspired by the other, it always sparked the pure magic that collaborative artists know so well. The partnership they display in these tracks is the culmination of years of singing together this way, and hopefully the first of many more to come. 

Joel and Ayana also sing in many other styles separately: visit them at www.ayanahaviv.com and www.joelvirgelmusic.com.

We make documentaries and audio art for radio, podcasts and public spaces.

At the heart of what we do is a belief in the imaginative possibilities of radio. Sounds that can reconfigure the world around you, move you through inner landscapes, sink into your dreams.

We are an intentionally small company that considers carefully the creative, social and political aspects of the work we put out into the world.

Falling Tree has two full-time Directors – Eleanor McDowall and Alan Hall – and we work with freelancers across our projects, including the core Short Cuts production team of Alia Cassam, Axel Kacoutié and Andrea Rangecroft.

We are one of the founding signatories of the Equality in Audio pact. 

You can listen to hundreds of our documentaries in the free, online Falling Tree archive.

Debut album 'My Love Is Cool' out now: http://po.st/MyLoveIsCool



Based in Los Angeles, Élise is a freelance composer, ﬂutist, and improvisor.  She is a graduate of CalArts and the Oberlin Conservatory and has received commissions from ensemble gnarwhally, the SPLICE ensemble, and the LA Phil.

Listen to released albums at ianpowerOMG.bandcamp.com.

Tal Allweil is following