V-Day’s new audio performance, “Voices,” spotlights the stories of Black women

It’s unlucky that violence against black women has long been an issue, which is what makes movements like #SayHerName so necessary. This reality inspired the audio game, and Day V creator, V, formerly Eve Ensler, collaborated with Aja Monet, the director and composer of the show Leahann “LaFemmebear” Mitchell and producer Hollis Heath to take listeners on a sonic journey through the stories of Black women that can heal your soul.

Audio playback, which lasts roughly one hour, could be found on all pages streaming platforms, allowing you to access it from home, while traveling or wherever is most convenient for you. I used to be fortunate to listen to this moving work for the first time amongst a supportive community at the Apollo Theater as a non-public debut. Upon entering this space, I immediately felt validated by seeing other black and brown people appreciating the soulful melodies and calming aromas.

Once we were seated, we got headphones and eye masks (which I like to recommend using while listening as well) so everyone might be deeply immersed in the sensory experience and really consider the voices and stories, without distractions. These black women (mentioned in the graphic below) shared so beautifully and vulnerably their experiences with pleasure (or lack thereof), molestation and more, to perfectly chosen tunes.

When you press play, do not be surprised for those who start laughing, crying, or each – sometimes at the same time. Definitely expect to reflect on your personal experiences. Personally, I used to be hooked from the very starting. However, halfway through the fifth track “Untitled”, written by Dalychia Saah and performed by Zonya Love Johnson, during which she felt for the first time that she was experiencing true pleasure, which she poetically in comparison with “flying a plane”, I discovered myself reduced to tears.

Why? While it wasn’t necessarily the most categorically “sad” piece in the play, Johnson’s joy during the performance moved me deeply, but additionally left me with many questions. Did I cry because I rarely hear us black women speak about pleasure in such a positive way? Was it because I, too, had some experiences where I felt like I needed to “fake it”? Have I not given myself permission to deal with my intimate experiences? The list kept growing in my head.

As the show progressed, I wavered between sadness and joy. But I didn’t leave feeling heavy and discouraged. Anyway, when the audio ended, I felt lighter, hopeful, and empowered to make use of my very own. I used to be reminded that when one of us (or on this case, many of us) speak up for ourselves and our rights, we speak up for all of us. Not only because we share similar experiences most of the time, but additionally because in doing so we give one another permission and support to inform our stories in our own way.

Monet – nominated for a Grammy for her poetry album – put it so eloquently once we spoke on the phone. “It’s an invitation to listen and learn about our stories,” she told me. “There is so much more to witness. There is much more to tell. I hope this project will create new opportunities to create more works of art like this.”

And as for the process of creating this revolutionary listening experience, which began to blossom in 2020 after the horrific murder of George Floyd, Monet said the team reached out to Black women of their communities through social media and listening tours. “We asked ourselves, ‘What communities, countries, neighborhoods, etc. are not being listened to?’” The goal was to “listen and uplift,” she said. After all, art has long been a real balm for black women. As Monet put it, “I think it is incredibly healing to live with the sensitivity and expression of another person.”