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Spotlight on a Rapper

Our Ally Program

The Resounding is Voicelore’s free program for allies ages 18 and up who want to use music to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Each project is offered through donated services from Once Upon a Voice. Through a structured, professional songwriting and music production process, allies work one-on-one with Marcellé to create a finished song rooted in their own lived experiences and perspectives. Songs may explore themes such as consent, healthy relationships, accountability, or collective responsibility and are crafted to resonate with a broad audience. Participants are treated as artists, and the work is held to industry standards while remaining grounded in trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming care. Allies of all musical backgrounds are welcome, including nonspeaking participants, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users, and Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, and songs created through The Resounding are intended for public sharing and awareness-building and may be released, pitched, or performed live at the ally's discretion.

What Our Process Looks Like

Each Resounding project unfolds over three months and includes weekly 1-hour Zoom sessions at no cost to the ally. Sessions are one-on-one with Marcellé and follow a steady creative arc inspired by professional songwriting and music production practices. The song is built collaboratively from the ground up: the first month is devoted to songwriting, the second to vocal production, and the third to post-production. Live sessions are used for listening, creative decision-making, vocal direction, and recording, while much of the technical work happens outside of session time, so the process can move forward with focus and consistency.

 

Between sessions, Marcellé prepares music, refines recordings, and carries the project toward completion. This structure allows allies to contribute meaningfully to the song’s message and direction without being responsible for the professional labor required to finish it. Allies may be invited to listen, reflect, write, or record outside of sessions, but participation outside of live meetings is flexible and not required for the project to move forward.

 

When an ally chooses to record their own voice, a reliable recording setup and the ability to record outside of live sessions are required, as much of the recording may happen beyond one-on-one time. If that is not accessible or preferred, the project can still move forward. Vocals may be recorded by Marcellé, by a trusted collaborator, or created through alternative vocal methods such as AI, depending on the creative direction of the project.

 

Throughout the process, Marcellé may draw on professional feedback from or collaborate with trusted industry colleagues to help guide the song to completion. These collaborators do not join one-on-one sessions; their contributions take place outside of session time. This approach keeps each project contained and sustainable while still resulting in a fully realized, industry-ready song.

 

Because each project is created collaboratively from the beginning, allies enter The Resounding with the shared intention of creating a song that can speak clearly to a broader audience. The ally’s perspective shapes the message. Professional structure carries the work. The process remains grounded, intentional, and built for impact.

Month 1 of 3: Write the Song

 

This is where the message takes shape.

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Week 1: Perspective, Direction, and Musical Foundation

  • Share the story, perspective, or questions the ally wants the song to explore.

  • Decide the overall mood and energy of the song.

  • Choose how fast or slow the song should feel and where the voice should sit comfortably.

  • Select one existing song as inspiration to guide the structure and sound of the music.

 

Week 2: Shaping the Music Together

  • Listen to the developing music and notice what feels effective or distracting.

  • Share preferences about sounds, layers, and textures.

  • Add, remove, or adjust musical elements together.

  • Lock in the music so it can support the next stage of writing.

 

Week 3: Finding the Melody

  • Explore different ways the melody could move and flow.

  • Try out vocal ideas without pressure.

  • Shape a main melody that feels clear and expressive.

  • Settle on the melody so the song can move forward.

 

Week 4: Writing the Words

  • Turn lived experience, observation, or advocacy into lyrics.

  • Decide what should be stated plainly and what can remain symbolic.

  • Adjust wording so the message feels honest and intentional.

  • Finish the written song before recording begins.

​Month 2 of 3: Giving the Song a Voice

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This is where the message finds its delivery.

 

Week 5: Vocal Vision and Arrangement

  • Choose one song as inspiration for how the voice is used and supported.

  • Decide what kind of presence the voice should have.

  • Talk through where the voice stands alone and where it is reinforced.

  • Set a clear vocal plan so recording can feel focused and grounded.

 

Week 6: Recording the Main Voice

  • Ease into recording with attention to pacing and clarity.

  • Record the main vocal parts of the song.

  • Focus on communication and expression rather than perfection.

  • Note any sections that may need a second pass.

 

Week 7: Recording Supportive Voices

  • Add voices that emphasize, reinforce, or expand the message.

  • Explore layers only where they strengthen the song’s impact.

  • Record multiple versions so choices remain flexible.

  • Complete all vocal recording for the song.

 

Week 8: Refining the Voice

  • Smooth timing and clarity across recordings.

  • Make careful adjustments that preserve tone and intent.

  • Ensure all voices work together cohesively.

  • Prepare vocals for the final stage.

​Month 3 of 3: Finish the Song

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This is where the song is prepared to be shared.

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Session 9: Final Direction and Sound Story

  • Choose one song as inspiration for the final sound and polish.

  • Decide how raw or refined the finished song should feel.

  • Identify what matters most in the final version.

  • Set intentions for completion.

 

Session 10: Balancing and Shaping

  • Adjust the music so the voice remains clear and central.

  • Smooth transitions from section to section.

  • Shape the song so nothing distracts from its message.

  • Use professional listening and feedback to guide final choices.

 

Session 11: Final Polishing

  • Prepare the song so it feels complete and cohesive.

  • Make sure it translates well across listening environments.

  • Apply the final layer of care.

  • Complete the finishing work.

 

Session 12: Reflection and Release

  • Reflect on the finished song and the process of creating it.

  • Talk through next steps: release, performance, or advocacy use.

  • Consider how the song may be shared responsibly.

  • Close the project with clarity and intention.

The Resounding FAQs

The Resounding Application

Thank you for taking a brave step toward resounding for survivors. Please complete and submit this application to be considered for Voicelore’s one-on-one studio sessions. A select number of applicants will be invited to a brief interview, after which artists will be chosen. Questions without an asterisk are optional. 🍃

General Information

All Voicelore artists must be 18 years or older. What is your age range?
18 or 19 Years
20 to 39 Years
40 to 59 Years
60+ Years
When is your birthday?
Month
Day
Year

We collect this information to verify your age group.

Accessibility

Do you use any assistive devices or technology to support communication, hearing, or vision?
How would you like to communicate during studio sessions? Select all that apply.
Do you have any other accommodations you would like us to know about? Select all that apply.

Allyship

In what ways has gender-based violence intersected with your life or relationships? You are welcome to select as many as apply.

Creative Preferences

If you know what direction you want to go in, please choose the style of music that best describes it.
Pop
R&B
Hip Hop
Rock
Country
Folk
Other
Do you want to be the song's vocalist?
If you want to be the song's vocalist, how will your vocals be recorded?
I will record them at home.
I will have them recorded at a music studio.
If you want to record the vocals at home, what do you have? Select all that apply.
Are you open to constructive feedback and revision as part of the creative process?

Scheduling

If selected, you would meet with Marcellé for 1 hour each Sunday (via Zoom) for three consecutive months. What is your availability? Select all that apply
If you are not selected initially, would you like to be placed on a waitlist? Additional applicants may be invited as availability opens throughout the year.

Mandatory Reporting Disclosure

Marcellé is a mandatory reporter and must report concerns of harm to a minor, elder, or vulnerable adult if identifying information is known.

Scope of Practice Disclosure

Voicelore’s ally program is conducted within the scope of songwriting and music production, not any form of therapy. Participants are encouraged to seek support from a mental health professional or crisis services when needed.

Non-Profit Status Disclosure

Voicelore is not yet formally registered; The Resounding is offered through donated services from Once Upon a Voice. Participation does not require payment or donations, regardless of Voicelore’s registration status.

Optional Demographics

Which gender identity most accurately describes yours?
Male
Female
Non-binary
Other
Is your gender identity the same as the sex you were assigned at birth?
Which race or ethnicity best represents how you identify? You may select more than one if applicable.
May we include your responses anonymously in future advocacy reports or grants?

Signature

By signing below, you confirm that the information you have provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge and that you agree to the community policies outlined above.

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