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A Supportive Hug

Our Survivor Program

The Reclaiming is Voicelore’s free program for survivors ages 18 and up who have experienced sexual assault or harassment, domestic or dating violence, or stalking. Each project is offered through donated services from Once Upon a Voice. Through a structured, professional songwriting and music production process that takes place online, survivors work one-on-one with Marcellé to create a finished song rooted in their story. Survivors are treated as artists, and the work is held to industry standards while remaining grounded in trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming care. Participants of all musical backgrounds are welcome, including nonspeaking survivors, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users, and Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, and songs created through The Reclaiming may be released, pitched, performed, or kept private at the survivor’s discretion.

What Our Process Looks Like

Each Reclaiming project unfolds over three months and includes weekly 1-hour Zoom sessions at no cost to the survivor. 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 care and consistency.

 

Between sessions, Marcellé prepares music, refines recordings, and carries the project toward completion. This structure allows survivors to shape the song without being asked to shoulder the professional labor required to finish it. Survivors may be invited to listen, reflect, write, or record outside of sessions if they wish, but these invitations are optional. The work continues whether or not outside tasks are completed, honoring shifts in energy, access, and capacity.

 

When a survivor 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 outside of 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, ensuring no survivor is excluded due to circumstance or ability.

 

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 quietly outside the circle. This approach keeps each project contained and sustainable while still resulting in a fully realized, industry-ready song.

 

Because each project is created together from the beginning, survivors enter The Reclaiming with the shared intention of bringing a new song into being. The survivor’s voice leads. Trained hands carry the weight. The work moves at a human pace, held by structure, consent, and care.

Month 1 of 3: Write the Song

 

This is where the story takes shape.

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Week 1: Story, Direction, and Musical Foundation

  • Share the story or feelings the survivor wants the song to carry, in whatever way feels safe.

  • 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 right or off.

  • 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 breathe.

  • Try out vocal ideas without pressure.

  • Shape a main melody that feels natural and expressive.

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

 

Week 4: Writing the Words

  • Turn lived experience and emotion into lyrics.

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

  • Adjust words so they feel true and safe to sing.

  • Finish the written song before recording begins.

Month 2 of 3: Giving the Song a Voice

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This is where the song learns how it wants to speak.

 

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 supported.

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

 

Week 6: Recording the Main Voice

  • Ease into recording with attention to comfort and pacing.

  • Record the main vocal parts of the song.

  • Focus on expression rather than perfection.

  • Note any sections that may need a second pass.

 

Week 7: Recording Supporting Voices

  • Add voices that echo, strengthen, or surround the main one.

  • Explore layers only where they serve the story.

  • Record multiple versions so nothing feels rushed.

  • Complete all vocal recording for the song.

 

Week 8: Refining the Voice

  • Gently smooth timing and clarity across recordings.

  • Make careful adjustments that preserve character.

  • Ensure all voices blend naturally.

  • Prepare vocals for the final stage.

​Month 3 of 3: Finishing the Song

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This is where the song is carried across the threshold.

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Week 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.

  • Name what matters most in the final version.

  • Set intentions for completion.

 

Week 10: Balancing and Shaping

  • Adjust the music so the voice stays clear and present.

  • Smooth transitions from moment to moment.

  • Shape the song so nothing distracts from its meaning.

  • Use professional listening and feedback to guide final choices.

 

Week 11: Final Polish

  • Prepare the song so it feels whole and complete.

  • Make sure it sounds good across listening spaces.

  • Apply the final layer of care.

  • Complete the finishing work.

 

Week 12: Reflection and Release

  • Reflect on the finished song and the journey it took.

  • Talk through what comes next: sharing, releasing, or keeping it private.

  • Name any feelings around closure and ownership.

  • Close the project with intention and clarity.

The Reclaiming FAQs

The Reclaiming Application

Thank you for taking a brave step toward reclaiming your voice. 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

Every Voicelore artist 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.

Survivorship

What form(s) of gender-based violence have you experienced? You are welcome to select as many as apply, even if you are unsure whether your experience “counts.”

If you would like review definitions, visit voicelore.org/get-informed.

Are you currently receiving counseling, therapy, or another form of professional mental health support?

Creative Preferences

If you know what direction you want to go in, please select 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 our 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 survivor 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 Reclaiming 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

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