About
Journey Woman
We’re all held together by frequencies. Everything on the planet has a vibration to it.
I've definitely come a long way, morphing from a student at The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and Manhattan’s American Institute of Guitar, through the 80's punk scene and experimental theatre on the Lower East Side, to working in off-Broadway and multimedia performances.
My most recent role is facilitating a women's artist retreat and rejuvenation center on Cape Cod called Oestara House.
As I got older and became more aware of myself, I thought, where’s this all leading to? Where’s the connection? What’s the bigger picture here? What’s the best way I can serve the planet? I’ve discovered that a lot of my life is about giving back. It’s great to be an artist now who works with healing intention.
Healing with Sound
The first teacher that I started learning about healing and sound with was Kay Gardner. Her workshops at Omega Institute in the early 90s along with her music and book, Sounding The Inner Landscape began expanding my musical sphere into the metaphysical realms. This brought to pass my connection with Pauline Oliveros whose work and practice of Deep Listening continues to break new sonic ground. I wanted to find ways to incorporate these new philosophies into my art.
I had read about the ancient temples in Malta, and how a university team of scientists with ultra-sensitive sound equipment had picked up pulses and "thunder drums" during the summer solstice.
So began my pilgrimages in 1992 to sacred sites throughout the Mediterranean and England photographing and recording ambient sounds. I had my Sony Walkman with me when I visited one in particular called Ggantija, or “The Giant,” which stands on a hill on the Maltese Island of Gozo. It’s a mother-daughter complex, huge stone forms shaped like female figures with temple rooms inside. It was here that I placed my Walkman on several of the altar stones. I got a surprise when I returned to my hotel room that night and began to listen to the day's recordings.
I got a chill that ran up my spine realizing these rocks are really alive and radiating a pulse frequency.
There was a heartbeat pulse rhythm happening from one of the altar stones. It wasn’t audible if you were there, you’d need to have something that went beyond the human ear to pick it up. And it was going at about 60 beats per minute. I got a chill that ran up my spine realizing these rocks are really alive and radiating a pulse frequency.
Heartbeat Pulse from altar stones
Collaborations
"An adventure in creative magic..."
Art and Performance
Working with Lorah is an adventure in creative magic. She is able to tune in and offer new ideas from various angles, whether from scratch or fine tuning existing projects.
Melissa Harris, Artist
Theatre
Lorah is one of the most creative collaborators I've ever been lucky enough to work with. She recently did sounds for a theatrical production I wrote and directed, and her work was not only proof of her skill as an experimental musician, but also of her wise spirit and good heart. Generous with her time and her ideas, responsible, helpful and professional, Lorah was simply a joy and a pleasure throughout the entire process and performance. I'd work with her again in a heartbeat.
Cait Johnson, Playwright
Drumming
Having worked with Lorah for over two decades, her desire to grow and explore new musical frontiers inspires me to this day.
In our early years performing together, she exposed me to scales and modes I had never heard of. Her ability to guide our collaborative efforts produced music that was exciting, on the edge, and very rewarding. Her influences have continued to be reflected in my independent work as a composer and musician. It is always a joy to get a chance to play together and continue to support each other in our craft.
Fre Atlast, founder of "Birds of a Feather" Women's Drumming Ensemble Trance n Dance n Drum Center
Music
Lorah was the first musician to invite me into her band and provide me the role of lead vocalist. She helped launch my music career. She has always been encouraging and open to my ideas and lyrics. Her sense of trust is enormous in a group musical endeavor and she is always curious about creating and collaborating.
If you have the opportunity to work with Lorah and develop a professional relationship, over time you will eventually be given foray into her heart; she'll treat you like family. It's a joy to know her.
Samantha Clayton
Music
"The World Is Sound when you break it all down."
For example, middle C correlates to the color red, which correlates to the Beta brain wave state. The Hertz ranges measured by some scientists at the stone circles in Cornwall and at the Great Pyramid in Giza to name but two both resonate at the same frequency, which is around 13 Hertz. This relates to the note F# Sharp, the color green, and the brain wave state of Theta according to Michael Bradford's Applied General Dynamics Chart. I wanted to push my music to the spiritual/healing Delta state, so I began composing in B Minor with F# as the dominant fifth. It really expanded my creativity and turned me on to a whole host of sounds and experiences I’d never encountered. I started cultivating the use of eastern-based music, middle eastern rhythms and open tunings on my 12 string Baritone giving me a more unlimited pallet for my new compositions. I formed several bands to incorporate this new sound including Ritual Motion, Sacred Fire and most recently Hemingway's Cat.
"There’s so much to tune ourselves into sound-wise."
I think there are muses out there that definitely guide us. Some of them are playful, some are sad, some are joyous, and if you allow yourself to get into a peaceful state, you can tune them in. Tuning into an audience also makes for a healing musical experience. Perhaps that's the main reason why I love playing improvisationally. Of course I do some set and composed pieces, but if your stuff is all rote, you’re often not as free to be in the moment. If you allow yourself to be in the environment and feel the electricity in the air, the audience can then become part of the art.
All music composed by L. Yaccarino with L. Yaccarino on Guitars.
All Hemingway's Cat songs available on iTunes
Listen
All music by L.Yaccarino
All I Want | lyrics and vocals by Kathleen Bayley
Bird Shadows | Spoken word written and performed by Vonn New
Can't Disguise | lyrics by L. Yaccarino featuring Kathy Rey on lead guitar and Kathleen Bayley on vocals
Dancing Dakini | lyrics by Vonn New and Kathleen Bayley, performed by Hemingway's Cat with Denise Parent and Daniele DeBellis on vocals, Mark Nahsen on Sax, Wayne Orr on Bass, and Denise Parent on Drums
Emotion | lyrics by L. Yaccarino; performed by Sacred Fire with vocals by Samantha Clayton and Katy Taylor
Invocation | L. Yaccarino on guitar, Fre Atlast on mandolin, Christine Uberti on Riq
Lost Control | lyrics by L. Yaccarino and Kathleen Bayley featuring K.B. on vocals, Annie Roland on Blues Harp and Michael Mulvey on Bass
Siberian Surf | Michael Mulvey on Bass, vocals by Annie Roland Loney
While It's Hot | lyrics by Daniele DeBellis and L. Yaccarino; performed By Hemingway's Cat
Listen
All I Want | lyrics and vocals by Kathleen Bayley
All music by L. Yaccarino
Bird Shadows | Spoken word written and performed by Vonn New
Can't Disguise | lyrics by L. Yaccarino
Dancing Dakini | lyrics by Vonn New and Kathleen Bayley, performed by Hemingway's Cat with Denise Parent and Daniele DeBellis on vocals, Mark Nahsen on Sax, Wayne Orr on Bass, and Denise Parent on Drums
Emotion | lyrics by L. Yaccarino; performed by Sacred Fire with vocals by Samantha Clayton and Katy Taylor
Invocation | L. Yaccarino on guitar, Fre Atlast on mandolin, Christine Uberti on Riq
Lost Control | lyrics by L. Yaccarino and Kathleen Bayley
Siberian Surf | Michael Mulvey on Bass, vocals by Annie Roland Loney
While it's Hot | lyrics by Daniele DeBellis and L. Yaccarino; performed By Hemingway's Cat
Videos
Reviews
"A Talented Composer and Guitar Virtuoso."--Times Herald Record
"Lorah Yaccarino is a master guitar player – her baritone guitar playing is deeply satisfying."--Pauline Oliveros
"Yaccarino herself is a monster 12-string and electric guitar player... Her musicianship has stature..."--Woodstock Times
Contact
In order to contact Lorah Yaccarino call 845-679-3479 or email . Thank you!