Dutch-born singer, voice coach and multi-instrumentalist, Igor Olivier Ezendam is a recognised performer and teacher of overtone singing, also known as polyphony.
Igor shares his experience with this instrument of profound transformation in concerts, seminars and individual sessions. His repertoire ranges from the vocal harmonics of the Tuva people of Mongolia to the shamanic chanting of North and South American Indians, from Soul to Blues, from Aborigines to Tibetan monks.
During his concerts, which are intuitive and interactive mixes of overtone singing, improvisations and original compositions, Igor accompanies his singing with various musical instruments: the Australian didgeridoo, African, Korean and Irish percussion, string instruments (guitar, mandola, guitalele, cumbus), shrutibox, harmonium and Indian e-tampura.
Igor’s intuitive understanding of the voice and its use as a diagnostic tool for self-knowledge and healing are transferable and easy to learn. These ‘Voice Labs’ take participants on a quest for freedom: the freedom to express our innermost sounds and feelings, to use our voice without embarrassment and to find our true self-expression.
In sessions, workshops and retreats on vocal freedom and harmonics, Igor guides participants in their search for a natural and authentic sound.
Some profound life goals that Igor loves to share:
to help build a more loving world as an individual and as part of a community;
to be a pure channel of inspiring information for spiritual seekers;
to anchor and share love and light on our planet, remembering that to serve one is to serve all.
Igor was born in Hoorn, the Netherlands. He studied English and literature at the University of Amsterdam, graphic design at the Utrecht Academy of Art, painting and audiovisual media at the academies in The Hague and Amsterdam.
He played guitar and piano before discovering the Australian didgeridoo at the age of 20, from which he developed a new musical instrument: the ‘Round Horn’. In 1987, he heard harmony singing for the first time and realised that he had to follow this particular two-tone chant. Today he reaches ten harmonics above the fundamental note, and is looking for more…
He participated for 18 years in a meditation camp in the Swiss mountains (8 of which as co-director), organised by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, son of Hazrat Inayat Khan: musician and visionary who in the 1930s brought a message of cooperation between the world’s religions and traditions: ‘Humanity is one body’. The camp drew on the Sufi tradition, in which music and song are considered sacred. Zikr (remembering) and Sama (listening) are musical and spiritual practices that have been used for centuries by mystics to open and liberate the heart.
His CV includes concerts, seminars, recordings and artistic projects in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Austria, UK and the USA. In 2023, he was involved in the ‘Mozart Sound Healing’ project with the Vienna University of Music. 2024 sees the publishing of a collaborative album, „All Hearts“ together with Jamie Catto and Matt Coldrick.
He has recorded five albums and written a book, ‘Il tuo suono è sacro’ (published in Italy). Since 2017, he lives in France and Corfu, Greece.
Besides concerts as a soloist, Igor plays with many wonderful artists: Walter Lupi (Italy), Anna Oxa (Italy), Cristina Ruffino (Italy), Tuula Hunkannen (Finland), Cheb Hedi (Tunisia), Notorious (CH), Alev Naqiba Kowalzik (Turkey), Hu Dost (USA), Badi Assad (Brazil), Victoria Angela (USA), OOTop (NL), Jagaspace (EST), Triinu Taul (Latvia), Pepe Danza (Uruguay), Netanel Goldberg (Israel), Fantuzzi (USA), Mirabai Seiba (USA), Luis Paniagua (Spain). Jamie Catto (UK), Matt Coldrick (UK).
