Sounds Like Home

International Women’s Choir

Wednesday mornings / 10:30am-12:30pm

Hoxton Hall, Hoxton Street, N1 6SH

‘Sounds Like Home’ is an open-access international women's choir, celebrating Hackney's diverse voices through the personal and political resonance of song. 

It invites women of all backgrounds, ages and abilities to share and sing the songs that remind them of home. 

Group of women standing on stage with a sign that reads 'FREE DOM'. Some women are clapping, others are raising their hands, and one woman in a red dress is standing in the center with her hands in a prayer position. The backdrop shows a projected sign that says 'Sounds Like Home.' Red curtains frame the stage, and there are stage lights overhead.

Together we explore the origin, language and context of the music that has shaped who we are and where we’re from. We exchange stories, lyrics and melodies, and sing our way around the world.

The group has been meeting weekly since January 2024 and is made up of 35 regular members.

A woman leading a group activity in a room with wooden floors, with many people raising their hands, sitting and standing, participating enthusiastically.

We have performed at Hoxton Hall, the Migration Museum, St Margaret's House, Centre 151 and Frampton Park Baptist Church.

Sessions are free of charge, refreshments are provided and local travel costs are covered for NRPF and those on Universal Credit.

Group of diverse women engaging in conversation and reacting with surprise in an indoor setting.

The choir is hosted by Hoxton Hall and supported by Counterpoints Arts. We have received funding from Arts Council England, Hackney Council, Cultural Hackney and Old Street District Community Pot.

Check out our GoFundMe page and donate to keep the choir running, or get in touch via the contact page with ideas for longer term funding.

Group of women celebrating indoors, smiling and hugging each other.
GoFundMe

What People Are Saying

“Sounds Like Home lit up the stage and delivered a joyful, expansive, and emotional performance that perfectly encapsulated the diverse perspectives of women who live in Hackney. They have a distinct perspective on music that is vital, and our industry could learn a lot from the way they interrogate old songs with an anti-colonial lens. We were inspired by their energy, the intergenerational relationships, and the unique song sharing culture Ellen has cultivated within the choir.”

F*Choir, July 2025

“I feel privileged to be part of this choir because everyone is welcoming, warm and inclusive and because the teaching style is always so positive and encouraging. I love coming, I find singing really lifts my spirits and helps me forget my worries.

Libby, Choir member

“Home is not external its within me. Through my breath, my heart, my voice, my freedom, expression and creativity which is what this choir means to me”

Mediah, Choir member

A smiling woman with short braided hair wearing orange glasses, a black dress with floral embroidery, gold jewelry, and a watch, waving with both hands in a dark hallway.
A woman with dark hair and medium skin tone, wearing a red top with scalloped white edges and a white skirt, standing against a dark background, smiling at the camera.
An elderly woman wearing a yellow floral shirt standing indoors, smiling with her left hand resting near her waist.
A smiling older woman with short gray hair, wearing a patterned dress and jewelry, standing in a hallway.
An older woman wearing glasses, a black headwrap, and a patterned dress with blue accents, standing in a hallway with her arms open and a serene expression.
A woman with dark hair, smiling, wearing a sleeveless patterned dress, standing in a hallway with her arms open.
A woman standing in a hallway, wearing glasses, a white embroidered blouse, and blue jeans, with a playful expression and hands raised.
A woman with blonde hair wearing a sleeveless yellow and white floral top and black shorts, standing in a dark hallway.
A woman wearing a black T-shirt with colorful text reading 'Rivera Maya Cancun Mexico,' standing in a hallway.
A person with curly red hair and a surprised expression, wearing a gray t-shirt with a cartoon girl and the word 'WHATEVER', standing in a narrow corridor.
A woman with long dark hair, wearing a colorful floral dress with pink accents, standing in a hallway with her hands raised as if dancing or celebrating.
A smiling woman wearing a beige and black animal print dress, pink cap, silver jewelry, standing in a hallway with gray walls.

Book Us!

Sounds Like Home loves singing at local community events, as a solo act or along side other musicians, choirs and performers. We are always open to making new connections and broadening our networks, so please get in touch via the contact page.

We can offer a 20-40 minute set as part of a wider event programme, or a performance combined with a participatory workshop between 1-2hrs.

We are happy to adapt to the nature and needs of your event and tailor our offering to suit you.

Performance costs are in the realms of £500-£600 which covers travel expenses for participants, and facilitator & assistant fees.

Poster for the international women's choir 'Sounds Like Home' featuring photos of diverse women, with text about weekly singing sessions starting January 2024, free and open to all backgrounds.
Poster for an event titled 'Sounds Like Home' featuring international women's choir, with live music and discussion, including guest performers Hilanderas and Mahshid & Dario. The event is scheduled for 7 pm on Friday, May 23rd, at Centre 151, 151 Whiston Road, E2 8GU, with free entry. The poster shows a group of women singing and enjoying the music.
Poster for 'Sounds Like Home,' an international women's choir. Features photos of nine diverse women, with event details including location, time, and starting date.