Priya Kalia, a friend of the Faith, shares her reflection on the musical devotional by visiting Bahá’í singers at the University of Cambridge:

Poppy Villiers-Stuart and Kat Drake, long-time friends and musical collaborators, performed a stunning devotional musical programme at Clare Collage, Cambridge on the rainy afternoon of Saturday 11th February. We were treated to an hour-long concert, which included folk and jazz-inspired devotional duets showcasing the strength, diversity and emotion of Poppy and Kat’s voices. One could hear that the two had received excellent vocal training, in addition to years of practice and style development, resulting in an intimate knowledge of the other’s voice and vocal parts. It was not so surprising, then, to find out that the two first met while roommates at university and since then have combined friendship, music and devotion to the Bahá’í Faith to create a moving and memorable sound. The spacious room which we sat in, with large windows looking onto the grey sky and nearby College buildings, was gorgeous and definitely added to the overall effect.

The musical repertoire included a few spoken interludes, including an inspiring introductory quote read by Kat, from a postcard she once had the fortune to come across:

Some feelings occur accidentally and some have a foundation. For example: Some people are naturally kind, but they may be accidentally upset by a wave of anger. But if they hear music, the true nature will reassert itself. Music really awakens the real, natural nature, the individual essence.

-’Abdu’l-Bahá’s word to Mrs. Mary L. Lucas

The duo was effective at relating their music and inspiration to their own lives and personal experiences. There was an interesting and fairly intimate discussion of how each woman had, at some point in their young adulthood, felt a separation from their religion. Poppy and Kat both shared what they felt may have precipitated this realization, as well as which steps each had taken to try and rediscover their spirituality and a deeper understanding of the Bahá’í Faith. I myself, though new to the Bahá’í Faith, felt an instantly warm and friendly connection to the pair. Poppy and Kat’s musical talent was surely enhanced by the description of their challenges as well as their honest and sincere desire to relocate their spiritual paths, which had been for some time obscured in the midst of the responsibility, changes and challenges of adulthood.

Songs from their album, Lighted Candle, can be heard at http://thebirdandthebutterfly.bandcamp.com/album/lighted-candle