The Velvet Voices: Music Without Words

After twenty years of procrastination—or, as a friend more generously described it, an “extended hiatus”—the time had finally come to make music again. And where better than Folkestone: the world’s first Music Town, a place that has always welcomed and inspired creatives.

So we came together—sometimes on Zoom, sometimes in person—and began shaping the beginnings of our first new album in twenty years. But once the songs were written, another challenge appeared: the name. Band names are notoriously tricky. Some arrive in a flash, others take years to reveal themselves. Ours, though, had been there all along, staring us in the face.

So, without further ado, we introduce… The Velvet Voices.

The Velvet Voices are a far-flung collective of musicians scattered across the globe—some seasoned professionals, others enthusiastic amateurs. Together, they aim to turn noise into music. Well… that’s the idea, at least. And of course, our music won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but we hope you’ll find at least something in it to enjoy.

Musicians are so often asked where their inspiration comes from—and the answer is rarely straightforward. For this first song, though, the spark is clear. A dear friend loaned us several kayaks, and we set out to sea. Letting the current carry us beneath a blazing Folkestone summer sky, a seed of an idea was planted. It grew, it took shape, and in time it became this: Drift.

There’s a local DJ who goes by the name of Dan Desborough, and over the years his mixes and performances have been a real source of inspiration for us. Just by drawing on his name—and the memories attached to it—we found the spark for this piece. So thank you, Dan, for unknowingly inspiring us. It’s truly appreciated. And so, people—let’s begin Dancing the Night Away.

And for the final piece we share here, the inspiration comes from a loved one—a former member of the Shepway Vox Team who recently passed away from cancer. This song is a reflection on the way their soul touched our lives. We wrote it for them, and it is called A Life Which Touched Mine.

So there you have it. Inspiration may light the first spark, but it is perseverance—the long hours of shaping, refining, and breathing life into sound—that keeps the fire alive. Music, after all, is as much craft as it is miracle.

And yes, there is a certain irony here: every piece we offer is instrumental, without a single human voice. Yet our voice runs through every note, every pause, every rising swell. It is our way of speaking without words, and we hope that somewhere within it, you hear something that speaks to you.

The Shepway Vox Team

The Velvet Voices of Voxatiousness