Odessa On Stage

Multidisciplinary Healing Artist

Odess’s unique blend of spoken word, music, and movement creates an unforgettable experience.

With an impressive background as a vocalist for various international tours including Cirque du Soleil, Odessa has honed her craft, captivating audiences with her powerful voice and magnetic stage presence.

Her performances transcend traditional concerts, inviting listeners on a transformative journey that resonates deeply with their souls. Odessa’s artistry is deeply intertwined with her holistic approach to wellness, empowering her audience to reconnect with their inner selves.

She draws from her extensive experience in natural medicine and healing, infusing her music with themes of empowerment, healing, and self-discovery.

Artistic Experience

• FEATURE SPOKEN WORD/SINGER | MADPOETIX PRODUCTIONS, MONTRÉAL, QC — 2015 Feature performer for the March 2015 open mic performance.

• VOCALIST/SINGER | CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, MONTRÉAL, QC — 2011-2014 Vocalist/Singer for the international touring performances

• FEATURE SPOKEN WORD/SINGER | MADPOETIX PRODUCTIONS, MONTRÉAL, QC — 2012 Feature performer for the February 2012 open mic performance.

• SINGER | ORCHESTRA 1945, MONTRÉAL, QC — 2010-2012 Singer in a quartet of corporate vocalists, touring Canada

• SINGER | ORCHESTRA LA GIOVENTU, MONTRÉAL, QC — 2006-2008 Singer in a quartet of corporate vocalists, touring Canada

• DANCER | ZAB MABOUNGOU COMPAGNIE/DANSE NYATA NYATA, MONTRÉAL, QC — 2005-2015 Studied dance, interpreted choreographies, taught African Contemporary Dance, performed in international tours

• VOCALIST| IMPOSS (RAPPER), MONTRÉAL, QC — 2010 Background vocals for recorded and live performances

• VOCALIST | SHAM (FRANCE RAPPER), MONTRÉAL, QC — 2009 Background vocals for recorded and live performances

• VOCALIST | KMARO (FRANCE RAPPER), MONTRÉAL, QC — 2004-2009 Background vocals for recorded and live performances

• BACK UP SINGER/DANCER | ZAL SECK & BAND (SENEGALESE ARTIST) — 2005 Back up singer and dancer during national tour, languages: French & Wolof

• VOCALIST | MOUANA (CAMEROONIAN ARTIST) — 2006 Backup singer and dancer Canadian tour, Languages: French and Douala

• SINGER / POET / DANCER | KALMUNITY VIBE COLLECTIVE, MONTREAL, QC — 2003-2011 Live organic improv music collective in Montreal, toured in Canada

• VOCALIST/SINGER | CIRQUE DU SOLEIL LA NOUBA, ORLANDO, FL — 2001-2003 Vocalist/Singer for the resident show in Orlando, Florida.

• BACKUP SINGER | CLAIRE JEAN CHARLES + TOTAL PAISE 2000, MONTRÉAL, QC — 1998-99 Back up vocals international tour.

• SINGER | UMOJA GOSPEL CHOIR, MONTRÉAL, QC — 1999 Alto singer for the national tours. Odessa Thornhill | Artistic CV

Highlighted Awards & Achievements

• 2004-2006 - Black Theatre Workshop’s Poetry Jam Competitions: 1st place in 2004, 2005 and 2nd place 2006

• 2005 - Research + Creation Grant from Canada Council (Quebec) to create a drum voice and dance show: “Life Beyond the Sun”

• 2006-2015 - Co-created and taught Rhythm in Movement. This was a holistic wellness and dance program privately funded by the City of Montreal, Quebec for participants with children under the age of zero to get access to physical activities and learn about easy Odessa Thornhill | Artistic CV 4 of 5 wellness hacks. Also facilitated creative writing and poetry workshops for participants in the program. To date the program is still running. (Sept 2022)

• 2007 - Recorded + Performed EP “Who I Am” + Life Beyond The Sun choreograph

• 2008 - Winner of Black Theatre Workshops Gloria Mitchell-Aleong Award for Artistic excellence within the community

• 2009 - Album feature: Shy’m (France) 2009 - Album Features K’maro (France)

• 2010 - Performed Original Material @ Le China Paris, France for top Record Executives in Europe

• 2016 - Vision Diversity Prix Coup de cœur de MAtv, accompagnement d'un an et un article dans Tic Art Toc par Diversité artistique Montréal, une campagne de promotion d'une valeur de 3000$ par atuvu.ca et une prestation avec Vision Diversité dans le cadre du Grand Rendez-vous des Rythmes du monde (les 2 et 3 février 2017) ← to be translated. Contributing author: Talking Book : blues, jazz, dub, rap, song and freedom in the literature and orature of Montréal's Kalmunity Vibe Collective

• 2014 - Contributing author: Speaking With Spirit Paperback – May 3 2014

Featured in an article in Chatelaine magazine written by Tayo Bero “What it’s like to give birth while black”

Testimonials

"I had an energy session with Odessa Thornhill last year, I wasn't expecting her to use her voice as sound therapy. I was calm, relaxed and open to the whole experience. I felt the vibrations penetrate my cells and by the end of the session the pain in my wrist was totally gone, and it didn't come back! Amazing work. I am looking forward to expanding this type of work.”

~ Founder and Director of École Setsuko Holistic Health Education School, Montreal

"Odessa has always been a remarkable calming force. From the first time I saw her, I felt so much power in her energy. But I remember a specific moment during a live show with Kalmunity Vibe Collective. There was this person, who was probably drunk, screaming and being very agitated and annoying in front of the stage. We were all growing uncomfortable on stage, not knowing what to do and Odessa came on stage, grabbed the mic, started singing these long notes with her hand almost reaching for this person, and that is when the magic happened: immediately, the person got totally quiet and calm. Odessa finished her singing and we never saw that person act in the way they were ever again during the night. It was so powerful. Odessa is powerful.”

~ Malika Tirolien, Grammy nominated vocalist, songwriter and producer

“Pourtant sur scène Odessa confirme le talent que son premier EP laisse deviner. La voix est bien sur très présente. Mais de ses années au cirque du soleil Odessa a gardé une approche assez physique du concert et bouge, danse beaucoup sur la scène, pourtant pas bien grande. D’ailleurs Odessa Thornhill ne se contente pas seulement de chanter. Elle offre bien plus qu’un simple concert, une vraie plongée dans son univers et prends le temps entre les titres d’expliquer, et en français s’il vous plait, les paroles et thèmes de ses chansons. Il se dégage aussi une grande sensibilité de sa prestation, ses textes sont autant vécus que chantés. Odessa n’a pas eu trop de mal à convaincre le public, les discussions se sont tues petit à petit et c’est finalement une belle ovation qui a salué l’artiste à sa sortie. Espérons la revoir bientôt, une fois que son premier album sera sorti.”

“Quand elle passe seule derrière le micro, elle fait vibrer sa voix de reine sur des rythmes plus lancinants et souls.”

~ Regis Gaudin - Blogger: My Head is a Juke Box

“Odessa Thornhill is a healer. With her voice, with her hands and with her presence. I’ve had the privilege of being treated by Odessa on number of occasions and have always left her feeling better emotionally and physically. She is very thorough in her screening and diagnostic process and provides a great deal of insight into the possible roots of imbalances and sources of illness. Odessa is a gentle and powerful conduit to wholeness and wellness. I highly recommend her services and would gladly refer friends and family to her practice.”