Sonic Sounds of East London

Music is often used as a response to the challenging economic, political, and physical environments many young people grow up in. Drill and rap music often get negative attention for the violent content of the lyrics - but what is often overlooked is the lived experiences that the young people are expressing through their music, the storytelling of their lives and the environments in which they live.

Through our Sonic Sounds of East London project we used the power of music as a vehicle to open a dialogue with young East Londoners, connecting their creative expression and storytelling to cultural placemaking.

This collaborative project between Beyond the Box and Gain Ctrl used the arts as a vehicle for skills development, creating employment opportunities for young East Londoners in the creative sector.

Working with young East Londoners we developed their skills in cultural production, music production, artist development and live performance, broadening their networks and connections. We also created paid employment for the young people taking part in producing cultural events.

Project
Sonic Sounds of East London

Client
Beyond the Box Initiative

Funder
Foundation for Future London

Project team
Gain Ctrl

Location
East London

The young participants worked with both organisations to gain technical and sector-specific skills. Working closely with the Gain Ctrl team, the aspiring artists accessed an industry-leading music production & artist development programme. The young artists worked alongside in-house music producers to develop original tracks which they performed at the opening of the People’s Pavilion.

In addition, Beyond The Box worked with young East Londoners co-produced a series of industry events, talks, masterclasses and career networking experiences, connecting creatives across the sector - enabling a wider network of young people to engage with the programme.

The live event series saw us produce events that aimed to grow young people’s networks, raise awareness of career routes into the creative sector and provide tangible outcomes and opportunities.

Event Production

Our young cultural producers curated an exciting series of events as part of the programme, showcasing their creativity and vision.

Event 1: Collaboration with Stu Fish

The first event featured a collaboration with Stu Fish, a team of entertainment architects known for their ambitious and pioneering work. They explore new ways to inspire audiences and visitors through musical experiences, theatrical shows, exhibitions, and architectural designs. Designer Zarya Vrabchecva shared insights from their work with renowned artists such as Stormzy, Madonna, and ABBA.

Event 2: Exchange East

The second event, titled Exchange East, facilitated engaging conversations between the young cultural producers and Almass Badat, Founder of Dialled In. Dialled In aims to spotlight and platform the wealth of South Asian artistry by building long-term, self-sustainable spaces. Almass was joined by Cultural Curator Nate Agbetu. The event featured film screenings and market stalls where attendees could buy products and exchange ideas and skills.

Behind-the-Scenes at The Old Vic

The cultural producers were granted a special behind-the-scenes tour of The Old Vic, led by architectural practice Haworth Tompkins and the Old Vic team. This tour provided insights into the design of cultural spaces that create world-leading live and immersive experiences.

Further events included as part of the People’s Pavilion Festival:

DJ Workshops with Mya Mehmi
Industry Talks with East London-based creatives and musicians

These activities not only highlighted the talents of our young producers but also provided them with invaluable industry insights and hands-on experience.

Music Production & Performance

Music Production Collaboration

Young musicians and music producers collaborated with our partners at Gain Ctrl to create original tracks, which they performed at the opening of the People’s Pavilion in Leabridge, East London.

The aspiring musicians had the opportunity to work with industry experts:

Sem, a multi-platinum music producer with numerous top 10 charting credits, who has worked with artists like One Direction, Wretch 32, Lily Allen, and Professor Green.
Dan, the main producer for Eric IV, known for his production work with Ramz, Sneakbo, Squeeks, and others.
Tash, a regular host for Camden Roundhouse events and a studio session engineer for artists such as Joe Black and Mowgs.

These collaborations provided the young musicians with invaluable experience and mentorship, helping them to hone their skills and gain insights into the music industry.