This week, Rebecca chats with Emily Dodd and Jacob Wiles from LUUMIC, which stands for Leeds University Union Music Impact in the Community. Emily and Jacob were both on the committee for LUUMIC during the 2020/2021 academic year. We talk about the principles and structure of LUUMIC, how they adapted during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the importance of music for mental well-being amongst students.  Audio transcripts will be uploaded on to the podcast a few days late. We apologise for anyone who is affected by this, and we thank you for your patience.  https://www.luu.org.uk/clubs-and ..read more

In this podcast, Dan and Holly chat with Robyn and Will from Heart n Soul – a creative arts company that believes in the powers and talents of people with learning disabilities. We learn all about the different creative activities that Heart n Soul offer, how Robyn and Will facilitate their musical jam sessions (even on Zoom!) and explore issues such as artistic integrity and accessibility. Normal text transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LNp0xeeHEKnEspPonHwEsBrgvFiCChUj2Mb53Zwt-zc/edit?usp=sharing Large text transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ntjyXP6Cz7qC7JcOD43XrkXe7C ..read more

In this episode, Darah and Rebecca chat with Arson Fahim – a pianist and composer living in Afghanistan. We chat about how Arson was inspired to start learning the piano, the perception of music in Afghanistan and the risks that musicians take to pursue their passion. We were inspired by Arson’s dedication to his people and his music. https://www.anim-music.org/ We have been given permission by Arson to play his composition 'Nakamura'. You can listen to the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag0C6HJ_Zbs Regular text transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1akVEJmpSQ4o872YrDOke4 ..read more

In this podcast, Holly and Rebecca chat with Miss Jacqui – poet and songwriter. We chat about representation within the music industry, the social model of disability and the role that intersectionality plays in Miss Jacqui’s life as an artist. We explore how the disabled community are often ignored in the music industry and ask what message this sends to society as a whole. Stay tuned with YMSJ as Miss Jacqui will feature in future events.  https://www.missjacqui.co.uk/ We have been given permission by Miss Jacqui to play an extract of her track, Freedom, from her debut EP 'Percepti ..read more

In this podcast, Rebecca and Holly chat with the directors and a performer from the Sex Worker’s Opera. Breaking through stigma and stereotypes, the Sex Worker’s Opera is a multimedia production written and performed by Sex Worker artists and their friends. We talk about the challenges of representation and confidentiality and how to lead community arts initiatives that value rather than exploit the stories of those involved. Sex Worker’s Opera: https://sexworkersopera.com/ ‘Radical Act’: https://sexworkersopera.com/learning/story/radical-act ‘Mosaic’: https://sexworkersopera.co ..read more

National Open Youth Orchestra Podcast guests: Ellen O’Brien (she/her); Jamie Moody (they/them) For our second episode of the season, Holly and Rebecca chat with Jamie and Ellen from the National Open Youth Orchestra – the world’s first disabled-led national youth orchestra. We chat about the social model of disability, the value of inclusive music-making, and learn more about the ‘curb cutter effect’. It was so great to hear from two young and inspiring musicians and learn more about NOYO as an organisation. Links: NOYO: https://noyo.org.uk/ Open Up Music: https://www.openupmusic.org/ Drake Mu ..read more

We are delighted to release the first episode of season 2! In this episode, Maya and Holly chat with Deschanel Gordon – BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020. We look at the importance of music education and access to creative opportunities at school, as well as topics of jazz appropriation and the hierarchy of “Western classical art music”. Deschanel Gordon: https://www.ycat.co.uk/deschanel-gordon-#:~:text=Twenty%2Dtwo%2Dyear%2Dold,the%20Julian%20Joseph%20Jazz%20Academy.&text=This%20sparked%20his%20love%20of,classical%20to%20jazz%20piano%20training. Hackney Creative Jazz Ensemble: http ..read more

We are super excited to share our final episode of Series 1! In this episode we chat with Bryonn Bain and Claudia Peña about the relationship between the arts and decarceration movements in the USA. We learn about the Blackout Arts Collective, For Freedoms, the UCLA Centre for Justice, and Bryonn’s ‘Lyrics from Lockdown’ performance. This episode explores the value of lived experience and debates how artists might approach social justice issues. We also get an exciting premiere of their new track with Maya Jupiter (and soon to be movement video) ‘For the Love of Money’. Thank you so much for l ..read more

In this episode we chat with Susan Donnelly – a postgraduate researcher exploring the use of music and song writing in a women’s refuge. This was a particularly poignant episode touching on the power of music for healing and well-being – not only for the women that Susan works with, but for everyone that experiences suffering and/or oppression. We loved learning more about participation action research and how Susan has used creative methods such as pottery in order to create an equal power dynamic in her research. This episode has a trigger warning on discussions of domestic violence and dome ..read more

In this episode Rebecca and Holly chat with Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey - conductor, practitioner and researcher. We cover a wide range of topics – her research with the ‘Displaced Voices’ project, the power dynamics and structures that orchestral music can uphold and the importance of continual reflexivity as a researcher and practitioner. We explore the ethical and structural dynamics when working with music and social change - Cayenna asks us a lot of questions that listeners will find interesting to reflect upon. Displaced Voices Project: Displaced Voices Project Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey: htt ..read more