Project Description: To fund a one-to-one, music mentoring programmes for 2 young people living in Haringey how face challenging circumstances.
Activities: Pop Arts successfully engaged 2 eligible young people in Haringey through creative music mentoring sessions. Over 7 weeks (during Nov-Dec 2023), participants met weekly for 2 hours at Ten87 studios in South Tottenham, guided by a music producer to create their own music. The participants explored diverse music genres, including Trap, Drill, Afrobeat, Hip Hop, and Pop. Samples are available to hear on Pop Arts' website: https://www.poparts.org/our-work.
Impact the project had on its beneficiaries:
Both participants, reported enhanced mental health and wellbeing. They expressed heightened happiness and confidence, coupled with the acquisition of new skills in music production and songwriting. Their testimonials underscore the positive influence of the initiative on participants' mental well-being and creative capabilities.
“It's been great, a good journey and like learning how to record stuff and how to check if you like it, and how it sounds. It's been really informative, and makes me more confident in the studio, as usually I don’t like the sound of hearing my own voice, but coming to the studio has increased my confidence in my singing ability.” – Female participant aged 16.
"I loved it, the sessions very much reaffirmed our like position in what we want to do in the rap game, especially as females. Who knows we might go big! I feel my raps are more confident because I’m in a space where I can properly rap in the mic and hear what I sound like, instead of just being in a room at home using my phone. It really helps to have a way for me to express myself and like journal my feelings.” – Female participant aged 17.