Shukar Collective - The Snake

Fire by Kasabian arrange for brass band

This is the title track from ‘A Picture of Me’, a very special project we ran in 2006. 

Our skilled music-team (Nick, Rex and Sara) were joined by writer Peter Spafford and artist Lizzie Coombes at HMP YOI Holloway to help a group of female prisoners to create a beautiful book and accompanying CD, which contained a powerful mixture of music and spoken word pieces. The team helped the group to explore issues surrounding imprisonment for women from their perspective, in their own words.

“I hope this book is going to touch people’s hearts, that they can identify with the words. That some of the words might inspire them, put a smile of their face and give them hope in difficult times. Just like a guardian angel.” Angela

The women working on the project hoped to create something that might help support other women facing similar difficulties to their own. Through music, creative writing, photography and collage, the women chose to deal with a wide range of topics. They wanted to talk honestly about their negative experiences such as self-harm, abuse, rape, separation from family and the loneliness and isolation of being in prison, but they also wanted to share the many positive things which kept them going, as well as their dreams and aspirations for the future.

‘A Picture of Me’ is a visual treat, with stunning photography and artwork coordinated by Lizzie Coombes. As with the songs and spoken word pieces, the women were deeply involved in the direction and design of the artwork, making the books something they could be really proud of contributing to.

Copies of the book were distributed to all women’s prisons in the UK, as a resource and support. 

“Look at me then
Look at me now
Change the future
Turn it around.”
Lyrics excerpt, A Picture of Me.


A Picture of Me

Lo Fi's in Ibiza

Zip.... Just Gone

Soundtrack to Ana Stefaniaks Animated short 'I May Be Some Time'
Spotify -> https://open.spotify.com/track/4IZ2VP9v1Cy1eoqgiVTmi1?si=vBksGWCrQ0WkLRhl0aQDfQ
Apple Music -> https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-may-be-some-time-ep/1212447619
Video ->vimeo.com/154406220

I May Be Some Time (OST)

I May Be Some Time

A performance piece in 3 acts written and performed at HMP Leicester

Matters Of The Heart

Celebrating and Preserving Salvation Army Vocal Music

Summer Suns

Magnificat

Falling from Grace

Cocoon Orchestral

Nellie Reading WOW It's Good to Be You, Minnie and Maude and the Thanksgiving Tree, Layla's Happines, Ramona the Pest Ch 3 Second half

****

Read Along with Grammy 11-5-2020,WOW It's Good to Be You, Minnie and Maude and the Thanksgiving Tree

Julie of Drum and Brass is Interviewed by Jimmy Carter on BBC Radio Leicester about the No Bars poetry competition. For details see www.drumandbrass.co.uk/nobars

nobars_insta Radio interview

"Hi all, a warm welcome to our soundscape! I'm sure many can relate to receiving a boost to their daily productivity, so I have made this track which is a bit different to the other releases. A combination of a live recording of the harp by one of my friends, then myself on the hang drum and percussion combined with textures from nature to give a mellow ambience. Been a pleasure to produce this soundscape and please let me know if you would like anything else to be worked on in future compositions."

Composed and produced by Hari Trivedi (@Ishan-Sattva) for UNiDAYS staff.

Cocoon Orchestral

Hella Glass