Presenting a special collaboration from two of our #EmergingArtists, Reese Quinlan and Luke McCarthy. 

Over the last two years ITT and Drake Music have worked together to share learning and ITT’s Emerging Artists have received individual mentoring and been supported to record, release and perform their own original material. Our Emerging Artists were selected from alumni of our #MakingTracks initiative for young musicians facing barriers and our #SoundingOut programme for former prisoner musicians.

Reese and Luke were supported in creating and recording this track by Drake Music associated artist Miss Jacqui and ITT musicians Shammi Pithia and Tom Wright-Goss. 

The Emerging Artists project was supported by Arts Council England and the Fishmongers' Company's Charitable Trust  

More info about Drake Music: https://www.drakemusic.org/ 

More info about the Irene Taylor Trust: https://irenetaylortrust.com/ 

The Irene Taylor Trust is a registered charity (no. 1073105). Since 1995 we have run high-quality creative music projects which support participants to share their stories and be celebrated, develop valuable life skills such as teamwork and perseverance, as well as dramatically improving self-confidence and encouraging further constructive activity. Initially focused on #MusicinPrisons, in 2012 we created the #MakingTracks programme to bring these same benefits to young people in the community and #SoundingOut to develop the skills of former-prisoner musicians. 

These life-changing projects are not possible without support from funders and individuals. If you would like to help us reach more people through our work, please consider making a one-off donation or signing up as a ‘Friend’ with a regular donation at any level that is affordable to you: http://bit.ly/ITTsupport

Reese X Luke: I Don't Know

Presenting a special collaboration from two of our #EmergingArtists, Macelino and L U C I N E.

Over the last two years ITT and Drake Music have worked together to share learning and ITT’s Emerging Artists have received individual mentoring and been supported to record, release and perform their own original material. Our Emerging Artists were selected from alumni of our #MakingTracks initiative for young musicians facing barriers and our #SoundingOut programme for former prisoner musicians. Macelino and L U C I N E both progressed from Making Tracks.

Macelino and L U C I N E were supported in creating and recording this track by Drake Music associated artist Miss Jacqui and ITT musicians Shammi Pithia and Tom Wright-Goss.

The Emerging Artists project was supported by Arts Council England 

More info about Drake Music: www.drakemusic.org/

More info about the Irene Taylor Trust: irenetaylortrust.com/

The Irene Taylor Trust is a registered charity (no. 1073105). Since 1995 we have run high-quality creative music projects which support participants to share their stories and be celebrated, develop valuable life skills such as teamwork and perseverance, as well as dramatically improving self-confidence and encouraging further constructive activity. Initially focused on #MusicinPrisons, in 2012 we created the #MakingTracks programme to bring these same benefits to young people in the community and #SoundingOut to develop the skills of former-prisoner musicians.

These life-changing projects are not possible without support from funders and individuals. If you would like to help us reach more people through our work, please consider making a one-off donation or signing up as a ‘Friend’ with a regular donation at any level that is affordable to you: bit.ly/ITTsupport

Macelino X L U C I N E: To The Limit

In June 2025 a group of young people from Margate took part in 'Making Tracks', formed the band ‘SWAGBOYZ’ and together wrote and performed a set of songs titled ‘SWAG-SUPREME’.

'Making Tracks' is a programme developed by the Irene Taylor Trust to positively engage young people in the community by providing enriching creative opportunities. This project was run in partnership with Arts Education Exchange.

The project was supported by Youth Music, Charles Hayward Foundation and Swire Trust.

The songs feature young artists:
Grave - Keys
ROCK$TEADY - Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Solv - Guitar
RR - Guitar, Drum Pads
They were supported by ITT Musicians: Emma Doherty, Mark Howe and Rob Willson.

Artwork by Keir Cooper

The Irene Taylor Trust was set up in 1995. It runs high quality creative music projects which teach participants valuable life skills such as teamwork and perseverance as well as dramatically improving self-confidence and encouraging further constructive educational activity. More information at www.irenetaylortrust.com/

If you would like to help us reach more people through our work, information about how to support us is here: irenetaylortrust.com/support-us/

The Irene Taylor Trust is a registered charity no. 1073105

More info about Arts Education Exchange is here: www.artsedex.org/



Waffle

The Irene Taylor Trust was set up in November 1995 and we're marking our 21st 'coming of age' year in style, with the wonderful original music created on our projects at the heart of our celebrations.

Project leaders and office staff from ITT's present and past have jointly picked their 'Top 21' tracks. We'll be shining the spotlight on each track individually. Later in the summer, we'll ask our social media followers to pick their ultimate favourite track, which will get a special airing at our big Celebration Gig in November.

The fourth track of the Top 21 ("in no particular order") is 'I Believe in Love' - from a 2011 Music in Prisons project with adult men. It's a smooth, catchy classic that has been stuck in our heads for the last five years!



I Believe in Love

Making Tracks is a music project for young people, run by the Irene Taylor Trust.

The projects focus on creating original new music for live performance as a band. The young people are supported to write and play their own music by professional musicians. 

After taking part in the 'intensive' project, the young people are offered follow-on sessions to further explore music making and achieve an Arts Award.

Making Tracks has been running since 2012, including projects in Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Croydon, Tower Hamlets, Hammersmith & Fulham, Manchester, Kent and Bristol.

Waffle

Making Tracks

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