RAW Music
by Play for Progress Staff + Young People
We created this collection of tracks during weekly RAW sessions, where we Record, Arrange and Write music. Each track was built directly by or in collaboration with the young people and displays their creativity, characters and wide-ranging talents. From rapping, singing and writing original music, to arranging covers of cherished music from home, these songs represent the time we have spent sharing culture, practising self-expression and building relationships across languages in celebration of our differences.
All of these tracks (and so many more) were created during RAW’s pilot programme from January 2019 to January 2020 which was sponsored by co-owner of Ronnie Scott’s Michael Watt. Thank you Michael for supporting us!
Tutors who contributed to these tracks:
Joe Cryar - Production
Alice Williamson - Clarinet, Vocals, Piano, Arranging
Alice Philips - String, Vocals, Piano
Maya McCourt - Cello, Vocals, Arranging
Will Roper - Rap, Brass
Laura Impallomeni - Brass, Piano
Katie Moberly - Bass, Vocals, Piano
Simon Roth - Drums
Amazing Amazing
The whole RAW team produced this soothing track, featuring vocals and strings of participants and was gradually built up during the course of one session and captured the peaceful vibes we felt throughout, Crina on the piano and Emmanuel providing the atmospheric guitar line, The song grew by itself and represents a deeply beautiful session we had.
Banker Banker
This lively and fun dance track features Ibrahim showing his immense language skills as he raps in Arabic and later in English. He wrote the lyrics and performed the song in the same two hours. Mohammed and Fauzi come in to support Ibrahim on vocals. The talented multi-instrumentalist Emmanuel provided the bass and much of the production with rock-star level dedication. This track was both fun and awe-inspiring to witness being created.
Black Friday
This track features an electric opening verse from Shire.
It was Shire’s first session at RAW and was an introduction
and for him into the organic creativity, playfulness and flow
we experience every week. Following Shire’s verse, Ibrahim
delivers another set of lyrics written in his second language,
showing us he can make us laugh, dance and sing in whatever language he chooses.
Clarinet Piece 1
This track is performed by Hamid and RAW and is another example of the amazing talent and expressive ability at our sessions. Hamid has only been learning the clarinet for two weeks at the point of recording, but recorded this mature piece with the musical ability and interpretation of someone playing their whole life. Hamid refers to the tutors as “mamoste” (teacher in Kurdish), but it’s the tutors who are constantly learning from Hamid.
Good Times
This track captures the sheer joy we have creating these tracks, as Mo and our RAW group sang and danced for two hours while piece-by-piece the song came together. Mo had shared with us some of his favourite music, upon which we based the simple melody and rhythm and attempted to capture the energy of the original.
Hamid’s Song
This beautiful and moving performance was written and performed by the talented Hamid with support from RAW tutors. They developed this over the course of only one session and then came out and performed it in it in one take, stunning everyone present.
Tears Of A Clarinet
This piece was written and arranged by Ionela with help from RAW tutors. It is a dark orchestral narrative piece which was made to accompany an animation (coming soon) also designed and created by the composer. The work showcases Ionela’s vivid storytelling ability and as she hasn’t been through formal training writing music, her amazing skills in visualisation and communication through music. We recorded this over the course of many sessions as the RAW team tried to solidify and bring to life the music Ionela hears in her imagination.
Ionela describes her story in her own words: “Hello my name is Ionela and this is a story about a boy who world was so cold tat burn his heart staring at himself paralysed. A fallen angel with broken wings come to make him happy forever with her. But the grey skies was eating him alive. Now only dark remains and his paint full smile but after giving her the last thinks was keeping him alive the flute.”
Blazing stars are falling in the midnight - Casting shadows on the ceiling - The mansion of the Angel falls asleep - In cold earth of the cemetery and tears - To the powerful sadness, the Angel transform the water in one of the most heart breaking instrument in the world who have the power to tears in smile like the last hope the Angel have to the boy to transform his pain into love - But he accepted the death before the love could change anything.
Clarinet Piece 2
This piece follows on from Hamid’s previous work for clarinet and displays how his skill is constantly growing. Hemid again shows his impressive ability to convey emotion through music with the simplest articulation or dynamic movement. For a whole session Play For Progress tutor Alice and Hamid played together by themselves, then unveiled it to the group as a performance which was left stunned as they performed this beautiful piece.
My Sound
This hip hop track featuring Henouk, young money & Assimatou shines with an effortless sense of individuality and style. Henouk, the first vocalist, inspired most of the production as we set out together chopping samples and drums till it clicked. This effortlessly fun track was a real high point in our sessions as Play for Progress’s ideals of freedom of expression, collaboration, connection and play came together into one track.
Mushuftaha
This song features Sudanese rapper and musician Hussein. Everybody took notice when Hussein recorded his lyrics as he gave as assured, confident and powerful performance. It was clear when creating this track with Hussein he has a powerful imagination and musical ear as he knew exactly what he wanted is lyrics and the underlying music to sound like. Hussein has been with Play For Progress almost since the beginning and this track is the perfect embodiment of his growing confidence and expressive abilities.
Kurdish Rap
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Kengaste
This track exudes confidence as Nour proudly exclaims he is kengaste (meaning “king” in Dari) over a track we created together. The power of music to uplift you and others is proudly on displaymhere and you can hear the amount of fun we had making it.
Nomanom
This song by Nour showcases his linguistic skills as his fast pace rapping tears out over the track. This track was an explosion of energy by Nour who, supported by his friends around him, gave a passionate vocal performance.
Show More Unity
This was one of the first songs created at RAW and it features Khater performing a song about his homeland Sudan. The backing track was created by the whole team, with Jalal and Alice Phelps performing violins and Maya McCourt on the cello. Everyone in the class joined for the chant of ‘ohh’ supporting the poignant lyrics of Khater.
Roumoush & Young Money
This dark piece features Roumoush and rapper ‘Young Money’, both of them providing powerful performances with a Kurdish verse and an Arabic verse. This was another of the first pieces created at RAW and was a great example of the unbound creativity and willingness to collaborate of these young people.
Major Jam
This track is another example of the whole RAW
team pulling together over the course of a session
to recreate this beautiful Eritrean song, which as dear
to all contributors. The young people created everything
from the background vocals to piano.