The End of One Chapter, The Beginning of of Another

Reflecting on Beyond the Bassline, I’ve been taking a moment to really look back at the journey .

What started as conversations and ideas with the amazing Library team, Aspire Black Suffolk and Marcus Harris and became a reality. I can honestly say the whole thing has been a real vibe.

This project has been about movement, sound, and story. From the journey of capoeira and its roots in resistance and rhythm, to exploring natural instruments and the sounds that come from them, young people were invited into something hands-on and real. It wasn’t just about learning, it was about feeling it, understanding where it comes from and what it means.

Through The Record in a Box, we held space for voices and stories.

Through the history of British Sound System culture with Bopper Rankin, we connected past to present. Through The Windrush suitcase, drumming, dance and performance, we explored how music travels, evolves and shapes OUR identity.

There were moments of stillness too, our Silent Cinema, supported through the SPILL ICA project, archived footage provided by Eli and community artists, gave communities

the chance to sit with our history, reflect, and see themselves in it.

We moved through podcast development, interview skills, creating music events, interactive workshops and building a pop-up audio exhibition that brought everything together. Schools, libraries, community spaces all held part of the journey.

None of this happened in isolation. It was built by people who brought their energy, knowledge and care into the space. These are just some of the names of people involved; Trevor Jones, Antonio Santos, Super Marky, Shartee, Bopper Rankins, Marcus Browne, Marcus Harris, Darrel C, Naameka WG, Abi Abidoye, Eli Turray, Rosy May, Lilly Hammond, Angelle Joseph, Alekandra Kasinska, Rakesh Wilson-Snow, Leon WX, Becci Blackwood, Melissa Matthews, Sally Garwood, Maria Uzor, Robin Deacon, Ellisha Soanes and Franstine Jones, alongside Aspire's Proud 2 Be Youth Board, Ipswich Youth Steel Pans, Ipswich Community Radio, Suffolk Libraries, Suffolk Museums, Dance East and Primadonna. Thanks to the Art Council England and all our supporters..

For anyone who knows me, this doesn’t stop here. I’m still recording stories, so if music has shaped yours, please get in touch. tonia@aspireblacksuffolk.org.uk Workshops available on a paid basis, while we explore what comes next.