Social Innovation
The patron of young people's music charity, AudioActive, takes us back to his roots and shows how up-and-coming artists are helping to inspire positive social change through music.
Rory Graham, aka Rag’n’Bone Man, has experienced the transformative power of music. Having eschewed traditional schooling, the British singer cut his teeth as part of his local urban music community – and now he's a top musician.
Join Rag’n’Bone Man as he discovers how AudioActive is making a change to young people’s lives by watching our exclusive film, Paying It Forward,in the player above.
“I remember being on stage, and being so meek and shy,” he says of his first time performing live. “Even though I'm this big dude, I was like, I don't know how to stand in front of people and be confident.
“There were a few people, I remember, who were like, ‘You should just look people in the eye, and sing it like you mean it.’ That was a real turning point for me, that little bit of confidence. If someone can just go, ‘It's cool man, don't worry about it, y'know, it'll be fine.' I want that for somebody else.”
Creativity is really important, but I think it gets overlooked a lot for young people these days.
Now Graham is paying forward that good work as patron of AudioActive, a music charity based in Brighton, England, which helps encourage positive social change for disenfranchised communities via contemporary urban culture.
Lots of talented young people have no accessible place to nurture their talent or reach their full potential as an artist. As such, Graham is getting behind an ambitious vision for AudioActive to realise a non-formal Centre of Excellence in Worthing, on the South-Coast of the UK, for the talent development of marginalised or under-represented artists.
AudioActive are doing something to ensure that, regardless of wealth or background, young people get a chance to be creative. I can’t support that enough.
Watch the the short film, Room To Rant, in the video player above, to find out how AudioActive is giving young men the chance to get things off their chest with spoken word and rap in partnership with mental health charity, ManKind.
"The first time I met Rory was at an open mic freestyle night, [Brighton's Slip Jam:B] he just came through to watch and ended up on stage, just messing about and rapping,” says one-time AudioActive participant, current mentor and musician, Phonetic. The pair stayed in touch and one day Phonetic received an email asking if she'd like to support him on tour. "It was amazing!" she says. "Rory is a really cool guy and I’ve just got so much respect for him and everything he does."
"We are delighted to be working with the extremely talented Rag’n’Bone Man," says Adam Joolia, director of AudioActive. "Partnership is a key part of our philosophy and young artists are at the heart of our work, so it’s great to collaborate with such a positive role model.
“Many of the young musicians at AudioActive come from disadvantaged backgrounds, where there is violence in the home or where they are affected by mental health issues, and music offers the platform to overcome these obstacles.
“Our mentors not only support emerging artists, they also help them become a positive influence on a new generation of talented but marginalised teenagers. We’ve also started on our next mission, to further nurture young talent through establishing the UK’s first Centre of Excellence in urban and electronic music.”
With many emerging artists getting their big breaks after studying at industry-recognised colleges, Graham is conscious there are lots of young musicians who haven't had those opportunities. The work of AudioActive addresses these issues by supporting local talent and mentoring young people who sit outside of conventional music education.
“Creativity is really important,” says Graham. “I think it gets overlooked in a lot for young people these days. “Being able to give people the opportunity to be creative with music – it gets pushed to the sidelines and [young] people aren't told enough, ‘You can have a career in this, if you're passionate.'”
