SoundHouse Project Launches Partnership with Joe Strummer Foundation
Our SoundHouse Project is excited to announce a partnership with the Joe Strummer Foundation. Their mission is to provide opportunities to musicians and support to projects around the world that create empowerment through music.
This partnership has seen a new studio build out in our King George Hostel, and will see additional funding and in-kind donations of music equipment over the course of 2021.
“Working with the team at the Joe Strummer Foundation during the last year has been truly inspiring. From formulating plans for the future, providing essential funding and refurbishing the studio space, we at SoundHouse appreciate the dedication and hard work. The transformation of the studio space has created an environment suited for creativity and we look forward to working together on more future projects too. Much love”
- SoundHouse Project Manager, Rob Walsh
Jassen Summogum, Team ROC Worker at King George gave us a first hand account of what is was like during the studio buildout,
‘Gordon, artist extraordinaire from the Joe Strummer Foundation came over the course of 12 days in December 2020, and visually worked wonders in King George’s music studio. Gordon was attentive, and an excellent collaborator who was passionate about listening to residents, and staff needs, and most of all visually transforming the space in the best way possible. From the record wall stands, sticker light shading, awesome paint job in the pool room, to the striking print image of Joe Strummer himself, has brought to life the music studio, and central resident activity area.
I am personally so excited about the possibilities of what can be achieved this year in the studio, having a space which feels welcoming, and inviting is so important to making residents and artists feel welcome, and comfortable to create music. I am also really looking forward to the next phase of funding, where we can see more high quality instruments, equipment, and training/facilitators put in place.
We are so grateful and immensely appreciate all the work and funding Joe Strummer Foundation has put in, I am certain their contribution will be a legacy that endures at King Georges.’
Jaime, a King Georges resident and an exceptionally talented DJ who uses the studio on a regular basis remarked ‘The space has been completely transformed, I feel excited about getting to mix some new records, and use the studio more’
We also heard from Stephen, A Project Worker from KG Hostel ~
“To say that I'm excited to get into the studio since the refurb by the Joe Strummer Foundation is an understatement! It's going to make a huge difference to our clients who want to reignite their passion for music and rediscover buried talents, or to learn something new that they've wanted to but never had the chance. This will help minds and change lives and I'm all for it. I'm excited to play music with the guys and can't wait to see what we come up with!"
The SoundHouse Project is part of a dynamic programme at Single Homeless Project (SHP), The Opportunities Programme, which offers collaborative and creative ways for people experiencing homelessness to take an active part, to learn, share and grow. through a range of social and cultural activities.
SoundHouse facilitates positive experiences for people improving confidence, self-worth and mental well-being. It identifies and supports individual’s projects and facilitates collaboration, it enables people to feel part of something, take on roles, responsibilities and ownership, to express and hear themselves, to identify their own and others’ strengths and support each other’s growth.
A lovely note from Gordon McHarg, friend of the JSF:
The Joe Strummer Foundation supports great causes and the SoundHouse Project in Westminster, London is one of them.
Jamie asked me last October to go and meet the fantastic team at King George’s homeless hostel as the JSF wanted me to help redesign a tired-looking Recording Studio and DJ Room, the remit was to create an inspiring environment for their residents to use - I said yes, adding a “facelift” for the Recreation Room too!
Visual ideas came about, stuff was ordered, paint was mixed, tools gathered, and in early December, when lockdown restrictions were eased, I worked onsite, painting and fixing up the three rooms which were finished on 22nd December.
My goal is always to try and channel a bit of Joe into these spaces and hope it helps the creative endeavours of the people who will use it, long after I have left. I am proud to have worked with TJSF on a few of their Studio Projects and every time it gives me a good feeling that they support such noble causes. Music can make a difference and it does! These Studios are really appreciated by those who use them.
A few thank you’s are in order…to Rob Walsh - SHP and all the staff at King George’s, Mister Wim for his iconic stickers. I asked a few friends to donate some records to the DJ Room, cheers to Jason - The Cumbia Kid - Mayall, Chris Musto, Eleven Mgmt, Tom Bridgewater - Loose Records, and Lucinda Tait. I will put the word out to keep on adding to the King George’s Vinyl Library.
Wishing you all…ALL THE BEST and thank you for supporting The Joe Strummer Foundation.
- Robert Gordon McHarg III
Support from this partnership will see additional resources added to our Young People’s Studio in South London, and a range of light-touch ‘give it a go’ sessions will be made available including ‘make a track in a day’, drumming, dj-ing, songwriting, etc workshops. In addition to recording we are seeking to establish the resources, network and platforming for more regular live performance to support participants’ artistic development, personal growth and general career progression. We look forward to and working towards this when Covid allows.
We are also keen to develop music-related activities more generally. Developing music listening rooms, supporting music video making, collaborating on social and cultural events, radio production, DJ-ing, and generally engaging people through their interests in music whatever that may be.
We are excited for what the future holds with the Joe Strummer Foundation, to share stories on how this partnership will enrich the lives of our clients and how it will continue supporting the SoundHouse Projects mission of transforming lives through music.
A massive thanks to the Joe Strummer Foundation for supporting SoundHouse Project!
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