Migrant Sounds Celebrates the Positive Impact of Migration Via Music

Immigration is a contentious issue across the Western world, one often negatively sensationalised by the mainstream media. To combat this, global online platform Boiler Room has created SYSTEM, a campaign which celebrates the positive cultural impact of migration.

Created with Pi Studios, Migrant Sound is part of this wider campaign, showcasing the different ways in which immigration has affected music culture over time. The first episode of the series, Arrival [above], is released today.

Launching ahead of London’s Notting Hill Carnival weekend, Migrant Sound is a four-part documentary series that focuses on the original Windrush generation and their descendants amid the backdrop of this year’s UK political scandal. Migrant Sound combines societal stories with personal family histories - from the 1950s to today - showing how their migration changed the course of British music culture forever.

“With this series, we wanted to subvert what a music show could do and change the discourse around Windrush in the process."

Arrival, the first episode of the four x 10 minute series, focuses on how the Windrush generation used music to shape their identities and overcome the ignorance and hostility they faced. We meet photographer Pogus Caesar and the Banton family from Peckham, who share how music helped them shape their identities, through multiple generations.

The three episodes still to come will explore racism, identity and future sounds, with contributors such as journalist Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff of Gal Dem, Acid House legend A Guy Called Gerald, first wave punk artist Melodie and her daughters, as well as young photographer Rhianne Clarke, activist Charlie Wilson and up and coming music sensation Fredwave.

Directed by Jeremy Cole, Migrant Sound is a joint venture between Boiler Room and Pi Studios with Pi Studios creating the concept and co-producing the series with London-based production company My Accomplice.

"Migrant Sound shares the Windrush generation’s story through their impact on music - be it acid house, punk, dub or hip-hop."

“Music is a universal force, which transcends generations and borders," said Boiler Room’s chief creative officer Stephen Mai. "Boiler Room has a diverse audience whose stories are not always told. Through installations, events, performance and film we’re excited to subvert mainstream media narratives by working with the community to celebrate the positive cultural impact of a multicultural society. Migrant Sound shares the Windrush generation’s story through their impact on music - be it acid house, punk, dub or hip-hop. We hope the campaign leads to their story being heard all over the world.”

“With this series, we wanted to subvert what a music show could do and change the discourse around Windrush in the process," adds Ravi Amaratunga Hitchcock, head of Pi Studios and executive producer of Migrant Sound. "We've given the topic a new young perspective both in terms of style and narrative so that it will hopefully attract audiences beyond music lovers."

Migrant Sound is part of Boiler Room’s SYSTEM campaign, which was created to celebrate migration and the positive cultural impact it has on society. The project brings together a community of artists, activists, and families to tell their stories through installations, film, editorial, music and performance.

New episodes of Migrant Sounds will then be released weekly and for more information you can visit boilerroom.tv.