Tackling racial inequality in the UK music industry.
Black Lives in Music (BLiM), a bold new organization set up to address racial inequality in the music industry and create opportunities for Black musicians and professionals, launched just last month. Now, they are unveiling a new five-part video series, ‘A Celebration of Black Music’, with the first episode out now on YouTube.
Hosted by presenter and broadcaster Zeze Millz, the video series will welcome different guests each week, beginning with composer, singer, songwriter, and cellist Ayanna Witter Johnson and 2018’s BBC Young Jazz Musician winner Xhosa Cole. Throughout the series, guests will discuss their experiences as Black artists, from how they got into music and began their careers, to their thoughts on the future of Black lives in the music industry.
‘It’s called ‘Black Lives in Music: A Celebration of Black Music’ which gives you a sense of what Zeze will be talking about with her guests. It will be a focus on the journey and experiences of some of the most respected music creators today.’ says BLiM Co-founder and Chief Executive Charisse Beaumont.
Also featuring in future episodes are Sheku Kanneh-Mason, 2016’s BBC Young Musician Award winner who performed at the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, plus Sons of Kemet bandleader Shabaka Hutchings, music psychologist and researcher Natasha Hendry, and musician Jake Isaac.
All videos were filmed at Mindspace Hammersmith – high-end workspaces, and are sponsored by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Watch the first episode of ‘A Celebration of Black Music’ below, and go here for more information on BLiM.
