When people ask me about my favourite music video, I’m going to be tempted to point them towards this clip. It’s not a famous band singing a popular song, and nor does it have any amazing special effects.
This was filmed as we were setting up to record a song at a home for girls in Delhi. Suhail from the band Advaita leads a clapping and counting exercise that, on the face of it, is a very simple warmup exercise for a bunch of kids.
But when you see the faces on these street kids, all of whom have had a life of poverty, deprivation and cruelty – you start to see how meaningful this simple activity really is, and why Music Basti is such an important project.
Back in July, Ian and I went to India with Jez Collins from Birmingham City University to work on a project with an organisation called Music Basti.
Music Basti is a youth-run charity that organises music workshops in homes for street children. The music workshops are run by professional musicians, many of whom are successful recording artists.
We thought it would be an interesting idea to travel to Delhi, work with the musicians and the children to record an album of songs, and release it online. We wanted to do this for a few reasons, but the most important was simply to try and raise money for the charity.
All proceeds from the album sale will go to Music Basti to support their work, and hopefully bring it to the attention of a wider audience.
Its aim is to provide useful resources, advice and strategies for innovation and success in the independent music sector in a rapidly changing technological environment.
NMS examines emerging technologies (and buzzwords) such as AI, blockchain, metaverse and 'Web 3.0', but focuses primarily on sustainability, music as a tool for social change, participation, equality and inclusion, and the ways in which music technologies can build better worlds.
