Ruslip High School - Harmondsworth IRC

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

This song is a later version of a track entitled 'Peter’s Song – Harmondsworth Mix', which you will find on this website too. A detainee named Peter wrote the lyrics and vocal melody, and re-recorded a studio version with added lyrics over a backing track based on music detainees had created in a previous session. Peter was deported to Uganda the following day and students from Ruislip High School recorded the chorus over the top to finish the song.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

In one of the earlier sessions at Ruislip High School, the students were encouraged to create a piece of music that would reflect issues and/or feelings raised in their discussions about immigration detention. This track includes feelings of loneliness and helplessness, and then hope and something positive for the future. The group who composed the song called themselves ‘Never Say Never’, and the title ‘Eklai’ means ‘lonely’ in Nepalese.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

This lively but grounded track was created in one of the earlier sessions at Harmondsworth IRC. It started with a jamming session, and then a detainee called Khartik came up with a chord pattern. This pattern was taught to Ameer on the bass, and Ajaz improvised on the scale. Michael, a staff member at the IRC, plays the drums in this track.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

During one of the sessions at Ruislip High School, the students discussed what it means to be British and live in the UK; ‘What does home mean?’ on a larger scale. Then they split into groups to create a piece of British-inspired music. A student called Joe provided ‘British’ rock chords on the guitar and the other students built up the music around them, using a variety of different instruments.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

This Panjabi song was taught to Ruislip High School students during their first session of the project, as an introduction to Panjabi music. When AMC artists took the recording of the students into the IRC the same day, some of the detainees recognised the song. They all learned it too and created the backing track. ‘Apna sangeet’ means ‘our song’.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

In one of the earlier sessions at Ruislip High School, the students were encouraged to create a piece of music that would reflect issues and/or feelings raised in their discussions about immigration detention. The group who wrote the song used an old traditional British melody as a base to write lyrics.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

A detainee named Peter wrote the lyrics and vocal melody to this song. Ameer added Indian vocal improvisations over the top. Later on in the project Peter produced another version of the song, and after he was deported, students from Ruislip High School recorded a chorus to go with it. The other version of this song can be heard here too; it is called 'Far Away – Peter ft. Ruislip School'.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

This ‘rocky’ track is a recording of a jamming session at Harmondsworth IRC, in one of the earlier sessions of the project. Michael, a staff member at the IRC, plays drums on this track.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

Michael sings on this gentle track about different nationalities.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

Richard, a detainee at Harmondsworth IRC, speaks about the time he has spent away from his home and family. He talks about missing them, especially over the Christmas period, and how he deserves to be treated better. Students at Ruislip High School read out their goodbye letters to the detainees at the end of the project, thanking them, wishing them luck and telling them how they have learned from the experience. At the end of the track, the students sing their ‘Far Far Away’ melody over the backing track.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

Babatunde, a detainee at Harmondsworth IRC, shares his words of wisdom about destiny and life with students at Ruislip High School.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

After a discussion about IRCs and detainees’ experiences, pupils at Ruislip High School prepared and recorded questions for the detainees at Harmondsworth IRC. Here are Rubina’s questions.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

After a discussion about IRCs and detainees’ experiences, pupils at Ruislip High School prepared and recorded questions for the detainees at Harmondsworth IRC. Here are Abud’s questions.

 

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

After a discussion about IRCs and detainees’ experiences, pupils at Ruislip High School prepared and recorded questions for the detainees at Harmondsworth IRC. Here are Eleanor’s questions.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

After a discussion about IRCs and detainees’ experiences, pupils at Ruislip High School prepared and recorded questions for the detainees at Harmondsworth IRC. Here are Daniel’s questions.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

A group of detainees at Harmondsworth IRC answer Daniel’s question.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

A group of detainees at Harmondsworth IRC answer Abud’s question.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

A group of detainees at Harmondsworth IRC answer Daniel’s question.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

A group of detainees at Harmondsworth IRC answer Rubina’s questions.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

A group of detainees at Harmondsworth IRC answer Eleanor’s question.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

A detainee called Peter sings this love song from Uganda, called ‘Bread and Butter’.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

A Pakistani detainee called Ameer sings this Hindi song from a film.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

A detainee called Peter sings this Ugandan song about a wedding party.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

In one of the first sessions of the project, students from Ruislip High School had a discussion about IRCs and detainees’ experiences. They answered three questions and recorded their responses for the detainees: 1. What does the word ‘home’ mean to you? 2. How would it feel if control and everything you were used to were taken away from you? 3. What do you want for your future? Here are the responses to question 1.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

In one of the first sessions of the project, students from Ruislip High School had a discussion about IRCs and detainees’ experiences. They answered three questions and recorded their responses for the detainees: 1. What does the word ‘home’ mean to you? 2. How would it feel if control and everything you were used to were taken away from you? 3. What do you want for your future? Here are the responses to question 2.

CD: ‘Ruislip High School – Harmondsworth IRC’; Music provider: Asian Music Circuit.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and students from Ruislip High School.

In one of the first sessions of the project, students from Ruislip High School had a discussion about IRCs and detainees’ experiences. They answered three questions and recorded their responses for the detainees: 1. What does the word ‘home’ mean to you? 2. How would it feel if control and everything you were used to were taken away from you? 3. What do you want for your future? Here are the responses to question 2.