Changes

CD: ‘Changes’; Music provider: Drum Runners Trading.

A project between detainees at Haslar IRC and participants at the Nimrod Community Centre in Rowner, Gosport.

This song came out of a discussion on the theme of ‘change’, in which participants voiced what they might associate with the word. Their responses included “all foreign nationals free”, “different directions” and “from a difficult situation to a good place”.  This track was put together using a sampler, and various sounds recorded from the workshops are looped in a rhythmical way. There were few English speakers in the group; consequently this song has words from Bangladesh and Algeria, and other places. It ends with thank yous.

CD: ‘Changes’; Music provider: Drum Runners Trading.

A project between detainees at Haslar IRC and participants at the Nimrod Community Centre in Rowner, Gosport.

This track was put together using a multi-tracker pedal, and one detainee’s lines, including “Music In Detention makes me happy and it makes me smile.” Maracas and other percussive instruments are used too.

CD: ‘Changes’; Music provider: Drum Runners Trading.

A project between detainees as Haslar IRC and participants at the Nimrod Community Centre in Rowner, Gosport.

This track uses a slower-tempo hip hop beat and anti-folk style elements, including a kazoo riff, and cowbells. “Detention camp, a place to be, you never win or lose, you just gain respect.”

CD: ‘Changes’; Music provider: Drum Runners Trading.

A project between detainees as Haslar IRC and participants at the Nimrod Community Centre in Rowner, Gosport.

During this project, every session at Haslar started with a high-energy rhythm workout, designed to allow detainees to let off steam and de-stress. This is a more restrained drumming session, with complex rhythms played on a variety of different percussive instruments.

CD: ‘Changes’; Music provider: Drum Runners Trading.

A project between three different-aged groups of detainees at Yarl’s Wood: Single Women, Upper School and Nursery.

This track is based around a recurring call of “Catch the rabbit” by the adult women’s group. The rest of the song was written and recorded by three teenagers comprising the ‘Upper School’ group – two brothers and a girl. The lyrics are cryptic but explore the teenagers’ fears and other thoughts about Haslar IRC. The drumming rhythms were recorded first,  and then the overlapping vocals were recorded, one at a time. They also recorded a yawn, which, much to their delight, fitted with the song.

CD: ‘Changes’; Music provider: Drum Runners Trading.

A project between three different-aged groups of detainees at Yarl’s Wood: Single Women, Upper School and Nursery.

This track was written and recorded by three teenagers comprising the ‘Upper School’ group. One of the boys had been detained at a different IRC, released, and then detained again with his family – all in the space of a month – but as he had spent some time in the community, he wanted to voice these experiences in this song. The lyrics indicate a wish to be settled and reunited with familiar surroundings. The song is based on simply the word “I”, to which the group added what they wanted, as well as vocal sound effects and rhythms.