Freedom To Sing

This amazing version of 'All I Need' was covered by the wonderful Coventry-based Soulful Choir led by Mamajay as part of our Simple Acts call to action for Refugee Week 2018.

Featuring:

Singers:- Mamajay (lead vocals) with Soulful Choir. Musicians:- James Cannock (keyboard, piano, Bass guitar and Drums), Bobby George (Acoustic Rhythm Guitar) Jake Hackett(Lead Guitar)

The track was played on HillzFm (http://www.hillzfm.co.uk/) during Refugee Week 2018.

Thank you to James Cannock from One Nation Studios who kindly donated studio time to make this recording, as well as playing drums, Bass and keyboard! And thank you for Mamajay, for making this real.

'All I Need' was originally written and recorded back in 2012 during a project involving detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and young people engaged in activities through the Challenge Network in Hillingdon. The lyrics came from questions the young people asked detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and the responses they got back. They decided to write the first verse as the voice of an anonymous detainee, and the second verse as the voice of a teenager realising that young people in the UK often take for granted the freedoms, friends and family in their lives.

Freedom oh, Freedom, is a wonderful cover of original MID track 'Song of Freedom' Sing for a Change! as part of our Simple Acts call to action for Refugee Week 2018.

Arranged by Sara Hunter @SaraHunter1975

Recorded by Max Bandicoot  @MaxBandicoot

Performed by Sing for a Change! A social justice, community organising, choir based in Hackney using the power of music to transform society one song at a time!

Facebook: singforachangehackney

Twitter: sing_forachange

Sara told us why she chose to arrange this song: 

Refugee resettlement and integration is an issue that we have sung about and campaigned for earlier this year at the Hackney Citizens Mayoral Accountability Assembly and we wanted to get involved in Refugee Week. Singing one of Music In Detention’s songs seemed like a wonderful thing to do although we didn’t have the time to learn the recommended songs this one was ideal as it was simple both musically and lyrically - the need for freedom is something we can all relate to. We filmed ourselves singing it to share on social media for Refugee Week and then performed it at the Love Hoxton Summer Fair on Saturday 23rd June to raise awareness about Refugee Week and the work of Music In Detention. We had a very positive response from both our online and live performance.

Song of Freedom was recorded way back in 2008, during a project involving detainees and staff at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre.

Huge thanks to Sara, Max and everyone involved in Sing for a Change! 

This beautiful version of 'Home' was arranged by Nathan J. Waring and is performed by Byrdsong, a choir of professional, semi-professional and amateur singers specialising in Renaissance music, as part of our Simple Acts call to action for Refugee Week 2018.

Conducted by Katie Hawks, the track was performed live on 17th June 2018 at St Mary's Church, Kemptown, Brighton, by Liz Kelly, Rachel Taylor, Clare Bowskill, Jackie Cassell, Maria Birch, Pascale Calcutt, Dan Johnston, Matt Jelf, Roger Floyd and Reuben James.

When asked why he chose to do an arrangement of Home, Nathan said:

"Home instantly stood out as a an idea piece of raw material to develop further. I kept the original idea of beginning with 3-part harmony in a gospel style and then let the music evolve from a single harmonic idea to a whole phrase that would define the entire piece. The words were ideal to  use in a call and response phrasing, with the repetition of the word 'home', becoming more urgent, meaningful and passionate."

This original version was recorded by detainees held at Yarl's Wood detention centre back in 2009. Bedford-based community group Fusion United and Fusion Youth then recorded their own version as direct response. The song uses a repeated line: ‘Home, home, home,’ which is followed up by ideas about what they might miss if they were away from home; for example “I miss my friends” or “cuddle bear” or “brother”. 

Huge thanks to Nathan, Katie & Byrdsong for this beautiful recording.

This cover of 'Song of Freedom' was recorded live at the Samphire Ex-Detainee 2018 conference, held at the Amnesty International Offices in London during Refugee Week as part of our Simple Acts call to action 'Sing A Song'.

MID volunteer Sally Jaquet and Xi-mali taught conference delegates the song which was then recorded live at the conference!

Song of Freedom was recorded back in 2008, during a project involving detainees and staff at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre.

Huge thanks to Samphire for inviting us to take part in their conference and to Sally for leading the performance with such energy and enthusiasm. Thanks also to Emily at Refugee Week and everyone who sung with us at the conference! 

This ensemble - created for Refugee Week - included a few of Birmingham's Choir With No Name members as well as refugees based at St Chad's Sanctuary

Choir with No Name runs choirs for homeless and marginalised people. A diverse bunch of people, this branch in Birmingham covered the song "Never Give Up" from Dover Immigration Centre with choir director Pete Churchill

In 2018 the street Choirs Festival was hosted by Hullabaloo Community Quire in Brighton. Arranged by Kirsty Martin, this version of "Human" was performed by 900 choir members as part of the Massed Sing on June 30th 2018. Marshall Mandiangu performed with the group and is a participant of Audio Active