This track was recorded during a 2-day workshop at IRC The Verne.  

The instrumental parts came first with this track, and then one of the detainees, Hugo, started on working on some lyrics & melodies:

"At first Hugo was pretty shy, but the more we done it the more confident he grew. He shared stories about his girlfriend and the song is about how much he misses her and about how he will be 'coming home'." - Shammi (MID musician)

This track was recorded during a 2-day workshop at IRC The Verne.  

This is a beautifully gentle interpretation and reworking of a song originally from Bangladesh. 

"The session started with a man from Bangladesh bringing one of his favourite songs to sing. Everyone else who was there joined in and we jammed this for a while. He translated the lyrics to English and so we were able to sing the English alongside. We enjoyed this so much that we decided to make a recording of it which was a lovely process. By pouring so much energy into this song we really repsected it and the man's culture. He was over the moon." - Kev (MID musician)

This track was recorded during a 2-day workshop at IRC The Verne.  

The track emerged from some songwriting games used to generate lyrics around the theme of 'what it means to be human'. Lots of ideas were expressed and discussions were far-ranging, exploring the growth of artificial intelligence and eventually concluding that 'the heart', feelings and emotions are what make human beings human. 

This song was recorded partly at IRC The Verne, and partly at Islanders Club. The groups came up with a catchy chorus, which they harmonised. Then different members of the group offered their thoughts on what a journey meant to them. They took the concept of journey in a broad sense, as something that everyone can relate to. Whether your journey, is falling in love, joining a band, the day you were born or life itself.

This song was written by young people at Islanders Club on Portland. They wanted to create a song that captured the qualities of their youth club.

This song started with a discussion about Donald Trump at Islanders group. The young people wanted to write a song that challenged Trump's idea of building a wall between the USA and Mexico, so came up with lyrics around the idea of everyone in the world living under the Same Sky.

These ideas have much resonance for detainees at The Verne, who although they live under the same sky as the young people, live behind the walls of the IRC.

This track is about the importance of staying true to yourself, even in difficult situations. Detainees at IRC The Verne came up with the theme of identity, and young people at Islanders youth club responded with their ideas of what identity is, and what it means. They agreed with the detainees that in life one of the most important things is to 'be yourself'.

Bedford MIND's cover of  'Make You Feel My Love', dedicated to husband and wife group members, Rachel & Paul

This is a letter from the group at Bedford MIND to the women at Yarl's Wood:

To the ladies of Yarl’s Wood,

We’ve all enjoyed collaborating with you over the past 6 weeks and are proud of the songs we have created together.

The project has made us feel inspired and integrated.

We would like to come and sing for you and as our choir and join our voices as one.

It has been a positive experience and a caring and joyful activity.

It would be a brilliant idea if we could continue our choir.

All of us have found the songwriting an amazing experience, we wish you the best for the future and you get where you want to be and be happy.

Lots of love,

The MIND Singers

Featuring detainees held at Yarl's Wood IRC & adults from Bedford MIND.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Yarl's Wood IRC & adults from Bedford MIND.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Yarl's Wood IRC & adults from Bedford MIND.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Yarl's Wood IRC & adults from Bedford MIND.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Campsfield IRC & adults attending Oxfordshire Mind's day centre The Mill.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Campsfield IRC & adults attending Oxfordshire Mind's day centre The Mill.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Campsfield IRC & adults attending Oxfordshire Mind's day centre The Mill.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Campsfield IRC & adults attending Oxfordshire Mind's day centre The Mill.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Campsfield IRC & adults attending Oxfordshire Mind's day centre The Mill.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Campsfield IRC & adults attending Oxfordshire Mind's day centre The Mill.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Campsfield IRC & adults attending Oxfordshire Mind's day centre The Mill.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Harmondsworth IRC & musicians from Music In Mind, Uxbridge.

More info to come

Featuring detainees held at Harmondsworth IRC & musicians from Music In Mind, Uxbridge:

Yeah, I met a guy one day on the train He told me that, in one month, he’s leaving the UK I asked him ‘Why?’ He told me that his record was stained  And that the judges in the court would only hold him to blame

They said that they were gonna deport him But what they need to do is to listen and support him Rehabilitate so he can lead a better life  In a country where we find it so easy to divide

Caught up in the cycle that we’ve all seen before, and Soon he’s heading back to a country rife with war I really hope that he’s got good things in store, but It’s hard to see the future when you’re thrown out the back door

Really says a lot about the government When at the same time they spew lies just to cover them Maybe one day they’ll see the light And maybe they’ll respect all of our human rights

Featuring detainees held at Harmondsworth IRC & musicians from Music In Mind, Uxbridge.

More info to come

Featuring detainees held at Harmondsworth IRC & musicians from Music In Mind, Uxbridge.

More info to come

Featuring detainees held at Harmondsworth IRC & musicians from Music In Mind, Uxbridge.

More info to come

Featuring detainees held at Harmondsworth IRC & musicians from Music In Mind, Uxbridge.

More info to come.

Featuring detainees held at Harmondsworth IRC & musicians from Music In Mind, Uxbridge.

More info to come

Featuring detainees held at Harmondsworth IRC & musicians from Music In Mind, Uxbridge.

More info to come

Featuring detainees held at Harmondsworth IRC & musicians from Music In Mind, Uxbridge.

More info to come

This track was Commended in the 2017 Koestler Trust Awards!

This track emerged after a day of music making at Campsfield House. As requested by the detainees present, the track is based on Cyndi Lauper's song 'Time After Time'. Towards the end of the song the detainees begin to speak about how music helps pass the time and relieves stress:

"I like it how the music workers help us release our stress. They came here, gave us some entertainment, trying to kill time. I'm thinking right now, is it midnight?"

A poignant reminder of the important of music in immigration detention.

This track was awarded a Gold Award (the second highest award) in the 2017 Koestler Trust Awards!

This track was recorded at Yarl's Wood during Jo Hudson Lett's singing workshop:

Amazing Grace in three part harmony with seven ladies.  

This track was produced in a single December workshop held at Harmondsworth just a few days before Christmas 2016. Detainees had already written this song in preparation for Christmas so our artists came in and recorded it with them.

Shammi Pithia described how the session was a perfect demonstration of music breaking down cultural boundaries:

"I remember looking around at one point and noticing thateveryone in the room was from a different place, and they were all playing like best friends, it was brilliant."

This track was created from scratch in a single day of music making and song writing at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre, September 2016. The recording was inspired by a quote from members of the Zomba Prison Project Band, in Malawi, who talk about seeing no walls when they are making music and how music brings sunshine into their lives.

The participants, detained at the time of recording, felt an affinity with these words. The introduction is sung by Hirkar, a newly arrived refugee from Syria. The rest of the recording features the whole group who came together that day to sing, play guitar, keyboard, drums and the Harmonium.

The session was joined by Goodhead, a Jamaican singer songwriter, who lit up the room performing some of his own material before adding his own vocals to the recording. "That day the togetherness meant a lot, the music relax our mind, body and soul. Meeting new people helps with the loneliness and depression. ...The motivation, inspiration and unity make us stronger that day.

The song reflects the diversity in the centre, "I've been to the chapel, I've been to the mosque" and unites everyone in their desire for sunshine to come their way as they count their days up in detention.

The workshop was facilitated by Kevin Campbell Davidson and Lucky Moyo from Music for Change.

This track was Highly Commended in the 2017 Koestler Trust Awards!

This music was created with women from the Yarl's Wood IRC on 3rd October, and is entirely improvised. Some of this music was improvised after looking at photographs of different places around the world. 

This track is one detainee's musical response to the strong emotions of frustration, anger, sorrow and loss elicited as a result of his detention at Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre.

The poignant lyrics tell the story of the journey that led to this man being detained.

Lyrics and recording by Greg Kessel:

Cops come banging at my door

What do you want?

What’s your game?

Sorry old man

Your name’s on the list

They said “you’re illegal”

Put cuffs on my wrist

Try to be a man but all I can do is cry

I’ve got the Colnbrook Blues from my head to my shoes

I stayed here too long

Knew it was wrong

But I cared for a girl

Who’s gonna be my wife

She sent me a message

So I jumped on a plane

When I got there

I found her ill

Thank you life

What a bitter pill

So I cared for her

‘Till the day she died

Try to be a man but all I can do is cry

I’ve got the Colnbrook Blues from my head to my shoes

I’m going through strife

It’s part of my life

I miss my girl

She was my whole world

Now I’m in a cell

Just going through hell

What do I dream about?

The answer: the love of my life

You know being locked up

It’s just not right

Try to be a man but all I can do is cry

I’ve got the Colnbrook Blues from my head to my shoes

Well immigration is so cruel

If you ask me

They should be drowned in a pool

So what do you want?

A pair of walking shoes

They can even be

Colnbrook f***ing blue

Try to be a man but all I can do is cry

I’ve got the Colnbrook Blues from my head to my shoes

This song was the result of four participatory music making workshops that took place at Campsfield House IRC, Harmondsworth IRC and Colnbrook IRC in May 2016. Although they never met, detainees from these three centres contributed and collaborated to make this tune which was written in response to the 2016 Refugee Week theme of 'Welcome'.

At first this theme jarred with detainees, as many of them did not feel welcome in the UK. However this sparked discussion and led to the creation of this artistic response created around the central lyrics of 'Set Me Free'.

CD: World Upon My Shoulder; Music Provider: Music for Change

A project with detainees at Campsfield IRC and a group of young people attending Base 33 youth centre in Witney.

This message from detainees at Campsfield IRC sent to the young people at Base 33 shows the positive effect the support shown by the young people had on the detainees. Hearing voices from the outside world, especially empathetic and supportive voices gave the detainees a feel boost and will to remain hopeful during the difficult situations they were experiencing.

CD: World Upon My Shoulder; Music Provider: Music for Change

A project with detainees at Campsfield IRC and a group of young people attending Base 33 youth centre in Witney.

This track was recorded at Base 33. The group wrote lyrics together and worked on the backing track.

CD: World Upon My Shoulder; Music Provider: Music for Change

A project with detainees at Campsfield IRC and a group of young people attending Base 33 youth centre in Witney.

This track is recorded by Charlotte, a talented freestyler at Base 33. She worked with Oliver to create a beat she felt comfortable with and from then on there was no stopping her!

CD: World Upon My Shoulder; Music Provider: Music for Change

A project with detainees at Campsfield IRC and a group of young people attending Base 33 youth centre in Witney.

This tracks features many of the young people from Base 33. A small group of girls including Lauren and Becky worked on the words for the chorus whilst Myles and Chris wrote lyrics for their raps. Lyrics address issues around detention:

“we are base 33

UK needs to open their eyes

we have a major problem of locking up innocent people in detention centres

we need to step up and be problem solvers

make a CD address the problem

spread the word

my mum will buy it and so will my nan and me

that already makes three

we are one step closer to equality”

For many of the young people involved in the project this was the first they had heard about the UK detention system, and indeed Campsfield House IRC: "It’s weird to think that I live a couple of miles away from it but I don’t even know it’s there. It’s not like they’re going round handing out flyers saying there’s a couple of people down the road locked up because they’re born in a different country." The project saw much discussion around detention, with the young people learning more and more about it as the project went on.

CD: World Upon My Shoulder; Music Provider: Music for Change

A project with detainees at Campsfield IRC and a group of young people attending Base 33 youth centre in Witney.

This recording captures a live freestyle performed by a young British/Somali detainee at Campsfield House. Other detainees in the group learnt how to use the drum machine and recorded the accompanying beat. Freestyle was a popular medium throughout this project amongst detainees and young people alike.

CD: World Upon My Shoulder; Music Provider: Music for Change

A project with detainees at Campsfield IRC and a group of young people attending Base 33 youth centre in Witney.

This track is a collaborative effort between one of the detainees at Campsfield House IRC and Chris, one of the young people at Base 33. Upon hearing the recording made by a young man at Campsfield House, whose lyrics confront the feeling of regret experienced as a result of not having appreciated his mother, Chris reflected on his own similar feelings and recorded a rap in response to show the empathy he felt.

This was a memoriable moment for those attending the sessions at Base 33: "The moment I remember was when Chris did a poem or a rap about, cos he’d heard one of the detainees talking about his mother, something about his mother and then Chris then wrote a response about how he wished he’d listened to his mother, because he had made choices that his mother wouldn’t have approved of and he was finally trying to get himself together and he wrote this thing, and everyone was listening to what he had to say which I was really pleasantly surprised by."

CD: World Upon My Shoulder; Music Provider: Music for Change

A project with detainees at Campsfield IRC and a group of young people attending Base 33 youth centre in Witney.

This emotional message was recorded inside Campsfield House IRC, the voice is that of detainee being held in the centre.

CD: World Upon My Shoulder; Music Provider: Music for Change

A project with detainees at Campsfield IRC and a group of young people attending Base 33 youth centre in Witney.

This track is a traditional Punjabi love song and was performed by a detainee who at the time of recording was being held at Campsfield House IRC.

CD: World Upon My Shoulder; Music Provider: Music for Change

A project with detainees at Campsfield IRC and a group of young people attending Base 33 youth centre in Witney.

This track was performed by a detainee who at the time of recording was being held at Campsfield House IRC.

CD: World Upon My Shoulder; Music Provider: Music for Change

A project with detainees at Campsfield IRC and a group of young people attending Base 33 youth centre in Witney.

This opening track is a message from one of the detainees being held at Campsfield IRC to the young people in Witney. Despite living through their own difficult situation, detainees sent messages of support and hope to the young people.

The Sweet Combination Crew is a group of detainees who at the time of recording were being held at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre. They came together on 28th March 2016 to collaborate on this exclusive track, 'Life Is For Living'.

This track was created during a Music In Detention workshop facilitated by Music for Change musicians Shammi Pithia & Oliver Seager, supported by Music In Detention volunteer Sasha Blake. For many of the detainees who feature on this track, English is not their first language and part of this session involved detainees supporting each other to create lyrics in a language they were not at first comfortable in. This track is the result of a real team effort whose overriding message is one of positivity and making the most of life.

All vocals, lyrics, piano, synth and djembe are original material performed by detainees. Beats are original and were also programmed by detainees. Music In Detention volunteer Sasha Blake played Saxophone on the track which was arranged and produced by workshop facilitators Shammi Pithia & Oliver Seager. Harmondsworth Detention Centre Office Michael Kanyako also sang as part of the chorus.

This track was Commended in the 2016 Koestler Trust Awards!

CD: 'Breaking boundaries'; Music provider: Music for Change. A project with detainees at Dover IRC and young people from Dover Youth HQ.

This track is performed by MC Diamond Prince from Dover Youth HQ.

CD: ‘Keep on Fighting’; Music provider: Music for Change.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and young people attending the @fusion café at YMCA Hayes, West London.

The young people at the YMCA sampled a recording of a detainee singing that they had received from the IRC, and built the rest of the song around it. They wrote lyrics about their own ambitions and how they identify; all YMCA participants recorded verses on the track and added production on top. 

CD: ‘Keep on Fighting’; Music provider: Music for Change.

A project between detainees at Harmondsworth IRC and young people attending the @fusion café at YMCA Hayes, West London.

This song was recorded at Harmondsworth. Edison played keyboard, Yaw played bass, and Tom played guitar and sang the solo vocals. It was a fun song that everybody knew, welcome as an alternative to freer jamming, which took up of most of the IRC sessions. The chorus was recorded separately in choir formation.