BEHIND THE SCENES: MUSIC COURSE (FUNDED BY MAES)

We had a blast at our recent Music Course, funded by MAES. The two week programme was filled with songwriting, music production, and radio workshops. Meanwhile, to close the project, all the songs our participants created were showcased on a live radio show on Reform Radio.

It was about time we delved deeper into what our attendees got up to, so meet Theo, one of our participants who told us more about their musical inspirations and where they’re heading next.

Please can you introduce yourself, your pronouns and what you get up to in your free time?

Hey, I’m Theo and my pronouns are they/them. I like exploring abandoned places around Manchester and photographing them on my camera.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

I’m curious, inquisitive and adventurous.

If you were stuck on a desert island with a record player, what record would you want to have with you to listen to? 

It would be ‘Jubilee’ by Japanese Breakfast.

Did you have much musical experience before you joined the course? If so, what’s your favourite thing about making music?

It was all very new. I had taken piano lessons as a kid when I was 6 and then did nothing musical. My favourite thing about music now has been being exposed to different genres of music. Also, I’ve liked seeing the different processes individuals have undertaken. It’s been great to see how my course-mates have developed their ideas. Furthermore, I have learnt the basics of chord progressions; I feel so empowered by that.

What prompted you to get involved with the Music Course?

I discovered the course on Instagram and I just thought I’d give it a go. I was a bit afraid of giving music a try but I’m glad I did.

Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed? 

I didn’t think I could write music. Now, I know I actually can if I’m encouraged and guided through it. Additionally, I thought I couldn’t sing but Alex, the facilitator, gave me all the confidence in delivering two lines of singing within my spoken word piece.

What will you take from the Music course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards? 

Experimenting and arranging new tracks is something I want to keep doing, alongside collaborating with more people. The musical process can be so solitary sometimes so you forget that you can let go of agency when you work with other people.

Who would be your dream artist/producer to collaborate with? 

I love how Aldous Harding writes so it would have to be her.