FAC Insights: Music through adversity by The House of St Barnabas
FAC Insights is a forum for us to showcase and share long form pieces looking at various parts of the music industry and the society that shapes it. There are no real boundaries beyond that. Pieces take the form of videos, interviews, discussions, articles and more.
This week we are delighted to share this piece by our friends from The House of St Barnabas, about their Employment Preparation Program, including it’s participants stories on how music has helped them through adversity this year and in their lives.
Music through adversity by the House of St Barnabas
The House of St Barnabas is a unique, socially responsible members’ club where every penny of profit is used to fund the work of our charity, our Employment Academy. Our vibrant club, in a beautiful grade-1 listed house on Greek Street, brings together a community of members who are invested in creating a fair and equal society. Our Employment Academy works with people affected by homelessness to support them to find lasting paid work, a good home and a supportive network.
Music has long been the lifeblood of the club, an integral facet in bringing together our community -from our infamous Friday DJ nights to our intimate chapel gigs - its absence has been felt throughout the building, the House’s energy dimmed by its vacancy.
Whilst the sounds of the club have been unduly muted, the power of music lives on in helping our members, staff, and Employment Academy participants through this difficult time. Despite Covid, the House’s Employment Academy has continued its work and last month we were excited to start our 17th Employment Preparation Programme, welcoming a new group of participants to the House. Over the past four weeks, participants have built strong bonds with each other, received IT and other employment training, and started work experience throughout the House. In conversations with participants about how they have handled this difficult year one constant was apparent - the support that music has provided in helping them to navigate through lockdown, job applications and family life. It’s a theme repeated by our membership community and our staff too; old vinyls, new downloads, online DJ sets, phone footage from past festivals - all have been used to reminisce and hope for a time when normalcy and live music returns.
We asked participants on our current Employment Preparation Program to write about how music has helped them through adversity this year and in their lives more generally.
Josh – Employment Academy participant
Working closely with the House of St Barnabas via its Employment Academy, has given me a truly wonderful opportunity to grow in ways that I may have not found had it not been for the support that this not-for-profit organisation has provided.
This year has been especially hard for all of us; all the unfortunate events that have been unfolding in the media have left 2020 with a nasty taste in the mouth. Despite this however, there has been one form of media that has consistently getting me through the toughest times. Music. Music is the purest form of expression, with artists and producers pouring their hearts, souls, and origins into their creations.
This year has been great for me in terms of music discovery, since a lot of time has been spent indoors or distanced from others, so I have taken the opportunity to find myself through the means of music creators.
In my late teens, I was really big into the dance/trance scene; I loved the upbeat rhythms, the constant manic energy, the quick tempo changes and the crowds of people that were immediately reactive to a decent beat or a well-known classic. This led to my many tours of clubs, venues and festivals showcasing new and familiar talent alike. There was something truly electric about being part of a huge crowd of people all losing themselves in the muddy fields of the early 00's EDM festivals. It gave me a sense of belonging on a scale that left you buzzing with euphoria for days after the encounters.
Unfortunately, as I started my career, had a family and generally got dragged into the adult world, I moved away from the friends I had made, I didn’t have the time to attend festivals and generally changed as a person – I seemed to be moving away from what had been some of the best years of my life.
That being said, with Covid, lockdown(s), restrictions of social gatherings and the general uncertainty of the times we are currently finding ourselves in, I have had plenty of chances for reflection. Something I found myself doing when I was feeling particularly isolated or shut off, was gravitating naturally to the titles of songs that I had listened to back then. They gave me an immediate rush of memories, of the thrills and heart pumping excitement that went hand-in-hand with those days, as I close my eyes and let myself drift from the here and now into the happier times of then. Even though inevitably there is the quick return to the present, these days are giving us all plenty of opportunities to find the time to go back to yester-year and ease some of those lock-down blues.
It's easy to fall into a spiral of loneliness, and sadly a lot of us are facing such situations as restrictions are once again tightening across the UK. But, for me at least, I will always have music to lean on when there's no one else at hand.
Sharyce - Employment Academy participant
Music to me, is a tool that can help to release tension and have fun.
If you've had a long day at work or school, or a bad day in general; just put some of your favourite music on and dance away. When I do this, I feel like a kid again. I feel the stress and tensions of life that have built up being released and a sense of calmness and wellbeing comes over me. Within seconds I start to feel better.
Music also helps me to think about my writing and how I can play with words. It helps me to write better. Music is a good way to stimulate the brain.
When I watch my daughter respond to music, the way she will just start dancing and having so much fun – it really pulls me back into my own younger experiences with music and the feelings, thoughts and memories associated with that time.
Music can make you feel. Whether it's happy, sad or anything in-between. Your mental state is influenced heavily by music, so when I feel down, I always throw on an upbeat song and I let myself get lost in the words, the rhythm. Even my worst, foulest mood can be lifted by the right song.
To read more about the House of St Barnabas, and how the work of its Employment Academy during lockdown, head here.
We thank the House of St.Barnabas, Josh and Sharyce for their stories on what music means to them, how music helped them through adversity this year and in their lives more generally. If you have a similar story that you wish to share, please email us.
We also wanted to remind you that a while back the one and only FAC Board Director and GRAMMY Award winning, incredibly talented artist Imogen Heap recorded a very special two hour radio show for the House of St Barnabas takeover on Soho Radio. You can listen to it here.