FAC Insights: How music is transforming the lives of young people whose lives have been impacted by knife crime

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. Pieces take the form of videos, interviews, discussions, articles and more.

We’re back with another FAC Insights, and this month we are thrilled to hear from Malaki Patterson, Artistic Director at The Music Works .

On a cold February Friday afternoon I made my way to Gloucester Cathedral with six young people, ages ranging from 15-23, whose lives have all, in different ways, been affected by knife crime. We were there to perform, well not me, but the six young musicians and artists, now a music collective called GCODA, an album they had made called Lights Out.  

My name is Malaki Patterson, and I am the Artistic Director of The Music Works, a Gloucester-based charity that exists to transform young lives through music. We support all young people to access music by breaking down barriers and the challenges that they might face to engage in or make music.  

The story of the six young people we took to Gloucester Cathedral that cold February afternoon, is a perfect example of what we do to demonstrate the power of music to transform lives. One year before, in February 2023, the Knife Angel, a sculpture made entirely from knives to highlight the issue of knife crime, visited Gloucester Cathedral. The Music Works were approached to come up with an idea for a Knife Angel legacy programme… and so collaborated with six young individuals to create 'Lights Out,' an immersive installation raising awareness about knife crime and the serious impacts it has made in their life. They then formed GCODA and have been working together over the past year to produce this powerful album and transform their lives along the way.   

All of the GCODA members have faced significant personal challenges, including experiences in and out of the care system, struggles with mental health, exclusion from education, encounters with the youth justice system, and coping with profound personal tragedies. This is very much part of our work, which is specifically targeted at young people in challenging circumstances or those who are underrepresented. They have all had tough lives and it’s amazing for them to have the opportunity to do something that is positive and shows what young people can do given the chance. Lights Out is not just an album but a powerful testament to resilience, friendship and breaking stereotypes. 

This 16-track album is the first collaboration into music making and producing by the six young artists and was the catalyst for The Music Works' 'Knife Angel Legacy’ programme, which was shortlisted for the Social Action Award at the 2023 Youth Music Awards last year.  

The Lights Out project holds a range of sounds, all encapsulating the highs and lows of being young in Gloucester, being limited to opportunities, but having big aspirations. Each track holds a story within, whether it's venting frustration or championing their talents. Energy, the lead track, is an example of the latter. The track is a symbol of GCODA's hope and faith in their positive outlook and energy and where it will take them! The afro-beat influence initially brings a party-type vibe that makes you want to dance, but also provides a perspective of reflection for the listener, once the lyricism is digested.  

Despite the adversities they have faced, these incredible young people, have discovered a sense of self-belief, connectedness, and achievement through their music - challenging stereotypes about young people, delving into the realities of life, the limited opportunities available to them, and the injustices and hardships they've encountered. Watching the process of how they have created the album and sharing their perspectives and life experiences through recordings has been an incredible experience which will be a long-lasting memory, for them and something that will inspire other young people within the city. 

This year The Music Works became a charity partner of Idris Elba’s ‘Don’t Stop Your Future’ campaign whjich launched Jan 2024, which demands urgent government action to tackle knife crime in the UK and calls for an immediate ban of zombie knives and machetes. This campaign is a perfect match for the work we do at The Music Works nurturing young talent, providing disadvantaged and underrepresented young people, particularly those in challenging circumstances, with access to the music industry, helping them reach their full potential in music, learning and life.