The UK music scene is diverse and full of life. Since discovering it, my newfound loves Dave, Central Cee, and Stormzy now make up a good percentage of my Spotify playlists. Their sound is unique, and like no other in the world, born in the spirit of storytelling with style.
I had the pleasure of spending a year and a half in my favorite city in the world, London. From the outside looking in, London is full of vibrancy, culture, momentum, and life. Not many people from there may see it, but for those who do, they truly are soaking in all the city has to offer. As I noted earlier, I love UK music, from rap to pop to rock, and the UK music scene is known for promoting its African and Caribbean influences. Living in that city gave me a new appreciation for different sounds and beat arrangements as I had become more immersed in the London culture with each day.
I am Jamaican-American, and living in the US hadn’t given me many opportunities to be surrounded by Caribbean or African musical influences outside my home. In London, this completely changed. For once, I heard people singing songs and playing music I only ever heard my family enjoy. More than just the classics in reggae and dancehall, I was exposed to newer artists and it felt like my culture was more than my history or a mere part of my identity. It felt like my culture was in the here and now, what was relevant and popular. Listening to artists like Burna Boy, Koffee, Wizkid, Busy Signal, Davido, Beenie Man, and many more, on a night out was the norm, and I loved it. To watch a room full of people of many backgrounds loudly shout the lyrics of Murder She Wrote by Chaka Demus and Pliers, or start to get all riled up at the opening of Gal Policy by Kranium, I’d often find myself shocked with my jaw dropped, and then instantly filled with joy to join in.
I didn’t know how much I was missing out on enjoying that aspect of Afro-Caribbean culture until getting a front row seat to it in the UK. London stole my heart in many ways, but in this way it really poured into a piece of me I didn’t realize I needed to be filled. Since this experience, I look at the landscape of music so differently, and now, seeking sounds from other communities, outside of the mainstream. This expansion of my musical horizons has made me more adventurous in the pursuit of good music, and I can’t wait to hear what the next big thing will be.
Written by Tamara Barrant
Artwork by Hettie Bennett
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