Lewisham Live Mixtape celebrates borough’s young musicians

Teenagers working with Goldsmiths, University of London have released their first compilation album through NX Records, touching on themes of life, love, loss, relationships and the future in Lewisham.

The Lewisham Live Mixtape – part of the Lewisham Live Festival - features original new music from emerging artists 19 years and under who live or study in the borough. 

The 50-minute recording covers a wide range of genres and is released by NX Records, a collaboration between the Department of Music at Goldsmiths and Matthew Herbert's Accidental Records.

It kicks off with IBZ ft King Vito & Kemz and features Y3LLO & R3D, Natisha, KamZz, TBoy, Toby Harrison, ENDA, DJ Emerald, UYT Collective, Emma & Nino, and Redmond. 

Many of the tracks are from young artists who are members of the Alchemy Project, a collaboration between by Goldsmiths’ Widening Participation team, the Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies (STaCS) and the Department of Music, in partnership with three Lewisham schools.

The Alchemy Project is led by the musical tastes and interests of the young vocalists, instrumentalists, songwriters and producers who meet every weekend to develop their work. The project is directed by Mikey Kirkpatrick, a Goldsmiths alumnus and associate lecturer in music and education who performs as a musician under the name Bird Radio.  

Mikey works with a team of professionals such as King Vito (a science teacher from Addey and Stanhope School as well as a rapper, singer and producer), Tomáš Kaspar (musician and studio engineer at the Goldsmiths Music Studio), student ambassadors, STaCS youth work students, volunteer music students who offer instrumental tuition and Marlene Copeland (Widening Participation Coordinator at Goldsmiths).

Mikey said: “One of the young artists who recently finished school is now selling his beats, another has been composing music for film. I see every new track, every new step, as a big success story, including this mixtape that we are all really proud of.

“The Alchemy Project started as a 10-week initiative in 2017 but has grown into a regular Saturday Club and weekly in-school mentoring programme. It gives us the incredible opportunity to work together, share knowledge and have a safe creative space to challenge ourselves and each other to take our skills to the next level, while having a great time and making new friends, too.” 

The musicians are taking part in an event hosted by the Department of Music at Goldsmiths on Saturday 23 March (4pm, free) as part of the Lewisham Live Festival, followed by a showcase at The Albany, Deptford, on the 29 June as part of the PureGold festival.

Listen to the Lewisham Live Mixtape at www.nxrecords.co.uk/lewisham-live-mix

Follow the Alchemy Project on Instagram @goldsmithsalchemy

Since 2013 NX Records has also released an annual mixtape of work by Goldsmiths alumni and students. Tracks for the 2019 album can be submitted until 12 April via hello@nxrecords.co.uk

Find out more about NX Records: www.nxrecords.co.uk