Mikel Medley, award-winning dance vocalist and Bristol-based ‘mic man’, Dread MC, has cemented himself in the drum and bass scene and has played at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds and Exit Festival. He’s also won awards for his background in social work practice and youth, and is currently the youth support manager for The Music Works in Gloucestershire. He joins Headliner to discuss his important work there with young people, including the organisation’s efforts to tackle knife crime in the UK.
Not enough young people in Gloucestershire are currently benefiting from access to music provision, especially those in challenging circumstances, says The Music Works. There are many reasons for this, from lack of youth provision to a national curriculum that has moved away from the arts, while barriers like economic difficulties, disability, health conditions or behavioural issues also play a part. This is why The Music Works was founded. Today, it provides accessible opportunities so that all young people in Gloucestershire can access the transformative benefits of music.
“I was born in Gloucester. I grew up with Malaki Patterson [artistic director at The Music Works],” says Medley from The Music Works’ state of the art studio. “I would say I'm addicted to music,” he continues. "It's been a part of my whole life, growing up. I came from challenging circumstances. I’ve lived in different places and the reason I ended up going to all these places is to be able to branch out in music and to pursue my passion. Malaki set up his own label and was the first to book certain garage artists. We were really young at the time – we just wanted to put Gloucester on the map,” he recalls, “and that is what we're trying to do now with The Music Works. I wish we had something like this here when I was younger."