We gave the Ethnic Minorities Network some questions about their Music and Spoken Word Night as part of our focus on Black History Month; check out what they had to say and keep up with them on social media if you fancy attending the next event!Give us the low-down of the night for those who didn’t attend, how was it?
1. Give us the low-down of the night for those who didn’t attend, how was it?
Loughborough came all out and proved that we do not only have excellent athletes, but we also have elite musicians and artists as well. Covering a range of genres from gospel to blues, the artists provided an atmosphere for the audience to truly enjoy the music. Bands put themselves out there with at least one original song and also performed one cover. The original songs performed displayed how truly talented Loughborough artists are and we look forward to seeing more artists who have a high chance of making it into the industry.
2. Tell us about the performances, who stood out to you guys?
We had a range of performances from spoken word to singing. Some were planned from a line up we prepared, whilst others were surprise acts who felt compelled to perform on the night. It’s impossible to say that any acts stood out, as all of the performances were amazing. R Jay’s rap performance with TSK was great, so was Timi’s soulful singing of ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ by Sam Cooke. I did particularly love the spoken words from Efe and SJ; they were relevant, inspiring and motivational. To be honest, the night was beyond spectacular and every performance can be singled out as brilliant.
3. In relation to Black History Month, what kind of topics/music got covered on the night?
With a range of performances, there was also a range in topics and music choices. You could tell as people performed that what they presented came from their heart, with their own journeys and experiences bringing life to the performances they gave. Topics ranged from politics, critique and presentation of popular culture, stereotypes and perceptions of black people and individuals, expressing hope of a more equal society.
4. What more can we expect in terms of music events in the future from the Ethnic Minorities Network?
EMN organised the first ever Afrobeats/Bashment/Dancehall/Afroswing Night out; we’re really trying to celebrate African culture and music this year. We even incorporated Afrobeats for a Zumba fitness class for FitFest and for students in town, we’ve collaborated with a local gym for a Rihanna vs Beyoncé spin class. Our final and biggest event, the BHM Carnival on the 30th, will see a showcase of songs, dances, spoken word and even a fashion show.
Featured image by: Amie Woodyatt
