I am the producer at polymath group Soul Labels. Our focus is on experimental excursions into art, design and live performance. For more information on what we do and the journey so far, watch a few vlogs we made while on Creative United’s Prosper programme.

One of the events we are most proud of is Palm Wine Beats Live, a celebration of creativity in Africa and the diaspora. The panel discussion about archiving was particularly fascinating – an intergenerational conversation about heritage, identity and preserving one's culture. This short film by Dan Fontanelli will give you a real sense of the occasion. It was a great day in Dalston.

Another is photographer Eddie Otchere's Icons of Wu, a one-day symposium of hip-hop culture focusing on the career of legendary group the Wu-Tang Clan. You can watch a short film about the project here. I curated and chaired the panel, organised a production workshop with CDR in association with Native Instruments, provided general project management and assisted on the PR campaign.

Here we are speaking about social enterprise and the importance of sustainability as a small business in the creative industries.

We are fortunate to be part of a supportive community of like-minded changemakers in London. Companies such as Teardusk runs lots of fun and informative sessions including Digital Drop Ins, where you can network, team up and gain practical advice on developing a business.

 
Basement Soul circa 2007: Amar Patel, Graham Luckhurst and Simon See​

Basement Soul circa 2007: Amar Patel, Graham Luckhurst and Simon See​

In 2007 I helped to launch monthly club session Basement Soul, together with Graham Luckhurst (aka Greymatter) and Simon See, at Jazz Place in Brighton. Our aim was simple: to reinvigorate the music scene on the south coast by championing "proper music for the headz, hips and feet". All styles: from Brazilian to broken beat, from hip hop to house.

Building on the success of the night, I compiled the following album with the boys – Sounds from the Floor Volume 1. Click here to stream the album and here to read reactions from a few respected names. You can also listen to the following interview with Graham, Simon and myself as we chat to DJ Culture host Jeannie Hopper live on WBAI radio in New York. 

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A year later we helped Tokyo-based Aroop Roy, who appeared on our first release, to compile an album of progressive sounds collected from friends and associates in Japan. Graham and I DJ'ed at Aroop's highly influential Absolute! club night in Shibuya, the culmination of a life-affirming two weeks in the Far East.

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Graham and I also toured Estonia and Latvia a few years before, appearing at the legendary Mutant Disco night with Raul Saaramets and Rhythm Doctor. You can listen to us in the mix, peppered with brief moments of inaudible chatter, on Raul's radio show here.

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