Occupy London announces the formation of Occupation Records, the camp’s very own record label. Robbie investigates..
Standing up on the steps of St Pauls, looking down at the beacon of hope that is Occupy London really was a breathtaking experience. For me, it was a moment that changed me and forever changed the way I looked at society’s misfortunes. In essence, the camp is just a network of tents, but communities are built off these nylon mainframes. Social cohesion and change are knitted into the fine woven fabric that holds protesters in at night. Occupy gives the common person a chance to make a change, invent anything – do anything.
Occupation Records – “the record label of, and by the 99%” – is the latest venture of the movement, formed to increase the growth of the Occupy movement. It’s a concept initiated by the 45 Revolutions Per Minute Collective, a communion made up of passionate protesters (Adam Jung, Tilly Alexson, Sam Duckworth and Ronan McNern).
If there’s one thing this group of affirmed protesters really understand, it’s the powerful relationship between music and political events – “Music has the power to inspire and reach people who haven’t heard about Occupy yet” says Adam Jung, head of industry relations…”The music industry has its roots in social justice movements, from Motown Records providing the soundtrack for the civil rights movement, to the music of Billy Bragg inspiring striking miners, artists – the industry has historically provided fuel for social change”. But at a time of turmoil in the recording world, how will the label actually help Occupy?
‘Folk The Banks!’ is their first attempt. The record will boast featured tracks from Tom Morello, Billy Bragg, Ani Di Franco and Sam Duckworth, as well as specially commissioned artwork from Jamie Reid – the man behind the Sex Pistol’s infamous ‘God Save The Queen’ cover. The label aim to raise funds to cover production costs through their sponsume page, where a range of exclusive goodies, including signed framed prints of the artwork are up for grabs.
Tilly Alexson, responsible for label administration states that the Occupation Records concept is decided through “consensus decision making”, helping make for a proactive label concept. “We aim to release albums, using donated tracks from artists on a pay what you can basis”. The plan is to release an album worldwide mid-February, and though ambitious, there’s no saying it isn’t entirely possible.
The interesting thing about Occupation Records is simply the length of time it took to setup. The movement has become a hub for creatives – it’s not strange to be woken by an African drum workshop or Claude Debussy’s ‘Clair De Lune’ chiming tentatively from the St Pauls’ occupations very own piano. The Occupy movement is a place focused towards positive creation, “We’ve already begun at St Paul’s and the Bank of Ideas with performances by Thom Yorke and Massive Attack, Billy Bragg, Ani DiFranco, Tom Morello and others. Now it’s time to release that energy,” Adam adds.
For Sam Duckworth, Occupied Records is a chance to try and find an answer to some bigger questions, “We can see from the occupations around the world that there are some big global challenges and some big questions to be asked – the strength of Occupation Records is it can ask these questions in different dialects, in different styles, from different backgrounds”. To Ronan, Occupied Records is an opportunity for broadening the movement, “These two things can work in hand – we’ll be able to make this movement sustainable, and help it grow”.
‘Folk The Banks’ is set for release 15th Feb.
http://occupationrecords.com/
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@robbieflash
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