Ian O'Brien-Docker’s Post

Last night, the Mercury Music Prize was won by a jazz group for the first time in its history. This is huge. The band that won is Ezra Collective (if you don’t know them, check them out - a blinding force of energy). As a fan of jazz (and player) myself, I’ve been backing the jazz group to win for years but always been convinced that they never will. The UK jazz scene is thriving right now and has been for a few years – so why has it taken everyone else to catch up? A lot of this is down to funding. Arts Council funding is STILL prioritising the white middle class art forms (classical music, opera, ballet etc). While these art forms shouldn’t be dismissed, it’s important to realise that the UK has a far richer arts culture outside of these and should nurture a more diverse range of projects (Arts Council have moved forwards with this but there is still much more to do). This isn’t all Arts Council’s fault though. They have a finite amount of funding from the government so they can’t fund everyone. The government has absolutely decimated the arts. The Tories do not care for the arts or arts education and if we aren’t careful, it will all but disappear. Femi’s acceptance speech last night leaned into the importance of supporting youth in music. Ezra Collective met as teenagers at Tomorrow’s Warriors (an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation) – an educational programme developing jazz musicians. It provides support and training to these musicians becoming artists and has played a big part in expanding the London jazz scene, nurturing artists such as Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Sons of Kemet and Soweto Kinch to name but a few. But it’s based in London – and as we know, the government is trying to ‘level-up’, so who knows if Tomorrow’s Warriors will be successful in funding come the next NPO round (though hopefully we may have a different government by then). Arts education enriches kids’ lives. If music hadn’t been available to me, I’m not sure I would have that much interest in school. I was lucky enough to learn two instruments, be part of orchestras, go on tour with those orchestras, play in concerts and go to lots of gigs. I remember Guildford Youth Club used to often put gigs on which was teeming with teenagers much like myself. Do you know what it is now? A f***ing Waitrose. By taking funding from arts education and putting it all into STEM, we are forcing a whole range of creative people into a box they don’t fit in, it’s short sighted. We shouldn’t be putting 100% of our focus into this area. So let’s put some focus back on the arts, nurture the creatives and allow them to express themselves in the only way they know how. I’d like to see more funding back into the arts and arts education and we need to hold the government accountable for the destruction of this sector. #mercuryprize #ezracollective #artseducation #artscouncil #culture #music #musiceducation #jazz #supportthearts https://lnkd.in/eBEUmHcY

🎨🎶 The Intersection of Creativity: Design and Music 🎨🎶 Gaia and Soren: https://lnkd.in/et7i2ddA by Fernando Debernardi In today's fast-paced world, creativity is a valuable asset that fuels innovation and drives progress. When it comes to creative expression, two realms that often captivate our imagination are design and music. Both fields rely on the power of artistic ingenuity to communicate ideas and evoke emotions. But how do these disciplines intertwine, and what can we learn from their unique perspectives? Let's explore the multifaceted relationship between creativity, design, and music. Design, with its focus on aesthetics and functionality, plays a vital role in shaping our physical and digital environments. It encompasses everything from architecture and product design to graphic design and user experience. By leveraging creativity, designers have the ability to transform mundane objects into captivating experiences that delight and inspire. Similarly, musicians channel their creativity to compose melodies, harmonies, and lyrics that touch our souls, making us feel joy, sorrow, and everything in between. Their compositions become the soundtrack of our lives, enhancing our experiences and evoking profound emotions. Yet, the connection between design and music runs deeper than their individual pursuits. Design can be inspired by music, borrowing elements such as rhythm, pattern, and harmony to create visually compelling compositions. On the other hand, music can draw inspiration from design, translating visual aesthetics into auditory experiences. This symbiotic relationship opens up new possibilities for collaboration and interdisciplinary exploration. Moreover, the creative process in both design and music shares commonalities. It requires a blend of imagination, intuition, technical skills, and the courage to break conventions. Designers and musicians alike face challenges of finding the right balance between originality and practicality, pushing boundaries while considering the intended audience. Both disciplines demand an iterative approach, where ideas evolve through experimentation, refinement, and feedback. Embracing this iterative mindset allows for constant growth and innovation. As professionals in design and music, how can we leverage the power of collaboration between these two domains? How can we harness the shared essence of creativity to create immersive experiences that transcend traditional boundaries? By embracing the cross-pollination of ideas and skills, we have the opportunity to unlock new dimensions of innovation and push the boundaries of human expression. 🤔💡 Let's ponder: How can the fusion of design and music fuel groundbreaking creative endeavors? Share your thoughts! Gaia and Soren: by Fernando Debernardi #design #innovation #share #music #collaboration #graphicdesign #creativity #inspiration #architecture #creative https://lnkd.in/ePtFN4px

Vienna Teng's "Hymn of Acxiom" remains as haunting and powerful a commentary on big data/social media/crm today as when it was released in 2013. It's thought provoking, hymnlike and shines a light rather than creating a specific call to action, despite being just as relevant today as it was then. Definitely worth a listen if you're not familiar (or if you are and enjoy vocoders/choral music). One wonders if there are enough singer IT Directors in Higher Ed to learn and perform at UCISA Directors next year, perhaps? https://lnkd.in/eJgVeR5A

https://lnkd.in/enjiwhrF One of my favourite music producers - Marc Rebillet (aka 'Loop Daddy') once said in 'Another Idea' - an episode of his brilliant 'Idealogue' series on YouTube: "Sometimes I feel like i'm in a creative rut. Like there's just no possible way I can come up with another idea." https://lnkd.in/eJkdAUkW I'm certain that every single music producer like myself has felt this before, and in this particular episode Marc addresses the problem in the bluntest, but most helpful way. "Just make something." "But how do I make that first creative step if I'm lacking inspiration?" You may ask. One way I found always helped is to delve into my endless library of 'failed' projects from years ago to discover something I couldn't convert into a success back then, but could now. That's exactly what I did for my most recent song "Let's Get Dumb" - which is available on all streaming platforms. Never hesitate to look through old stuff, because you may just find some treasure in yesterday's trash. #music #inspiration #creative #musicproduction #audioengineer #musicproducer #musicindustry #logicpro #mixingengineer #mixingandmastering #audioproduction #song #spotify #applemusic