New mentorship programme aims to get more women involved in sound system culture
A new mentorship programme has been curated by Notting Hill Carnival pioneer Linett Kamala, encouraging more women to get involved in sound system culture.
Titled Original Sounds Collective, the campaign includes tailored training, experiences, and access to equipment, aiming to to bring more women into the scene ahead of the next annual carnival event.
Linett Kamala, the programme leader, was one of the first women to perform at Notting Hill Carnival at the age of 14.
"Women have always been around and part of soundsystem culture. It’s just not always been as visible,” she told The Guardian.
“So me stepping into the fore as a young woman back then was bringing more visibility to the females who were around, but not as prominent and taking on some of those roles like DJ or MC.”
The first round of mentees have been selected, but the programme will reopen soon for prospective applicants.
“People feel like they’re perhaps in isolation,” Kamala said on the lack of support for female artists. “They’re feeling like they’re the only ones doing this or feeling this way, and really want to learn more about it. The first step is about connecting and having that courage.”
“Everyone brings different skills, but it’s a collective and everyone’s going to have different facets to different qualities and personalities that they’ll bring to it as well,” she told The Guardian. “So that’s what’s quite exciting, to hopefully find that and connect with other people and other women out there.”
Find out more about Original Sounds Collective here.
