Information and Cultural Exchange: African Soundz set to sizzle

African Soundz set to sizzle

African Soundz commences November 15 at SWITCH Multimedia Digital Arts Access Centre.

ICE’s own MC Trey, a respected Aussie hip hop artist and youth artsworker, hopes to make a difference as she coordinates this new music program, with help from DJ Nick Toth and Emmanual Johnson, a young artist leading the way in fusing his musical traditions with urban beats.

MC Trey is currently being supported by the Vodafone Foundation World of Difference Program to work at ICE for one year, to establish and run music programs for young people in Western Sydney. The program will also be run by DJ Nick Toth and be assisted by emerging young African music artist Emmanual Johnson.

“The Vodafone Foundation World of Difference has given me a chance to work full-time at ICE to coordinate music programs for at-risk young people,” says MC Trey. “I really wanted to work with African young people, especially young people who haven’t been in Australia long. I remember what it’s like to be new face in a new country,” she says.

“There are difficulties in understanding a new culture and trying to figure out where you fit in. Through music, there’s opportunity to express yourself. Participants will get to meet other Africans in the area, and share their stories through songs. We can then help them share this music with the wider community,” MC Trey adds.

“I am looking forward to hearing what the participants have to offer and to listen to music from the different parts of Africa. It’s very exciting … a lot of the new urban sounds are still being taken from traditional African rhythms, so we’ll all be learning something new,” says DJ Nick Toth.

This six-week program will encourage participants to write songs about themselves and their experiences, create music using computer programs and to record their songs. They will also be able to create their own on-line web-logs (blogs) to showcase their music.

African Soundz begins November 15, 2006 1pm-4pm and will run every Wednesday till December 20th, 2006 at Information and Cultural Exchange, 133 Parramatta Road, Granville.

Form more information, email Trey or give ICE a call on (02) 9897 5744.