Actiontrack‘s On The Record project features young musicians, from 11-18, from across the West Country writing and recording their original songs.
The project, supported by Sound Foundation Somerset, has been running since 2013.
Nick Brace, artistic director, announced the start of On The Record 21 on Monday 11 December after the 20th record released just last week, with a new track launched daily.
The release of this album marks the 10th anniversary of the project overall which started in Taunton, 2013.
Each record explores a theme, previously featuring: climate change, decades, freedom (post lockdown) and isolation (during lockdown).
Mr Brace tells us that On The Record attracts young people who want to work in the music industry.
The young participants produce, release and collaborate during the real time album making project and it is released internationally online.
The project is free to take part in and students come back regularly, and Mr Brace says that participants “definitely change during the process”.
One of the things they learn, Mr Brace continued, “is that the musicians don’t have to play it all. Mozart couldn’t play the piccolo but wrote plenty of songs for it!”
He says it’s a real “brain opener” and that the “sky is the limit”.
When asked which song was his favourite, Mr Brace kept his cards close to his chest: “I do have a favourite, but I am not going to tell you which!”
The music theatre charity work all across the South West and internationally, focusing on creating new theatre, music and art with young participants.
Since starting Actiontrack back in the 1980s, Mr Brace has seen the environment change: “The arts have been affected by central government and everything has become outcome led. There is virtually no art for art’s sake anymore, watering down the artform to make it sellable”.
Mr Brace said, “Music is important for young people as it means participants work together to create an affective communicative artform that will give you a response.
“There’s nothing else quite like it, maybe that’s the point.”
Actiontrack has been running for 38 years.
