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Dreams Do Come True

Thanks to Save Our Scene Manchester I get to start making one of my biggest dreams a reality. Something I knew a long time ago that I would never be able to accomplish on my own. The project has given it's full support (plus funding) to the world renowned DJ/ music producer and co-founder of  the 1520 studios label Levi Love, who is teaching me not only all the basics of producing but who is also providing me with the tools I need to produce, and become more confident with singing and performing. 

Levi is also a respected doctor in psychiatry. Ironically, I found my voice and song-writing gift during one of the deepest bouts of my depression as a 17 year old. Needless to say I'm finally in a space to sort my head out after more than 20 years.

So far we've had two amazing and magical sessions so far. I'd had to cancel two due to ill health, one physical and the other mental. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher to be honest. Levi reassured me that there was no rush and no pressure, that we were going to take our time and only do sessions if I was 100%. 

Two years ago I'd joined a music production course at Spirit Studios but had to quit three months in because I couldn't financially support myself through the course anymore plus I was doing volunteer work with someone who was mentally draining me. 

Last year, during my plan for progression assignment for my business course at college I had written that I planned to do my GCSEs this year (accomplishing, yay!) so that the following year I could take the Intro to Music Production Course at my college. 

You can't even begin to imagine how excited it makes me (and grateful) to be doing all these things something sooner than I had planned, not only that but to be tutored one-to-one by someone who has field experience with all this. 

I've had a few moments where I've given up before I got here, I'm not proud of some of the things I've done or said in my range of extreme emotions, but I try my best to forgive myself and move forward. I feel like this project is made for me. I moved to Manchester to find my voice, I lost it during homelessness, raised it during Lockdown and now.....I think I'm still a bit in shock to be honest. It's still hard for me sometimes to accept that I have worked so hard to get here and survived trauma, loss, a broken mind and a broken heart, and somehow I'm still here, somehow I'm still loved, appreciated, and accepted. And somehow I can still love and laugh...a lot, actually. 

1520 Studios is filled with artistic colourful people, the kind of people who I dreamed a very long time ago I would work with. I know that this project marks not only the beginning of my musical journey as an artist but, in the future, it'll lead to a lot more collaborations with Levi and everyone at the studio. 

The week before last two drum patterns I'd been practicing with had layered with two drum patterns that Levi had created. They, unintentionally, fit perfectly together and we premiered it to the world on the Music and Mind podcast (yet to be released this week). We will still work on the track but I think it shows how well we work together. I'm looking forward to learning and growing within this project as it continues.



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