Around five to 10 people within the care sector got back to me. One of them told me to come to Swansea and perform with the young people there and that's where I saw the impact of my music. The reflection of my experience in Swansea is in my song Do You.
Being in foster care since I was eight years old (I’m 36 now), I saw there was virtually no representation and inspiration for care leavers within the public eye. And the catalyst for my music career was asking the question, “if hip-hop is the voice of the voiceless, why have I never heard from the perspective of someone who has been in foster care?”
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Once upon a time: a care leaver's response to the John Lewis advert
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Katharine Sacks-Jones: John Lewis ad shows what matters for children in care
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Social workers on the small screen
A Boy Called Ric, my first album was inspired by A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer, back in 2011 this was the only famous reference to someone in foster care I knew that turned their story of trauma to triumph.
40 per cent of care leavers are not in employment, education or training but Mantra Music is providing opportunities boosting the future aspirations of care-experienced people.
Mantra provides music industry mentorship, access to professional recording facilities, support from myself and £1,000 advance to five selected artists to empower their independent music-making.
The intention after the nine month pilot is to have a professionally produced compilation album to champion five talented care leavers and supporting promo content for their music campaign - music videos, artwork, press shots and electronic press kit. One of the Artists has produced an album in nine months so we have already gone above our own expectations!
Recent films like The Last Tree by Shola Amoo, Handle With Care By Jimmy Akingbola and the viral John Lewis Christmas Advert are great for highlighting the voices of the voiceless on big platforms but where are these stories in the music industry?
I was formerly one third of UK Rap Collective Jungle Brown and I have supported the likes of De La Soul, The Pharcyde and Big Daddy Kane. I have known the Jungle Brown boys since I was 13 in Bournemouth - we made the name up in 2013. We have performed at prestigious festivals like Glastonbury, Boomtown Fair and Lovebox to name a few.
Off the back of recording my first rap project about my experience in foster care in my early 20s, I witnessed how music can be a powerful tool to connect to young people who are underrepresented in music and media. This curiosity not only inspired my music but drove me to running songwriting workshops across the UK for young people within the care sector.
Creating a music label to support the next generation of talent was the next logical step for me which was made possible with the support of Youth Music Charity & Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
The powerful short film released and directed by Carlos Torres introduces four care-experienced artists who signed to Mantra Music in January. It highlights their perspective of being care-experienced, their talent for music and the reason why their voices and projects like Mantra can’t be ignored.
Mantra Music artists are:
Dialectic Dee is a 24 year old spoken word artist and Sickle Cell Advocate from London, who aims to use the performing arts for more than just entertainment purposes but rather as a tool to positively impact change. Insta: @dialecticdee
YD The Lone Wolf is a Drill Artist from east London who has an incredible work ethic and has an infectious album almost ready to grace your ears. Insta: @ydthelonewolf
Utelka from Birmingham is a vocalist and songwriter emerging quickly onto the dance and alternative soul music scenes. Performing in an array of venues from Birmingham to New York, including performing at Coventry Pride, Utelka has tailored her unique voice and style to steadily increase her fanbase. Insta: @utelkajohnson
Xoul is a singer/rapper from London who brings a new wave of versatility to modern music. Combining his unique tone and intricate lyrics with the essence of RnB, Indie, Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop, he produces sentimental and thought-provoking material. Insta @kingxoul
I hope the Mantra film inspires other care experienced people and lets the wider public know with the right support and relentless passion, care experienced people can go above and beyond anyone’s expectations.
Please follow each artist's journey on socials and get prepared for an exciting array of music in 2023.
Creative director and rapper Ric Flo uses the art of rap, creativity and his experience in foster care to encourage positivity in young people. Since witnessing the impact of his first solo project with children in care in Wales, Ric continues to inspire young people through creative workshops whilst developing his own music.
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To watch Mantra Music Mini-documentary (8mins) go to: https://mantramusic.co.uk/documentary
