New music programme will help women and non-binary people get into the music scene

“So much progress has been made when it comes to gender inequality in music but there is so much further to go,” says Keeley Hudd, founder of a a community music project helping young women and non-binary people get into the music scene.

Cause A Scene hopes to provide a first step for those from marginalised and under-privileged communities into creative music making.

“As a woman who has grown up in poverty, in a rural area with limited resources; getting into the music industry and pursuing it as a career has been extremely challenging for me,” says Keeley, who is studying for a Masters at BIMM Bristol.

“Luckily, I’ve had some amazing friends and mentors in my life who have not only helped me make my way in the music industry, but have shown me that I can work around the barriers that have been put in my way by carving my own path, ignoring the rule book and just making sounds I like, for me.”

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When they started their Masters at BIMM, one of the main tasks was to take on a major project, and Keeley, having always enjoyed working with young people, decided to start Cause A Scene as her focus.

With the support of BIMM and Keeley’s other key venture, Longthrow radio station, the first pilot course will begin in June.

It will last for six weeks and women and gender diverse people aged 14 to 17, and Keeley hopes for it to become an annual course. She is applying for funding and has been receiving support from other community groups in Bristol.

BIMM are supporting the project in the hope of encouraging more non-males to take part in their production courses and all the equipment and space needed for Cause A Scene are on-campus.

Longthrow, not just as a radio station but as a platform, aims to support the community and help music become more inclusive. This project is a branch of Longthrow and as things open up, Keeley hopes the station will be able to hold some events and radio sessions so future participants can have the opportunity to showcase what they’ve learned.

Keeley hopes to help young people into music. Photo: BIMM

“The rise in female and no-binary-led initiatives locally, nationally and internationally have played a huge part in it and its amazing,” says Keeley. “But I think so much that we learn about our identities and our ‘place’ in society dictates how we engage with the world when we’re older.

“If we are made to believe that we are not allowed or unable to take part in something when we’re young, it can take a real long time to get to the point where you would even consider learning a new skill or joining a group when you’re older – never mind actually participating and learning.”

Keeley says children and young people “have the right to play, learn freely and just enjoy what they are doing for enjoyment’s sake” and hopes that Cause A Scene can provide that kind of space.

Main photo: BIMM

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