Music / UWE Bristol
Uni graduates release new single to support mental health charity
A group of UWE Bristol graduates have united through a university-led initiative to release a music single aimed at raising awareness for the Southville-based national mental health charity, Talk Club.
The single, Run from the Skin which Binds Us, will be released on Thursday, October 10, coinciding with World Mental Health Day.
The song, written by UWE film-making graduate Louis de Schynkel and performed by his six-piece band, Trans Siberian Express, addresses the struggles men face with societal expectations and stereotypes. The title, inspired by a poem Louis wrote during his university years, serves as a call to break free from the stereotypes and constraints.
is needed now More than ever
The band prides itself as the “only six-piece splurge-pop band in the world” with an aim to play ‘a bit of everything’ where it seamlessly blends genres, creating a kaleidoscope of sound to prompt a quickstep.
“We’re so grateful to UWE and especially the brilliant New Wave team for the support they’ve given us,” said Gavn Thorpe (left), co-chief executive of Talk Club – photo: UWE Bristol New Wave
This project is part of a broader initiative at UWE Bristol, where the university has established a creative agency called New Wave within the School of Arts.
New Wave provides students with paid, flexible, and practice-based work experience, offering a variety of creative services to external clients. This initiative supports both current students and recent graduates, including Louis.
The collaboration between New Wave and Talk Club aims to promote the charity’s mission, particularly its question, “How are you, out of ten?” which encourages regular conversations about mental health. The single’s cover artwork was designed by another UWE graduate and New Wave employee, Molly Wilson.
The single, Run from the Skin which Binds Us, will be released on Thursday, October 10, coinciding with World Mental Health Day – photo: Trans Siberian Express
Additionally, a fundraising event is planned for November, featuring a skydiving stunt by one of Louis’ friends, and a fundraising concert by Trans Siberian Express in Bristol this December.
Louis expressed his enthusiasm for the project. He said: “This is an amazing project to be involved in. I love being able to use music as not only a way of expression but also action. I want this to be more than just a song and I hope with the way we have curated the project, there is a tangible connection between the music and the charity.”
Anneliese Paul, director of New Wave at UWE Bristol, highlighted the importance of providing practical experience for graduates. Paul said: “We know how tough it can be for graduates to gain practical experience that will help get them on the ladder of their chosen career. We created New Wave as a way to provide opportunities to experience paid work on real-life projects and build relationships with the communities around us.”
Gavin Thorpe, co-founder and co-chief executive of Talk Club, expressed his gratitude. He said: “We’re so grateful to UWE and especially the brilliant New Wave team for the support they’ve given us. We’re blown away by the creative talent we’ve seen from the students and graduates.
“We hope the single is heard far and wide and starts real conversations using Talk Club’s simple and powerful way of asking, ‘How are you? Out of ten?’”
The song, written by UWE film-making graduate Louis de Schynkel (middle) addresses the struggles men face with societal expectations and stereotypes – photo: UWE Bristol New Wave
The single aims to not only raise awareness but also encourage people to open up about their mental health, fostering a supportive community through music and conversation.
Run from the Skin which Binds Us by Trans Siberian Express, a charity single in support of Talk Club, is released on Thursday 10 October, available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music and all regular music streaming platforms
To learn more about Talk Club, visit www.talkclub.org
Main photo: Trans Siberian Express
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