News / Bristol Bus Boycott
‘Anthem of change’ commemorating Bristol Bus Boycott
A new track celebrates the resilience and hope of the civil rights pioneers who transformed the nation.
Aspiration Creation Elevation, based at Docklands Community Centre in St Paul’s, brought together young artists Elarbe, Dreamz, Jayemm, and Cstar to collaborate with the experienced music mentors Andre Currie, Javeon, Tanya Lacey, and Liam Callaway.
The result, called We Rise, is hailed as “an empowering track that reflects on past struggles whilst rejoicing in the progress made”.
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It was launched at Bristol Beacon as part of its ‘Windrush To Bristol’, a programme celebrating the cultural legacy of the Windrush generation in Bristol.
The Bristol Bus Boycott was a landmark protest against the Bristol Omnibus Company’s refusal to employ Black or Asian bus crews, leading to a significant victory in the UK civil rights movement and changing attitudes towards discrimination.
“My grandmother was part of the Windrush generation, so this project feels very personal,” said the singer Elarbe who took part in the project
Laila Richardson, artist name Elarbe, one of the four young artists involved in the project, said: “My grandmother was part of the Windrush generation, so this project feels very personal.
“I want young people to feel like they can have a voice when it comes to history. I want to show that there’s things you can do as a young person that can make a change.”
The artists involved in We Rise track visited parliament alongside individuals that took part in the original boycott.
This visit highlighted the historical significance of the boycott, which paved the way for the Race Relations Act of 1965.
Of the writing process, Julz Davis, ‘disruptor-in-chief’ at Curiosity UnLtd, said: “We stand on the shoulders of giants, and the trip to parliament was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for these young artists to get up close and personal with some of those giants.
“We travelled up in a bus that had been fully wrapped to tell the Bristol Bus Boycott story. This provided a unique setting to inspire and ultimately enrich their songwriting process.
“We Rise exceeded my expectations and is truly an anthem for change that Bristol can be inspired by and proud of.”
We Rise is accompanied by a music video paying tribute to the St Paul’s community and featuring footage from the parliament visit.
A behind the scenes film, exploring the track’s themes and capturing the parliament speeches, will also be released on Bristol Beacon’s YouTube channel.
Both videos will be prominently featured in the Race Cards: A Blueprint 4 Change exhibition at Bristol Beacon from June 20 to July 5 as part of Windrush To Bristol at which a number of the Bristol Bus Boycott pioneers will be honoured with a seat dedication in the venue’s 2,000 capacity Beacon Hall auditorium.
As part of the track’s creation, the artists involved in the We Rise track visited parliament
Guest artist mentor, Tanya Lacey, added: “It’s always exciting working with young people who are expressive with their music. Projects like these are crucial for reflecting on our history and honouring the paths paved by our elders.”
All photos: Cameron Medford-Hawkins
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