Ep. 45: Brixton Uprising w/ Singer Carroll Thompson; Novelist Alex Wheatle; Poet Linton Kwesi Johnson; Musician Asher Senator; Dr Rebekah Delsol; Singer Rachel Chinouriri

DJ and musician Asher Senator, a fixture on the South London music scene for more than four decades has been crucial in shaping Brixton’s youth culture.

Of Guyanese origin, Asher grew up in Clapham and started out on sound systems at the age of 14, along with his renowned late musical partner Smiley Culture.

Asher became a key figure in Soundsystem culture, establishing the Buchanan Sound System. Now the CEO of youth based charity, Code 7, providing projects, programmes and services, free of charge to young people who have a passion for multimedia, Asher continues to cultivate creative movements and projects stemming from his love of music and work with young people. Asher sheds light on his trajectory as a creative, policing in his area and advice he shares with young people on the lessons learned from the uprising.

Legendary singer, dubbed Queen of Lovers Rock, Carroll Thompson has worked as an artist and been in the music charts since the 1980’s with her hit tracks I’m So Sorry and Simply in Love. In addition to her hit tracks and soulful sound, Carroll has been a voice campaigning on behalf of the Windrush generation and mental health issues. Carroll recalls the inspiration behind her renowned tracks and how success during such a tumultuous time shaped her.

Globally acclaimed Jamaican poet, musician, and writer Linton Kwesi Johnson has been creating politically charged anthems and inspired poetry since the early 1960’s. The voice of several generations, particularly Black British youth from the 60’s onwards, Kwesi Johnson masterfully expresses his political activism using Jamaican patois through poetry and music. In 2002 he became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Modern Classics series.

Known for his works such as Di Great Insohreckshan and Sonny’s Lettah, his works have been a testament to their time.

Chatting with Stance, he describes the politically charged era his most known works were inspired by, and highlights his past and current experiences of being a Jamaican in Britain.

Known for his political prose, novelist Alex Wheatle chats with Stance about his involvement in the Brixton uprising, his writing, and being fictionalised in Steve McQueen’s hit show Small Axe.

Having experienced a tumultuous upbringing growing up in the notorious Shirley Oaks children’s home in South London, arriving in Brixton as a young adult was life changing, leading to his involvement in the Brixton Uprisings and arrest. Alex’s burgeoning passion for writing has led to the release of critically acclaimed books inlcuding, Brixton Rock and Crongton Knights , with his new young adult novel titled Cane Warriors covering the historical story of the 1760 Easter uprising in Jamaica. Alex candidly recounts his experiences, sharing his perspective on this and more.

Dr.Rebekah Delsol is the Senior Managing Policy officer for ethnic profiling with the Open Society Justice Initiative, and program officer for StopWatch. Working on the promotion and implementation of fair policing, she shares her thoughts on the recent Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021.

Rebekah’s wealth of knowledge and perspective, with a specific focus on the Policing has been instrumental in guiding policy, leading her to co-author the crucial report, Stop and Search: The Anatomy of a Police Power. Rebekah highlights the Brixton Uprising as a turning point in Police Stop and Search laws, especially how it shaped the future of the Black British experience in the UK. We also discuss the Defund the police movement.

Hailing from Croydon south London, rising star Rachel Chinouriri is creatively cultivating wide ranging tracks, melding her love of Folk and R&B.

The British- Zimbabwean singer's latest single Darker Place is just the start. Known for collaborations with Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard & P-rallel on remixes, as well as Beautiful Disaster with Sam Dotia and The River Bend with Subculture, which was championed by Michaela Coel during her critically acclaimed series I May Destroy You. Rachel speaks to us about her upcoming EP FOUR° IN WINTER, remixing singles and why love should always be naive.

Music Used in this podcast:

Carroll Thompson:

Hopelessly in Love - Carroll Thompson

I’m So Sorry - Carroll Thompson

Don’t Stay Away - Carroll Thompson

Feel the Magic - Carroll Thompson

Alex Wheatle: BBC/Small Axe

Asher Senator:

STEREOGRAPH V FRONTLINE 1980 NORWOOD

Johnny Osbourne - Water More Than Flour 12'

Smiley Culture & Asher senator - Keeping a Dance

Asher Senator - Abbreviation Qualification (album: JA to UK Clash)

Smiley Culture - Police Officer

Asher Senator - Tick Tick Boom

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Di Great Insohreckshan - Linton Kwesi Johnson

Sonny’s Lettah - Linton Kwesi Johnson

Inglan Is a Bitch - Linton Kwesi Johnson

Rachel Chinouriri’s track listing via Parlaphone + Atlas Artists:

Give Me A Reason - Rachel Chinouriri

Give Me A Reason (P_rallel Remix) - Rachel Chinouriri & P_rallel

Beautiful Disaster - Rachel Chinouriri & Sam Dotia

Darker Place (Joe Goddard Remix) - Rachel Chinouriri

Front Page Image Credit:

Hopelessly in Love album cover by Des Bailey.