How did this project come about?
The idea first came about in my head when I was thinking about Elvis Presley and how he walked into Sun Studios, in Memphis, to record a song for his mother. That was how he got his start in the music industry. And I thought, while I was walking around the Shankill Road, if a young person wanted to do something like record a song, or rehearse a play, or even learn how to play an instrument, there was nowhere for them to go. I just thought there needed to be a space where anyone, but particularly young people, would have to a chance to be creative.
What happens from there?
My son had a recording studio up in Mallusk and Brian Kingston, a DUP MLA, brought Drennan McBride who runs the Argyle Business Centre, up to my son’s studio. And they brought a young man, Jake Kane, up to have a look. There was a discussion regarding the Shankill and what was needed. I told them about my idea. From there we decided to start up a space where there would be a studio and a rehearsal space and there would be instruments that people could get access to. The space is in the Argyle Business Centre on the Shankill Road.
So after all that time you found a space?
Yes, probably for about 4 years I was thinking about the idea, but I just didn’t have the money to hire or rent a space. I also needed instruments. Over the years I had people give me instruments, I bought a few guitars, I was given some keyboards and I just kept working away.
Drennan McBride and Donna Smith from the Argyle Centre helped get me the space, and now we have a recording space, I have people who will come in and teach young people how to play instruments. We also have a space for people to rehearse plays in.
You are launching the space in January 2024?
Yes. The launch will be at the Argyle Business Centre on Wednesday January 12th from 12 to 3pm. We will have people coming along to sing some songs and play some music. There will be supporters who helped us get the project up and running and we are inviting anyone who wants to see what we are doing to come along.
