MFY Remix 2021 Highlights

The MFY Remix 2021 festival got off to a roaring start on Tuesday 6th July. With over 150 submissions posted, the video wall went live in the morning. Split into seven categories, the video wall showcased a huge, diverse range of music made by our youth, from school choirs to a mother and son Jewish Klezmer duo. It was so exciting and rewarding to see so many young performers thrive in their art, not letting the sudden change of plans with the festival get in their way. You can still view the video wall, just click the button below. If you feel at a loss as to where to begin, you can check out my top picks from each category.

MFY brought in two industry professionals to give online workshops on their craft. First, Bridget Walsh hosted a song-writing class, giving her advice on how to brainstorm ideas and allow them to flourish into lyrics. By looking through a character’s point of view, freewriting and using wordplay, every participant was able to write a hook by the end of the session! The workshop was intimate and insightful, allowing us all to become vulnerable and listen to each other’s ideas. I was sceptical at first, I did not consider myself a song writer, however Bridget showed us we can all find the inspiration and creativity to do it.

Alan Keary’s workshop was about using the music making software Ableton. The session was exciting, as we got to see Alan exploring his craft live, by playing his songs to us and improvising. Alan was very open to answer every question aimed his way, whilst showing how accessible Ableton is for anyone aspiring to perform live with technology. I especially enjoyed the improvisation session given by Alan; I was in awe that he could create such a masterpiece with no writing beforehand! It was extremely inspirational to get to watch these two professionals do what they do best.

Every day of MFY Remix 2021 brought new music to us all. The MFY Frequencies artists are fresh, talented young musicians, striving to make a name for themselves in the industry. Every lunch I ate throughout the festival was accompanied by these artists through MFY Remix 2021’s Frequencies playlists on Soundcloud. From a soulful voice accompanied by a guitar to grime, the playlists displayed the versatility and creativity of each and every musician involved. I found the experience so rewarding, seeing people my age and even younger be so talented and determined to create some amazing music! You can still check these artists and their songs out on Music For Youth’s Soundcloud.

The global pandemic may have remixed the way we lived our lives, but the music industry did not stop working! The daily Sector Spotlights highlighted how different organisations had adapted to the lockdown and helped bring people and communities together through the power of music. From online masterclasses to musical projects, the industry professionals helped young musicians stay motivated and positive for the future of music. I found the Sector Spotlights to be a rewarding section, showing how we can adapt and evolve from a bad situation to give ourselves opportunities to play music no matter what!

Though the festival may have been experienced through a screen, the online performances closing every day made me feel like I was at Birmingham Symphony Hall in person. Featuring That’s All Folk, Drake Primary School Choir, Milton Keynes Youth String Orchestra and MFY’s Frequencies artists, the performances were a diverse range of musical talent. The performances were a fantastic way to close each day, it was uplifting to see musicians together after a year of remote collaboration. Whilst watching the talent every evening, I became hopeful for the future festivals, where we can finally experience the music live and enjoy the festival all together.