Tuesday 14 October saw the launch of the Without Borders EP, recorded at Salford's world-class Blueprint Studios, where Snoop Dogg, Johnny Marr and Elbow have all recorded, to an invited audience of friends, family and VIPs at an intimate sharing at Band on the Wall
Without Borders, a youth band developed in partnership between Band on the Wall and CAN, brought together 11 young musicians aged 12– 19 with Kurdish, Iranian-Syrian, Polish, Mexican-Pakistani, and Ukrainian heritages, including those whose families have experienced forced migration. This diverse group embarked on a journey across global cultures, creating a vibrant fusion of contemporary and global sounds that resonate with our shared human experiences.
Without Borders is one strand of the World of Song project, which, in addition to developing projects for children and families, features Spotlight, a capacity-building programme for adult musicians and solo artists drawn from new migrant communities, as well as music projects for men in the asylum system. The groups shared their unique stories and heritages through the international language of music.
Weekly Without Borders’ workshops were led by longtime CAN associate artist, Bosnian singer-songwriter, and music leader Sanja Govorčin. Sanja was supported by Donna Loman and volunteer RNCM student, Alex Rouault.
More than just a band, Without Borders was a transformative space where young people not only developed their musical talents but also formed lasting friendships and shared their unique stories through music. This project is a testament to the power of music in building bridges across cultures and communities.
In addition to four live tracks, the song Sun/Moon, inspired by Lemn Sissay MBE’s poem Said the Sun to the Moon, was played on screen, accompanied by photos from the project and short film clips.
The Without Borders group will be featured in an upcoming documentary film about the World of Song project. The film is directed by the acclaimed Afghan-born, London-based filmmaker Tamana Ayazi, whose film Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject in 2020. The World of Song documentary promises to offer deeper insight into the journey and the project’s impact.
Councillor Joanna Midgeley, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, joined the audience:
“I was delighted to attend the Without Borders youth band performance at Band on the Wall.”
“It was lovely to see how the young people had learned so much, grown in confidence and formed a cohesive and supportive friendship group.”
“Projects like this are vital in helping to bring our communities together in a positive way and foster a sense of belonging.”
Discover more about the Without Borders band here.
Check out our Flickr album from the evening here.
The project is led by Band on the Wall in partnership with CAN and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Photo credit: Oliver Halstead
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