A new collective and community portal called the Black Junglist Alliance has launched, aiming to unite Black artists, professionals and creatives working in the music industry fields of jungle and drum ‘n’ bass.
Inperspective Records boss Chris Walton aka Chris Inperspective (pictured) founded the Black Junglist Alliance alongside Caldey Muffett, Neil Stevens and Charlotte Toney. It will run a media platform called BJATV focusing on spotlighting and elevating talent, and encouraging collaboration.
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Chris Walton said: "Because the picture out there isn't correct and isn't inline with what music is being made in regards to the YouTube channels that are currently presenting Jungle Drum and bass. That picture needs to be changed and the Black Junglist Alliance TV can help change that."
Graphic designer Caldey Muffett said: "Many other genres of music have an online platform that solely reflects their community through culture, experience and knowledge e.g. SBTV or UKG. It's about time we had a channel that reflects & connects our history in Jungle with the next generations to keep telling *our own* story."
Creative illustrator Neil Stevens said: "I’m looking forward to curating a platform that seeks to confirm the contribution of Black people to this music and the scene we all love. We’re here to highlight the legacy, the heroes and heroines, and the future contributors to this music from an unashamedly Afrocentric perspective."
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Charlotte Toney said: “There's this rhetoric that new up and coming Black and cultural talent is some sort of mythical creature, a Pegasus not based in reality. A legend 'nowhere to be found!' There is plenty of Black and cultural talent across all of the industry out there. Be it DJs, producers, vocalists, lyricists, sound engineers and much more besides that. So we're building a platform where there will be plenty of Black and cultural artists present, for all to witness. We need to see and be seen within jungle drum ‘n’ bass now, as I saw myself when I looked to it 22 years ago.”
Artists, labels and producers can submit their music to the platform here.
Watch the announcement video below.
Patrick Hinton is Mixmag's Digital Features Editor, follow him on Twitter
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