Union Black at the London College of Fashion
Contemporary Black Music Culture, in association with the London College of Fashion's ‘Union Black' season, delivered three bespoke illustrated lectures exploring modern black music's relationship with fashion.
This unique academic collaboration dissected the aesthetics adopted by music makers in order to identify what their choices communicated in terms of personal and social identity and how impactful those choices were in establishing a ‘look' for the burgeoning or established musical genres they represented.
Cultural traditions governing everything from hair styles to stage-wear were examined in order to assess British histrionics. The role the music industry plays in pushing, suppressing and in some cases being completely blind-sided by cultural related fashion trends was also explored.
Goldie, Don Letts, Paulin Black, Jazzie B and Anglophile PP Arnold were invited to the London College of Fashion to take part in intimate ‘Talking Heads' sessions, where they discussed art and style and the role British society and politics played in the establishment of their personal style and subsequent ‘musical uniform.'
The Talking Heads sessions – which were compiled and conducted by Jacqueline Springer - were filmed for the London College of Fashion's archive . February & March 2009
'Space Children: From Dr Funkenstein to The ArchAndroid' at The British Library As part of the British Library's 'Out of This World' science fiction season, Union Black presented a sold-out afternoon of conversation and reflection with George Clinton, Labelle's Nona Hendryx and (via pre- recorded multi-media contribution) Janelle Monae and Chuck Lightning (Creative Director of the Wondaland Arts Society) who discussed the influence sci-fi, technology, literature and afro futurism on their musical output and sartorial choices. June 2011
