FPG Sounds: Josephine Melville, ’Lost in Music’

Focal Point Gallery is pleased to announce the fourth commission as part of ‘FPG Sounds’, an online project to support the development of new sound works by artists from or based in Southend-on-Sea.

For this commission, writer and director Josephine Melville has created a new sound work in the form of an experimental mixed tape. Combining a series of musical extracts with spoken word, ‘Lost in Music’ explores a cultural and personal history of vinyl. Written and performed by Melville, the work describes the transformative nature of music with its ability to transcend time, connecting us to powerful thoughts, feelings, or memories. In doing so, Melville also traces her personal experience of the development of sound and broadcast technology; from the Ekco Radio Bakelite to the Amstrad Stereo Record Tower. With interludes of music selected by the artist, ‘Lost in Music’ explores the ‘indelible print’ that music leaves on your mind.  Mixed by Bradley Charles.

Please see here for the audio transcript. 

Josephine Melville is a Creative Practitioner based in Southend-on-Sea.  Her varied career began as a dancer, making her transition to actress, writer, director, archivist and producer, working in Theatre, TV, Radio and Film for over 40 years. She is one of the co-founders of The BiBi Crew who wrote, produced and created their own comedy material; a co-founder of Aarawak Moon Productions and co-founder of Eye 2 Eye Promotions specialising in creating interactive workshops for educational and corporate organisations. Eye 2 Eye has an archival unit which houses the award-winning Posters and Poetry Exhibition which focuses on the last 100 years of Black British contribution to the arts. Melville is also Founder of the South Essex African Caribbean Association (SEACA), creating initiatives, projects and events to break down cultural barriers enhancing community cohesion, while helping to build, promote and share African and Caribbean Culture in Essex.

Lost in Music | Focal Point Gallery (fpg.org.uk)