Project: SEEDA takes the recording studio to the performers

Project: SEEDA is the brainchild of musician Nathan Thomas and represents an opportunity for people living with physical disabilities to create music. The project has been running for a year and was initially funded by Arts Council England, and enabled people in the Bournemouth area to get involved in the creative processes of recording music tracks. The main advantage Project: SEEDA offers over traditional studio-based recording is that the studio comes to the artist, and not the other way around.

Due to the nature of traditional recording studios, accessibility can be an issue – especially for people who are reliant on the use of a wheelchair to get around. Because of this, the possibility of ever being able to use such facilities is relatively unlikely, and so Nathan started Project: SEEDA to level the playing field and allow those with physical disabilities the same opportunity to express themselves creatively as able-bodied people. Project: SEEDA exists to give people with physical disabilities a way of getting fully involved with the creative processes involved in music production by way of:

• Creative writing
• Technical skills
• Musical development and understanding
• Online and ITC skills development
• Listening skills
• Ensemble singing
• Linguistic development
• Co-writing

Project: SEEDA literally takes the entire recording studio to the home or residence of physically disabled people and gives them a creative outlet where they can write, perform and record meaningful songs. Songs covering a diverse range of topics from the point of view of people with physical disabilities have included personal challenges associated with disability, facing fears, loss of loved ones and the psychological effects of bullying. One participant in Project: SEEDA, Nick Farmer, recorded a song titled ‘Make my heart your home,’ and the video was covered by local news and was a viral hit on YouTube.

As part of the ongoing need to secure funding for the project, Nathan has applied for funding through the Aviva Community Fund initiative, and LoveLove Films is delighted to be able to support Nathan and Project: SEEDA. If the Aviva funding bid is successful, LoveLove Films will produce a documentary series documenting the writing and releasing of a song through Project: SEEDA, fully exploring the creative processes involved and how physical disabilities are overcome in order to showcase the talent of the participants.

The Aviva Community Fund is reliant on votes from the public and you can vote for Project: SEEDA to receive funding through the project page.