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The Kabin Studio: Empowering Youth Through Music
This week, we revisit standout stories from the year, including an examination of the dynamic work being done by the Kabin Studio, originally aired on September 13, 2024.
“Think you can stop what we do? I doubt it. We got the energy, we’ll tell you all about it. I searched for my spark and I found it. Everybody in the crowd, start bouncing.”
These exuberant lyrics reflect the vibrant spirit of youth, as shared by Garry McCarthy, the creative force behind the Kabin Studio. McCarthy explained to Helen Pidd that the original phrasing was more about movement, but he pivoted to focus on the indomitable energy that children possess. “You can’t stop a kid from expressing themselves if they truly want to… Why would you want to stop that?” he pondered.
Located in Knocknaheeny, Cork, the Kabin Studio is a non-profit organization that provides musical workshops for young individuals eager to explore their creativity. In an inspiring collaboration, the Kabin Crew, which comprises kids over nine years old, joined forces with refugee youths from the Lisdoonvarna Crew in County Clare to produce an electrifying track titled “The Spark.”
A young participant shared their enthusiasm with Pidd, stating, “I was like, wow, this is actually really a banger. I just fell in love with it immediately.” This palpable excitement has not gone unnoticed; the song has already amassed an impressive 1.3 billion streams on TikTok, marking it as a breakout hit.
McCarthy elaborated on the studio’s mission, stating, “One of the roles of the Kabin is to tell their stories through various mediums—rap, songwriting, hip-hop, storytelling, and poetry. Now, we are doing this on an international scale.” This approach provides a platform for these young artists to share their experiences and perspectives on a larger stage.
In a related endeavor, Rory Carroll, the Guardian’s correspondent in Ireland, took a closer look at the collaborative efforts of the Kabin Crew and Lisdoonvarna Crew during their attendance at the Electric Picnic music festival.
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Source
www.theguardian.com