Hello and welcome to Big Tent. Live Events Live Online event series from the University of Oxford as part of the Humanities Cultural Programme.
One of the founding stones for the future, Stephen Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.
My name is Vicki McGuinness and I'm head of cultural programming and Partnerships at the University of Oxford.
Big tent live events brings together researchers, students and artists from across different disciplines and perspectives.
In this series, we will explore together some of humanity's important subjects and ask questions on areas such as environment, medical,
humanities, alien technology, history of disease, as well as celebrating storytelling, music, performance and what it means to be human.
Everyone is welcome in our big tent and we welcome you as we explore big ideas together.
We thank our viewers for their ongoing support and for all of the participants as part of this series.
They have given their time, their words and their big ideas as we come together online.
This series would not be possible without the support from so many people on and off screen.
So thank you. We're bringing you this event programme live and online, why we're all keeping our distance at home.
We hope that you're all safe and well during this difficult time.
And we look forward to seeing you again soon in person at our future events as part of the humanities cultural programme.
For our audience today, if you'd like to put forward any questions to our speakers during the event,
please write them down in the comments on YouTube.
We encourage you to submit these early so that we've got enough time to answer as many as we can in the audience Q&A section at the end of the events.
I know that we've got some questions already from the Young Women's Music Project. So thank you very much for sending those in advance.
So get your questions in now. Now onto our speakers in conversation with Jamelia today, we have two brilliant researchers.
It is an honour to host and welcome Dr. Yvonne Lough and Dr. PRIO Atwell.
Dr. Yvonne Liow is leave a huge early career research fellow in the music faculty at the University of Oxford.
Yvonne is a music historian and also has worked at Naxos Records and Universal Music, Hong Kong.
In addition to being a member of the Torch Management Committee, Yvonne has also co-founded the Colonial Ports and Global Histories Network.
Dr. Prieur Apple is a historian and a teaching fellow in modern South Asian history at King's College, London.
Priya has a lot of experience working in the areas of public engagement, museums, heritage and university outreach,
as well as her research on Queen Victoria and most recently appearing as part of the BBC for documentary The Stolen Maharajah.
Hello, Yvonne and Preta. Hi, everybody. Thanks for joining us today.
This is great. Thank you so much. Thanks for having us.
Thank you. Well, I think it would be great now if we bring in our next special guest as Sigerson.
All right. Jamelia has topped the charts in the UK, Australia, Thailand and Italy and told the world with Usher.
Destiny's Child and Justin Timberlake to name just a few. She's received awards from the most Q Awards Ivan of and Mercury Music Prise.
Jamelia uses her expansive career and life experience to empower, inspire and ignite those around her.
She is also an array of documentaries, including two for the BBC.
Shame about single mums and whose hair is it anyway?
Which she says was life changing for her.
Jamelia is a loving wife and describes her most important role as being mummy to her three gorgeous daughters and adorable son.
She sees her children as her greatest success. I am thrilled.
I'm delighted to welcome multi award winning artist, presenter and advocate for women and girls Jamelia.
Hello, Jamelia. Hi, guys. Hi, dear media.
American Media. Brilliant. So happy to hear today.
I'm really excited to hear what we're going to talk about.
And what I should say as well, of course, is that Jamelia was meant to join us in Oxford to perform as part of the actual real life big tent.
We had an amazing programme there, so I hope that we can welcome you in the future.
When the world allows us to come together again each day, we will hold it.
There, go live online. So tonight evolved.
Priya, I'm. We'll be discussing all things music, performance, representation, education, mental health and home schooling.
I know I, for one, have been appreciating your homeschooling videos to media.
Thanks for getting me out of a lot of holes and helping my kids out without further delay.
I will hand over to a wonderful panel here. One hundred. Straight to Yvonne.
Thanks, everyone. Thank you. Thanks, Vicky.
Thanks. The torch team. And hello again, Jamelia. Hello, everybody.
Hello. Yeah, it's great to see you in this virtual back 10.
And perhaps, oh, get the ball rolling and get the marquee connected, so to speak.
Longtown notwithstanding. Now, this week, we will all be aware is Mental Health Awareness Week with the theme kind knows.
And today, I believe, is also a world meditation day.
Now, taking a moment to reflect on your work, your career.
Jamelia as a singer, as a songwriter. What do you find most interesting about the ability of the human musical voice to promote kindness,
to promote wellness across families and communities?
I think I think it's that I think it's the power that music has to bring people together from different communities, from different walks of life.
I grew up, you know, in very different circumstances to the ones in which my children now enjoy.
And then, you know, I never forget being on stage once.
And it was a commitment. Where was it? I remember that princesses Eugenie and Beatrice were in the front row.
And to me, that was just like it was it blew my mind because I just thought.
When when would I have been in the room? The same room as a princess.
How would I ever gotten into that kind of room?
And for me, even that moment was it really solidified the idea that anything is possible and we should never kind of box ourselves into,
you know, disarm or commit to this idea that we don't belong anywhere.
And I have absolutely benefited from being in so many different rooms and having an array of people in the same room as me.
And it's and it's the opportunity as well to, you know, to to be a voice, to be a voice for the voice.
This even this. You know, for me, it's such a huge honour to be speaking with yourself and.
Like when Alice. I know what it was like for me.
I you. You know, I graduated school and that was it.
I haven't been to college. I haven't been to university. But yet here I am in conversation with, you know, two esteemed academics.
And it's just like, you know, for me it's it's really incredible.
But it's also the power of music and you know, that it brings people like us together.
Would we have connected if it wasn't for my music?
And I'm not sure if we would have. I know I love listening to your songs.
When I was, you know, in school on the way to school. Thank you.
My homework, stuff like that superstar was an upsetting Baber. Thanks for helping me keep that going so I could focus on those studies as well.
So really unlike a part of your your jelly. Like a you.
Oh yeah. So you did not take any credit, but I'm very proud of you.
So getting off to a good doesn't it. But I mean, just to just to follow from what everyone was saying, really.
I mean, your songs have come of so many different types of themes and topics and emotion, I guess.
So how do you feel that your music has helped to give voice?
What was that meant for us is to give voice to your feelings, your own struggles in life and your own achievements.
I mean, superstar is such a, you know, such a child.
But the happy go lucky song. I mean, it's not all. It's really exciting.
I mean, if you could share some thoughts with us on that. Great. Yeah.
I mean, honestly. So. So something like superstar, you know.
And that song literally took me all over the world, every continent.
And it gave me the ability to, you know, bring my children all around the world as well.
And as you said, it's it's happiness. It's promoting just a really happy feeling.
Anyone who speaks about superstar to me that I go, that's the best.
And I just think, like, personally, I probably wasn't having the best time of my life.
But to know that I provided or contributed to somebody having those types of feelings and moments is really special to me.
And I think, again, it helped me to understand the power of music.
And I think that's when I kind of became a little bit more conscious of my voice.
I'm conscious of what my voice was capable of doing. And I think that's what kind of led me to write something like thank you, because, as you know,
I think I think maybe I'm a bit of an activist at heart and just kind of like, well,
if I if if all these millions of people can listen to me when I'm singing about dancing on the dance floor,
then maybe they'll you know, it sounds so bizarre, you know, laying out.
But maybe they'll listen if I speak about something that we're not speaking about.
And, you know, and they did. And for me, that is really powerful.
And, you know, and it's why I always tell my children, you know,
be very careful about every single word you say, you know, be very conscious of the power of your voice.
You know what you just said. And prayers. Wonderful question.
You have your found singing, for instance, to be particularly compelling, powerful, expressive when you teach your children at home.
What is it about the human voice, for example, that can do something dramatic magic with.
Yes. Right. And could you share with us about because 350.
Yes. I think I think when it comes to using the voice. I think singing is so important for all of us.
It does not matter whether or not you've got a chart topping voice.
For me as a all of us. No, seriously, I just feel like even if you sing in the shower, it's to me it's like a form of.
Station not always feel better when I sing and I've you know, I've always encouraged my children,
my two year old, she sings at the top of her voice and I encourage it, you know?
And no one is allowed to say all that doesn't sound good or whatever, because it's not a show.
It's more about the action and it's more about the.
I really feel that you get kind of like a release, like a you know, when you feel endorphins and dopamine injection.
I think when you see. And I remember doing a campaign and I think I was actually for the government and it was just it was saying just that,
you know, seeing it doesn't matter what your voice sounds like because it's actually therapeutic.
We might even consider singing, clapping and singing to our co-workers this evening because people tapping glass, steel.
And that's a form, interestingly, of this rakic to an extent.
I find myself wondering what would happen if one starts singing.
Yeah. Yeah. And even as you said, like even that that experience, you know,
going out on a Thursday and hearing everyone's singing and it will not see him clapping and making noise, you feel emotional.
You have an emotional reaction to what you're hearing. And you know, and I think that you can also provide that for yourself.
You know you know, also, you know, if you need that release, if meditation doesn't work, then maybe singing might.
So, Joy. A shrine.
I just don't know if anyone would really want to hear it. But again, I got it for you.
It sounds great. Oh. If I don't do this to me.
I mean, just I tried to rape her, but crickey. What was it? Because I genuinely want to ask you.
I'm obviously singing music has been a big part of your life. And and as you said, you know, you lose your career quite young.
Didn't you get. I was 50. Yeah. So how did you how did you get started singing in the first place?
I mean, what what triggered it off?
Was it like like your two year old or was it you know, I live in a school and before before the age of Met well before the age of 15.
My name was Jamelia. Will you shut up?
Because I just I sang all day long.
I just you know, it wasn't and I didn't I wasn't telling anyone I wanted to be a singer.
I think growing up where I grew up, I didn't expect that I could ever be a singer.
It was, you know, it was something that someone else did. But love to sing and I and found true enjoyment in it.
And then my dad actually bought me a karaoke machine when I was 12.
One of the few things contribution's my dad made, which is ironic because, you know, it was a huge part of my career, I guess.
And anyway, I used to record some of you might not even know what tape is.
I used to record cassette tapes, but I got to show a little listen, here is this this is a cassette tape.
Yes. Yes, I remember those of those diseases.
Yeah, I. I used to record tape.
So on my karaoke machine you could record straight onto the cassette tape.
And then and then I would pretend that they were my album.
So I had no ancient object. I had something called a Walkman.
So you'd put the tape in and then you'd have the headphones connect.
Right. And so because I'd pretend that that's my album. So that's.
And, um. And I happened to go to London with one of my albums and my cousin and my cousin was like, oh my God, you can really see.
I was like, well, don't be silly. Well, I went to London for the Notting Hill Carnival.
And so she was to be on. And I went onstage and she was like, you know, you have to sing.
My cousin can say, What are you doing? And so I went on stage, I sang.
And luckily for me, one of the people in the crowd was actually an Aono manager from my records.
Right. And he asked me to come in the next day for a meeting and offered me a record deal on the spot.
But the mum said, no, I wasn't allowed to sign until I passed all of my GCSE.
Yes, yes. That's very interesting,
because you also touched upon this question of life knows in the very digital age where you're compared with how your first song performed.
Life was a lie community. Yeah.
What's different in your view?
What sort of opportunities or or challenges are there for young artists out there now who may not necessarily be contracted by a record label?
Right. Who want to do great. The music with the music making.
Yeah. You know, I feel like I feel that artists nowadays, although you have possibly oversaturate over situation.
I believe that there are many. There are many more chances and opportunities to be seen or to to be heard.
The whole idea of going viral is so much more possible now for anyone.
Whereas someone who lived in inner city Birmingham, it was kind of like, you know,
I had to know my cousin who would just so happen to put me on the stage.
You know, it was very kind of serendipitous. I believe that, you know, if if I was going to advise someone who wanted to get into or get out there,
I would literally say, pick up your phone and start singing. Literally, people your phone post on an Instagram account posted on YouTube.
I just believe that you can more authentically start a career.
When I first started, everything was kind of although I was a solo artist, everything was kind of manufactured that it was, you know,
so that you could be this person that we're going to mould you into this person and you going to talk like this and you're going to look like this.
Everything around me was manufactured. Which obviously what fantastically for me at that time.
Well, I feel like now you get to have. I just I really believe in using what you have and everyone's got a phone, so please use it.
And if that's you know, it's just it's more possible. I think getting I think it's more likely that you could get yourself heard.
Yeah, that's great. I mean, we're obviously making use of that kind of space right now with you.
You've been Zarem and all the rights just to do this event,
which is amazing that we can do it, considering the weird, weird time that we're in right now.
Yes. Well, I mean, I just want to pick up on some of the things that you mentioned that you hear at the start of your career.
You felt things had to be quite manufactured and to your appearance.
And I mean, I watched a couple of your videos about your your head and what you have.
Your journey with your hair. Yes. And your activism and that kind of.
And so I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about how that part of your career has emerged and maybe where that's come from.
And, you know, in in your in your journey and in your developing ideas about what you want to use your voice for in the way, I guess.
Yes, I think so.
I think that the the manufacturing of me as an artist heads has a huge part to play in who I've kind of become now as a public figure.
Because. When you manufacture to the point that you don't recognise yourself, it's got to break.
But there has to be a breaking point because you can't keep it off. And for me, it was having my first daughter.
She you know, she wanted to be me.
See everything I did. She wanted to look like me.
And I mean, my hand, you know, she was she was like, I want to have my hair, like yours knows on what's wrong with your hair, but you're beautiful.
And, you know, and I literally was just like. Right. And I had bone, straight hair.
And that was part of the manufacturing.
But what I also understood about that was that I was selling the idea of changing yourself to other people's daughters as well.
And I just kind of just wasn't comfortable with it. I wasn't comfortable with, you know, existing as something that, you know, I couldn't feel.
I just didn't feel right about, you know. Especially as a parent.
I was just like, no, I can't I can't do that.
And so, yeah, I made a conscious effort to slow down the music and to use my voice in a different way, which is why I went into TV.
I love doing stuff like that. Also documentaries.
And then obviously we've got social media and then social media is like, I don't even need to do a whole documentary.
I could just do a post, just shout about it.
I could just write a blog. And, um, and yeah, I think I'm very happy.
I'm very happy with who I am today and and how I use my voice.
I'm very conscious about it. You know, I am there's a clip on YouTube actually about me slating.
I'm slating another artist. And I was about this.
What you see. This is before I think I had my daughter. And people still post like, oh, my God, this is amazing.
I, I, I'm so full of embarrassment about it.
And I think it's because for me it's just like I am so not that person and I'm so and no you don't no longer that person.
And at the time I was acting in a way that I thought, OK, this is going to get me more famous, you know.
And it was this is this is what it did. It I, I slated someone in public on a TV show and my career would, you know, after that.
And I was a assigner, you know, that doesn't feel good to me, especially now, especially as a mother of daughters, especially, you know.
Yes. It certainly seems like that is that kind of evolution.
Unfortunately for me, sometimes, you know, my evolution has had to take place in front of the camera.
But at the same time, I just want to be somebody that I'm proud of and that my children can be proud of.
And and as I said, my children are my biggest fans.
So I want them I want them to know anything that I do.
Whatever would I be happy with. My daughter's doing it. And that's kind of the motivation.
You know, if anything I say, would I be happy with my daughter's repeating something like that?
And so, yeah, as I said, he's very I'm very conscious. And it's not just my daughters.
It's everyone's daughters and everyone's sons as well.
I just, you know, it's a very, very important to me to to not want to be a good person, to, you know,
be be true to who I am, because even that person who, you know, was horrible on the TV, that that isn't me.
It isn't me. But I was playing a role. And I just kind of think authenticity is actually OK.
Your own is OK. You know, how you look is actually OK.
And that's what I'd like to be a part of promoting rather than, you know.
Yeah. Manufacturing ideals. You're not done makes absolute sense to me.
And I'm glad that, you know, we're with we're having a more open conversation about these things.
I mean, certainly I come from a Sikh family. And so for Sikhs, hair is a big deal.
Yes. I mean, but in our faith, if you're a fully practising Sikh, you're not supposed to cut your hair.
You're not. Your eyebrows are shaved, your legs or anything.
And guys are supposed to grow a full beard and things. And I mean, we just had in the news last week, there was a Sikh doctor in in Canada.
You felt compelled to shave off his beard and cut his hair. It was to fit the people equipment.
Yeah. You know, the Sikhs, the hair is it's a form of strength is the home of identity is a revolutionary thing.
And I think what you said there, it has. I mean, I just I didn't see the video that, you know, and the comment that you made before.
But, yeah, it just shows that people make mistakes.
Right. But as long as you learn lessons from them and your you know, your most important pressing going forward.
Yeah. And that's, you know, what could what could anyone do.
Right. We would do stuff like that. But I guess once and obviously you unfortunately caught on camera.
We live in a very we're living in a very challenging age right now. Right.
And. Seems like the politics of hate get through so much faster then than the struggles that we're trying to talk about.
Yeah, absolutely. I think absolutely, especially for our younger generation, we can only we can only hope that the path will get easier and easier.
But it is the bar accepting everything about yourself, isn't it? And you're right. And you're making space for that.
Yeah, absolutely. And I think and this is again, these are the things that, you know, I teach my children.
You can choose to be who you are. And it can be wildly different from how somebody else chooses to live and exist and present in themselves.
But it doesn't mean that there's no common ground. It doesn't mean that they have to be ostracised.
They're just another person. And for me, it's about that. You know, I don't even like the word tolerance because I think that, you know,
it seems that that makes it seem as if it's something uncomfortable that you have to tolerate.
For me, it's just one thought, why can't we just all exist?
Why can't we all sit in our entirety and authentically, you know, my hair shouldn't be a, you know, an issue.
You know, it shouldn't be it shouldn't be something that stops me from receiving education or care or do you know, which is why I will talk about it.
But I talk about it because I don't want this to continue for my children.
I want my children to live in a totally different world where they don't actually have to have these conversations.
And interestingly, perhaps the lockdown has had one positive effect up in reading today,
how women have been reflecting not just about their image, but about their bodies.
For example, people who are not big, they're not able to have the acrylics dog, the eyelash.
My goodness, my face looks so this frago right by going back to older photos, because your kids are just it's like you already know in my age.
Yeah. Yeah. I'd love to hear more from you.
As a matter of record, you mentioned activism earlier.
I was just wondering if you could share it with us today here in the strict tent about younger not just artists, but younger women more generally.
Right. Those who want to pursue their passions, their musical passions, on the one hand, yes.
But who also want to foster music or other things as a as a sort of civic projects, civic advocacy on the other.
Yeah. How what has it been like for you? Striking a balancing act between doing something very creative and doing something civic?
Not that those two can't coexist. They do go hand-in-hand.
So what has your experience been like going into the communities? Yeah, I think I think the 90s and I think for me that they definitely.
So I I had my career. I've had my career of like whilst going over this transitional period of social media and social activism and,
you know, online activism, should I say. And I think that it's been really interesting to me.
Whereas back in the day I could say what I wanted to do, what I wanted, you know, and nothing would come back to me.
I wouldn't be cancelled. And now I feel that I love that we call people out.
And I know that might sound like a crazy thing to say, but I love that we hold people accountable for their actions because I feel that I feel
that progression can be made and I feel that the world is becoming a lot smaller.
So as I was saying earlier, you know, being from inner city Birmingham, I just didn't think for one second that I could be an artist.
I could have the career that I've had. And now I think I think any inner city, Birmingham kids, things, I could do that if I wanted to.
And I I love that. And I love being a part of that community and encouraging them.
For me, it's about it's about being kind of a beacon in a way.
Like, I'm someone who's done it. Here's how you can do it. And, you know, sharing.
I think I love the idea of sharing. I love the idea of sharing not only knowledge, but resources, an insight.
And, you know, I think especially when you're from a certain socio economic background like myself,
I feel that we can have this kind of squirrel mentality where we don't share anything because we feel so fortunate to have what we have.
But for me, it's just like, no, no. Everyone needs to know.
There's no need to share. And I see a lot of that.
So my eldest daughter is 19 and she shares everything.
She tells it like she just started her second business and she and she tells people where she gets her products from.
But that doesn't make any business. Since you, me, me, there's enough for everyone.
And I'm just like, cool, you know, that's good. That's good.
So, you know, even that does being been willing to learn from, you know, people younger than me.
I'm willing to learn from my two year old. Yeah, I am.
And I feel that, you know, that although there was a distinction between community and all that, I think that the world is becoming a lot smaller.
And I love it and I love being a part of it as well. I feel very fortunate to be a part of it.
Yeah, yeah. Interesting. I mean, I hope we've still got time for this, but I was just it was one big question I really wanted to ask you.
And I mean, you're absolutely right about wanting to reach that inner city,
five Birmingham kids, things like, you know, thinking, oh, no, I can't do it without you.
Right. And I mean, education's a big part of that as well as Amy Set of Oxford being wacking, you know,
long and hard to try and get kids from that kind of background or across the country,
around the world to have to consider going to university and doing that same kind of thing.
So whatever truck of life you're on, whatever it is that you want to achieve, maybe in music or as a scientist or lucky demick like, I don't know.
Right. And, you know, you want kids to be able to aspire to do that.
And I understand you homeschooled your children. Are you happy including.
And I mean, not going away.
I imagine it must be pretty cool to have, you know, your superstar award winning mom giving you your mom lessons and stuff.
Right. How is that one? I mean, ultimately, why did you why did you decide to do the.
And honestly, I get so I feel that particularly the school.
So my daughters have been to school and, um, the school that they went to as they got older.
I felt that the people who were teaching them were quite archaic in their ideas when it came to young black girls.
That was read. It was really heartbreaking for me because growing up,
I've always been told go into a private school with the best thing you could possibly do for your child.
And so I was sending my children to private school.
But what I realised was that we haven't progressed far in the education system, hadn't progressed far enough to not accept.
But to that, it's like it's like they weren't used to these my type of children as well.
They're very confident that. Very expressive and very.
A lot like me. I wouldn't want to teach me, but I just kind of a bad day.
I felt that they just needed more. And I feel that sometimes the education system can feel very rigid.
My eldest daughter was not very academic at all. My, my my middle daughter, she's 14.
And she. She is academic, but again, the way that she learns.
I just felt that the school couldn't possibly provide that.
And also I didn't blame them for that because I also feel as well, you can't possibly tailor make education to fit each individual child.
And so I just felt the best thing for my children was to take them out and do do it myself.
Don't get me wrong, it is not easy. It's not a walk in the park.
And some days I give up some days and throw the bags in the air. I often think a lot people relate.
I look down right now. Yeah. OK.
But at the same time, I do think for my children is the absolute best decision I've made.
My 19 year old. So again, she wanted to go to university.
She wants to go to university. And then she decided that the very last minute she didn't want to go.
And it was an inside. I was like she was going to go ballistic.
Importance of finding her own voice. Right. And relate to backboards, going back to how we started with our plan to do that.
So it's the it is the book is The Power of the Voice, isn't it?
In a variety of words musically, but also in life.
Lately I was voice in her Christmas, so. Well, yes, exactly.
And and she's you know, she's done something great with it. I wasn't gonna have her lounging around the house.
But what I will say is that having my children, one of the best things I've realised is that, OK.
Just to stick with me here, because it's going to sound really weird, but I'm just a gardener.
So imagine a gardener just has to provide the right environment, right nutrients,
the right amount of water so that their plants can grow into whatever it is they're meant to grow into.
And that's how I look at my parenting.
I just give them the right environment, the right, you know, the right things that they need to grow but not dictate who it is they should become.
You know, my mom never did that with me. Mother never said, you know, you have to be you know, you have to be a lawyer or you have to be based.
She was just like, who do you want to be? And I think that that's something really beneficial that I've been able to pass on to my children.
And although, you know, I think it's because my daughter, you know, she she went to college and she she passed everything with flying colours,
school, everything with flying colours, despite not being an academic.
So when she said she didn't want to go to university, I was like, what's the you?
You'll be great in university. And she's just like, Mommy, no, no.
She said she said, I'd like to start my life now, which I don't really know what that means yet.
So she's like cheating and she doesn't accept pocket money for me anymore.
She's she's she drive. She's do really well. And I just think she's very happy.
And to me that's the most important thing. So and so.
Yet it is not what I want them to have that confidence and develop that confidence.
And I feel that I feel homeschooling is really contributing to them, you know, again, living authentically.
No, it's absolutely true. And I think we're probably gonna have to wrap up quite soon and possibly to audience questions.
But I guess, I mean, things like this is the thing, you know, Oxford University and places, institutions like that.
Yeah. They've been here for hundreds of years.
Even with the financial crisis that potentially facing them right now, they're not going to be completely gone.
So I guess you should change their mind as you go later. Yes, why not?
But yeah. No, I, I think that's been really fascinating to hear from you.
And it does make me wonder if, you know, I mean, obviously your kids have been amazing and they've they've had the option to you.
You really given up the attention. But the good the education system, you're doing more for kids that the parents aren't as able to deliver for them.
Right. And that's something for people to think about, I guess. Yeah.
Sorry to quote you. I think it's my thing I'm not against schools.
I just believe that schools need to do more for certain children.
And, you know, fortunately, my children fall into that category also.
So, you know, I'd prefer not to homeschool. Well, I do invite you back in.
I mean, this is a very nice note on which to bring to the fore.
Also took a break. I think there are questions of identity and empowerment, which I'm sure our audience would love to take up.
So we invite Vicki back in. Yes. It was great.
I was really enjoying listening to that from the back row. We got lots of questions coming through social media and different platforms.
So if I can keep you for a little while longer, I think it's really important to try to share some of those.
If we could stop as we as we finish just then on school, particularly because I know I for one, as I mentioned earlier,
I've been very grateful for your videos because I think it's fair to say anyone with
kids was suddenly at home watching their laptop up on some sort of inadequate box.
So it was in the right clip. Also trying to homeschool their children properly in different ways.
And what is clear is everyone's situation is so different. So I just wondered if we could follow up on that.
You know what? If you could give any you know, what are your top three tips for us all coping with this very swift move to a home school?
Jamelia. OK. One of them might be a bit controversial. So my first one is give yourself a break.
My first one is like. Absolutely. Give yourself a break. Don't freak out.
It's not like it's not a C. I think it is. And my second one is do not create what you call what you call people who are stuck at their desks all day.
But that's not this workaholic, isn't it?
There's a name for it. I can't what it is. Don't don't bind your children to their desks.
Don't don't let them do. Like sheets of paper. All day.
Every day. There is so much learning to be done out there out in the world.
You know, baking is a way to learn. And Amy and my daughters put up a trampoline.
That was an educational experience. We've had no pen and paper today.
And they learnt so much today. Building a trampoline. My hands are in.
I've never do this. I learnt.
I learnt. I'm never doing that again. That's desolate.
So. Yes. So don't you know, please don't have the rats rabbiting away doing, you know, things on paper.
I just think it's so boring for them. It's boring for us. And then you let them go outside and.
And my third tip is, is be prepared for them.
And I just think. Because I think.
I think a lot of a lot of you were thrown in at the deep end and then it came to Monday and it was like, OK, let's go away.
Home schooling is like it doesn't work like that. Like when I when I homeschool.
I spend about a week preparing, what, maybe two weeks.
I mean, you guys, you you were all doing lesson plans and stuff like that.
And it's very similar to that. You have to prepare before you see children and children or worse because they have no patience.
They will say exactly what they think. This is boring. You know, and I think, you know, so.
So they're they're incredible critics, should I say. That's that's what I won't say.
They're the words. They are incredible critics. And I think you just, um, be be as prepared as you can be,
but also be prepared for everything to go wrong and know that that is completely normal and fine.
Yeah. But it's a great place. Just generally I think people do.
Yeah. I'd like to move to some questions we've got from a great group called the Young Women's Music Project,
and they're superexcited that your hair and part of the programme, they were looking forward to seeing you in person as well.
So they've sent several questions. And so I might just just go through them, if that's okay.
And it's and then we can talk around them as well. No problem.
Musicians inspired you growing up. What barriers did you face to entering the music industry?
What advice would you give to young women, especially women of colour, who are starting out in the creative industries?
That's really interesting. Yeah. OK. So my my all time idol is Mary J.
Blige. I just I just love her.
I just absolutely love her. And I found out on my 21st birthday that week, me and Mary J.
Blige have the same birthday. And I was like. So, yes, I celebrate her birthday on my birthday, although I'm a mad fan.
Blige. What's wrong with the second question was.
Sorry. What barriers did you face? Bring the music. So I think a barrier is only a barrier if you allow it to be.
I'll never forget doing so. You do a showcase when you're first kind of presenting yourself to the world as an artist.
But this showcases for like executives and like people from other record labels and stuff like that.
So I never forget the first time I did one need.
I've done so much preparation for this performance and dancing and all of that.
And, you know, this is my first big performance.
And after I came off at one of the executives, it was like, you know, I was like, listen, you're absolutely amazing.
Absolutely phenomenal. But it's not going to work. You're far too dark.
And I was just like, oh, my God. Like, I was 15. I was about fifteen or sixteen.
I was like, oh, my gosh. But at the same time, I just.
But as I said. But that's a moment for me to decide. Is this a barrier or more than show him.
And that was literally, you know. And I've had many moments like that.
That is one that really sticks out to me. But I was just like, well, I'm going to see you again.
And I can't wait to see you again. And and I always use moments like that to spur me on.
I remember a career day. My teachers were like. I was like. I'd like to be a singer.
Think. And they're like they literally burst out laughing. I was like.
But then I was I had they asked me to come back and form at the school a couple years later.
But yeah. So the barriers, the barriers, as I said, you decide whether a barrier is a barrier or not.
There's always a way around it. You can you know, you can always be the first.
You can always be the new one. You can always be the one who changes the game.
And, you know, if you believe that you can. I believe that you can do.
Yes. This is ridiculous. The last costume was my movie.
So that's not one question. I believe in God.
Would you give to young women, especially women of colour, who are starting out in the creative industries?
You touched on it already. I think I think it's to be brave. To be brave.
To be loud. Don't shrink. And to to be confident as well.
You know, even if you say it, fake it till you make it.
If you've got to do that, like, you know, we all deserve and deserve an opportunity to be here.
And I just think don't act as if, you know, you're not supposed to be,
because that's when I believe in, like, the stars aligning to whatever it is you're feeling.
So, you know, find that confidence. And again, you know, kick down every barrier you can.
Yeah, it was great once again. It was nothing particularly, you know, where we've touched on the arts.
I wondered if we could, you know, talk about the current situation. And of course, a lot of all this is about bringing people together.
Yes. Crowds of people. So, you know, these and opportunities are there at risk right now?
Not really. What's about also. So look look down.
And particularly when we're thinking about work, you know, people getting work and staying work.
Yeah. Industries arts. More broadly, I, I at first I was really worried about this time.
But I also think that in times of crisis is probably the best time for a creative.
It's such incredible fodder to create. And I believe that this whole coalgate crisis is literally going to change the whole landscape of how we work,
how we entertain how weak and how we choose to spend our time.
And I think. You know what I mean? I know.
Yes. You can see on Netflix and did it. But as a creative, I think there comes a point where it's just like, OK, I can't do that.
It will just come. And I just think don't stop creating, you know, how how can you do it differently?
There are people on tick tock who make, you know, who make so much money.
I watch all these videos all day, every day on YouTube. And I can't draw.
So, you know, they make, you know, hundreds from me. And I just think there's a way for all of us.
And it's you don't make a way out of no way.
Again, if you act like you've been defeated, then the stars would align to support whatever it is you believe.
But again, move forward with confidence and continue to create.
Don't stop creating a just yet. I just think that's the most important thing to, you know, see this as an opportunity rather than an a disadvantage.
A don't if that sounds like a Refaeli. But it's what I truly believe that I think is good.
I think, you know, it's it's it's gonna be a troubling time for old industries.
US officials particularly. We're thinking, you know, as people who work at universities, of course, you know,
there's there's ways in which we're thinking, if I had we teach online.
Yes. And you all research, particularly humanities. You know, what about.
I need to go and find all colleagues. So, you know, I was thinking about those new ways of doing you know, I it's a a phone.
Do you have any thoughts on on the current situation? How.
Oh, my God. Well, I mean, is it as a Genea career, academic jobs are few and far between right now.
So I'm I'm I'm kind of facing an element of unemployment, but at the same time.
And it's pushed me to be. Well, I'm saying in conversation with you guys or things like that.
But let's face it. Well, I guess this is really push me to start thinking about.
Okay, well, what what is important to me with my what what do I want to keep going with?
Now, I've had time to stop and think. I think that's what's really pushed us all, isn't it?
You know, when you you're so busy running around and then now you can't go anywhere.
So you really, really need to think about stuff.
And it's really the ideas that have bubbled up to the surface have been really interesting and exciting.
And for me as a researcher,
it's made me I've had more time to figure out what I want to do with my next research projects and how I'd want to make the community.
And I had a month before, you know, I'm said so you're absolutely right.
We haven't really been asked what you're saying about doing so crazy, because I think it probably just keeps you going as well.
Right. You know, you sit there and so then it's, you know, you feel defeated.
But I realise even if I just spend about five minutes on it on something a day, that it will grow from there.
And if I can do more than that, then that's fine. But, you know, you can lay the seeds for later.
I mean, a lot less. We may potentially have to pivot and do something different for a little while.
That's not the dream job or whatever. But you can do it.
Come back, I guess. So keep that belief alive.
You know, people are picking one, a very good inspiration for keeping your spirits up.
I just think to Supastar. Good. Your own inspiration to each other.
I'd like to get. I also like to think of industries that create every industry is a creative discovery,
because I think it's I suppose it's a question brought up the creative industries.
But it's it's it's actually quite empowering, as I may say.
So to think of our work as creative. Whether your postal worker can work.
No signal. There's something I think and maybe human we've created, too.
I think that really connects to what you're saying from what you've been saying as well,
to be on it today, sharing with us about your experiences, your voice.
And I think also this importance, given the uncertainties and the increasing concerns of these over the coming Hmongs years.
Right. To not lose our sense of self humility, your patience.
I think these qualities, these elements have always gone so close then hand in hand with creativity.
So I think there's something about creativity to say.
Right. And not just making music with products or professionally that is very intrinsic to who we are and how we connect with people.
And you mentioned your mother, your children, how they have had to negotiate their way around into private school, for instance.
Well, that itself is also that invites a creative strategy as to how am I going to get the Bombadier
re-educate the right as to why are there these long standing historical prejudices?
And I think there's something very powerful equipment you have about precommitment and so very key,
what you're saying about this sort of uncertainty that we find ourselves in now.
I think it's really encouraged us to not only reflect but who we are,
but also to say how can we apply operator to scope better goods on a small level or on a bigger level, whatever that is.
Which I'm sorry. I'm one I have to admit, I'm kind of quite right.
I want to ask you really on that note. Could you share bits with us about your next project, your next album?
Does any of what we're sharing today, is it about yet?
As I said, my and I believe that times of crisis are the best times for for creatives.
So I have like literally a thousand projects that I'd like to do.
And then I'm going to do that.
And they're going to I've literally I've got like a bought all these new notebooks with different ideas, but I definitely want to do some more music.
I am definitely decided that in this time, even though I'm almost 40 and probably not going to be allowed on on many of the popular radio stations,
but whatever stupid here in the studio is doing is doing this.
Yeah. You take photos to my parents.
Yeah, I just do. I do. I take my own advice. That was really a bus station.
Yeah. Yeah exactly. You get it. Yeah. I'm full of ideas as I said.
Music is definitely one. And I've I recently launched an online TV show called The Table.
Yeah. I want to do much more of that. And I'm like my YouTube.
We've got loads of ideas for that. I'd love to write, but I'd also love the time to write.
I don't think it's going to be a book or a leaflet at this stage. Yeah.
Yeah. So I'm full of ideas and a but I would like to get them all done.
How? I have no idea because I've also got four children. You don't keep in touch with just anybody.
Not that we know what people think. She has no idea who I am.
I to 90 because the question that's come up with YouTube is I think really apps as more because where we're
doing everything in the same space and there's something to say about us all going through this together.
Right. Literally, we know everyone's at home safe and well.
Somebody is asked. So Marilyn asks, how do you relax away from work and home and stuff like that?
Well, what is your way to relax? So I am very intentional about my relaxation time.
I wake up an hour earlier than everyone else in the house, so I get to have that time.
I know that sounds good. I'm also a big napper.
I'm very consistent in the middle of the day.
Mommy gets to have a nap. But I also everyone's allowed to nap.
So I got that from my two year old. I was like, yeah, she's got she's got this must actually have a nap.
So, you know, we all nap at different times, but that's very important to me.
And I'm also honest as well. So for me, it's you know, if I need a break, I can say to my husband, I can say to my older children,
not so much the two year old, I can say to them, I just need five minutes.
Fifteen minutes, and I might sit out in the garden.
I might go and read a book. And it's about being.
Being very, very intentional, but also very, you know, just just very vocal about, you know, I need this on know, especially as a parent.
Always giving, especially as the mom and, you know, no offence to dads, but moms, we give a lot.
And I think, you know, I. Yeah. Is this just the kind of thing.
You know, respect my time. I would like this done.
So the morning, you know, and as I said, afternoon, afternoon nap and and possibly an hour to myself before I go to bed.
And, you know, it sounds like a dream doesn't happen every day.
But I try. I do try. Yeah.
Do you do you sing and improvise to yourself as a mom?
I work with these sorts of tracks and I sing all day. Every day.
Well, really good advice for parents, you know, because we're all finding all way and every time I think I've got there,
I suddenly realise I'm I'm not quite the mess everyone is.
Every day I'm learning so. And so I need to forgive myself a little bit.
But I've got I've made a note naps. I could go Rebo Raicu at noon and just put it on your sticky nap time.
Yes. I'm used to it. Oh, no. I'm currently separated.
There we go. There's a couple of questions that come through, particularly about your charity work.
So sensitive, you know. Can you say a little bit more about your World Food Programme and of course, more about the Girls Club programmes.
So and the World Food Programme, you know, that was years ago.
And I you know, I'm. I'll never forget doing that, so I did two trips with them, I went to Kenya and I went to on Liquidnet.
When was the place? This is really bad. There's two places in Africa.
And I remember. I've just never been really overwhelmed.
And I think for me for me, it was particularly overwhelming because as a black woman seeing another black person,
it's kind of like I see myself and, you know, or I had children the same age as the children that I saw.
I went into a home with a woman who, you know, she's a mother.
She had two children. And, you know, it was helping her to cook dinner.
And I just again, I just saw it as such an incredible opportunity to understand that no matter where you're from,
there's always common ground, no matter you know.
And I think that ability to to see yourself in someone else allows you to also be empathetic and to talk to.
I think, for me, encourages me to understand.
And I'm you know, I'm not judgemental. I'm not you know, I'm not.
I have to know somebody. I have to understand. I have to understand someone's motivation or who they are.
And I make a huge effort to get to know people. And yeah.
And I find that, you know, those trips were really life changing for me because I think before, especially as a British, British born black person,
I'd see people on the TV, you know, in other countries suffering is like, oh, you know, they are over there and not here.
And it was kind of like, no, we're we're all so intrinsically connected, you know?
And, you know, to the point where you feel it. So. And I think that was probably the speaking of my, you know, charitable journey.
And because I went all the way to Africa, but I kind of felt like.
But what about people at home? So that kind of kind of segue was neatly into the girls clubs.
So my daughters have a business called the Magic Girls in which they sell T-shirts and hey, bubbles, little girly things.
But they came up with an idea of doing clubs for for disadvantaged girls and them.
And so they we put together the programme and then we delivered them for free.
And we teach the girls how to cook. We teach them how to make stuff.
We do arts and crafts and we have conversations. And we even did a lesson on Photoshop.
So I was delivering like all the lessons we did, obviously a whole club about hey.
And then it was just one of the most wonderful things I ever said to me.
Everyone's daughter is my daughter. And so to have those kind of opportunities and share those moments with young girls in my community, you know.
And it just, you know,
just such a kind of reminder to me of where I've come from and how far I've come and also how fortunate I am to be in a position to give back.
And I just love doing them. And I think that's probably the worst thing about lockdown is not being able to do, you know, do the girls clubs.
But as soon as we can, you know, we'll be in Brooklyn and again.
Yeah. So it must be amazing to see your daughters doing that kind of thing, you know.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it is.
And as I say, it was their idea. And, you know, they came up with the whole schedule and stuff like that and.
And yeah, I love that. I love that kind that I've passed that kind of idea, Ron.
You know, we don't exist alone. We you know, we have to look out for each other.
Yeah. Yeah. It seems as if they've picked up that from me.
So, you know, let me continue. That's a good attitude to have.
But I think as well, knowing what we do about you. I think that the organisation skills are definitely what I say are appropriate.
So I was like, oh, this is impressive.
And I think that's that's really helpful for, you know, for all of us to hear that, you know, anyone's ideas can come together.
And I think this connectedness is probably a really good point for us.
I think to to wrap this call up a lot of things today being connected.
We've talked about music, a lot about music, about perform, which is something being this week about.
You know, I think I'd like to go back to one of the points you made, which is the right some mistakes.
And almost because of this digital age, everything's being recorded. It's the right to to to to make good on those mistakes.
That's important. We're rural, growing Amaroo at the moment.
Stuck inside, sir. I think I know I'm grateful for a lot.
And it sounds like from what you're talking about today, we're grateful to.
Sounds like there's more coming. Thousand projects.
Thank you. Great to be able to hear more from you in person and perhaps connect again in the future.
Yes, sir. That would be great. So all that is left for me to do is to say thank you very much to all three of you
giving us your time and your brilliant thoughts and ideas online today lives.
So thank you, everyone. You present. Thank you. Germania. So.
What is left for me to say is, of course, this is part of the series Big Ten Live Events, and we have another live event next week on Thursday,
the 20th of May of five p.m., join us where Professor West Williams will be hosting two brilliant people talking about living with pandemics.
Robin Gauna, AIDS activist and feminist, in conversation with Professor Erica Chances from the history faculty at the University of Oxford.
We hope that you'll be able to join us again then as ever, you know.
Join us on or live on our YouTube channel. And if you can share any questions ahead of time.
Always great to hear from you. Thank you again. Thanks to our viewers and thanks to all speakers because.