Museum of Youth Culture

What happens when music, culture, and community come together to preserve the stories that shape generations?

In this episode of Listen Again, we’re joined by Jon Swinstead, Founder of the Museum of Youth Culture, and Linett Kamala, renowned Sound System Queen, to explore the importance of documenting and celebrating youth culture through sound, creativity, and shared experiences.

From the evolution of music scenes and sound system culture to the power of storytelling and cultural preservation, this conversation highlights how the sounds and movements of the past continue to influence and inspire future generations.

Join us as we discuss the role of music in shaping identity, the value of preserving cultural heritage, and why these stories matter now more than ever.

Thank you for listening to our podcast.

Watch the video version of this episode of Listen Again on YouTube.

Follow us on social: @monitoraudio @roksanaudio @blokhifi

Learn more about Monitor Audio Group: monitoraudio.com roksan.com blokhifi.com

Listen Again is a Monitor Audio Group podcast hosted by Matt Miller

Featuring Jon Swinstead and Linett Kamala

© Monitor Audio Group

Thank you for listening to our podcast

Watch the video version of this episode of Listen Again on YouTube

Follow us on social: @monitoraudio @roksanaudio @blokhifi

Learn more about Monitor Audio Group: monitoraudio.com roksan.com blokhifi.com

Listen Again is a Monitor Audio Group podcast hosted by Michael Johnson

Produced by Emily Beale - Recorded by Matt Miller - Edited by Ryan Keeble

© Monitor Audio Group

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Welcome to this special episode of Listen Again, the Monitor Audio Group podcast, where we are recording from the Museum of Youth Culture, which is about to open in Candon in London. Today I've got John Swinstead, who is the founder of Museum of Youth Culture, and Lynette Kamala, who is a DJ, an artist, and sound system queen of Lincoln Art. How are you doing today?

SPEAKER_00 0:30

We're good. Yeah, excellent.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

Yeah, we're getting there, right?

SPEAKER_00 0:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

We're getting there. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, why? First of all, I think why uh a youth culture museum?

SPEAKER_02 0:43

Uh right. Um the question. I mean, youth culture is well represented in terms of it exists in other museums out there. It's just not seen as youth culture. So I think there's plenty of youth stories within the museum sector, but no one looks at it and celebrates young people. Uh so it just seems like a very obvious gap. Um you know, everyone's young, it's not a niche really. Uh, literally everyone gets to be young, and actually, you kind of age around your youth. So I think opening a museum that celebrates that and gives a positive narrative about young people and all that they've achieved over the last hundred years seems quite fundamentally important.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

Yeah, and in the heart of youth culture, globally, probably.

SPEAKER_02 1:22

Camden is. Right? I mean, Camden, the most visited place possible, uh, I would say, you know, if you especially from a tourism point of view, but even from a national point of view, people come here to you know to experience youth culture. It's just synonymous with it. You know, there's no more, there's no borough with more music venues, and it's got that rich history for sure, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 1:42

How do you uh kind of see the space changing the youth narrative for for future generations looking back at the past of uh youth culture?

SPEAKER_02 1:55

Uh I think you know, we'd agree. It's like it's about it's about positive stories around youth. Um I've always argued that British culture, British identity would be pretty boring if we didn't have uh a really diverse mix of stories in it, and if young people hadn't achieved and done the things that they did. And I think celebrating that is you know, that's that's good. So I think we'll we'll just we'll we'll keep on just you know exhibiting, flowing, doing different things, looking for new perspectives, different ways of showing stories than other museums. We sort of we talked about it already, but this idea of a museum with a small M. We are a museum, we do things properly, but actually we like we really like things to be sort of done differently as well. You know, we're not part of the establishment. Yeah. We're kind of slightly raising a finger to it and saying, come on, you know, we can we can do things in a different way, we can show you how to do it.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

Yeah, I mean I suppose it's creating a different space rather than just a museum. It's uh more of like a living space where people can come and socialise, and there's educational aspects to it too. So Lynette, I know you're really involved in youth education around audio and uh other other aspects of art. Um tell me how you're gonna be using the space and how you've been involved in creating it.

SPEAKER_00 3:13

Yeah, I've worked with the team, we've created an amazing unique sound system, um, working with monitor audio, with the drivers that's in there, and it's really gonna offer an opportunity to make it more immersive, like really bringing exhibitions to life. Sound and music is an important soundtrack to youth culture, and it will form the backdrop to that as well. So it's been really fun working with the team. Can't wait for everyone's reactions when they see it, and like no other, but also like this space, it's gonna be really, I guess, shaped by the young people. That's what's exciting, and it's gonna be an opportunity for those intergenerational conversations. As John mentioned, we're talking about a hundred years here, you know, and that's what's exciting. The way that we can create things together, provide most importantly, space, as we've mentioned, and we might, you know, let's see what comes from this. It's not really it's really a DIY culture, isn't it? Like we're not. It is a bit of build it and see what comes.

SPEAKER_02 4:12

Obviously, we have a lot of plans, we've done a lot of experiences over the years. We've probably done five or six years of different pop-ups and events in the last 10. So we know a lot, but building a permanent and putting all the best bits in it. Yeah, well, let the people sort of make it what it is. You know, it's a museum anyone can be in. You can literally submit stuff and it'll be on the wall. Yeah, there's no there's no van Gogh's.

SPEAKER_01 4:33

There is a genuine lack of third places now for people to visit. How how do you think that that's gonna you know try and try and increase the amount of third spaces we have, uh especially in in London?

SPEAKER_02 4:46

I think it's really important. So many places are gone, right? So many places are gone. Places that young people can hang out, uh, meet people, be influenced by people, be positively influenced by people as well, which is really important. Uh, and people end up wandering around on the streets a lot of the time because there's nowhere to go, and it's just not healthy or or good. I think if we can be uh a flag bearer to say it's possible to do something incredible around youth and still make it economically viable, you know, then I think we can demonstrate that actually we shouldn't be closing our youth services. It's actually it's very short-sighted anyway. People just end up with people on the streets, which costs more money anyway. But if we can show that we can do this, this is something that other people can be inspired by and maybe create their own.

SPEAKER_00 5:29

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 5:31

Miss collaboration with Monitor Audio with us to help uh bring help you bring more audio experiences into the space. How are you using this audio uh as part of the exhibits?

SPEAKER_02 5:44

I so it I mean, obviously, I mean putting a putting hi-fi quality sound into an actual sound system, traditional sound system, as Lynette's done an amazing design job on. Uh so monitor audio being in that, I think it's uh it's architectural, it's sort of inspiring in its own way, it's quite awesome, literally, in the real sense of the word. It's big, and it obviously it sounds incredible as well. Uh no, I think look for us, I think uh without sound and audio, there isn't any really sort of style tribes or or all of that. I think the fashion follows the sound, I think sound comes first. Understanding what sound is fundamentally is really important. You care a lot about this as well. You know, it's so you know, we want sound to be one of the main senses you experience when you come. There'll be stuff to look at, of course. But listen to it, feel it, get the whole experience as well.

SPEAKER_00 6:41

What's your take on sound? 100%. It's it's something that goes much deeper within us and it kind of evokes memories as well. And I think you know, people will just literally hear a song and all the stories can flood from that, and and also the happy memories, you know. So um can't say too much, but we've got even one of our opening exhibitions, you know, that's being put together now, it will bring forth some of those stories, which is the the kind of personal human touch as well, which we're talking about. And I feel that everyone will be able to relate to this museum, you know, people will see themselves at some point within it, and that's what's really exciting as well. It feels so like you just feel like you could you belong here, you know. It's got a just warm feel to it, and I think uh as I said, that kind of emanates from the whole team and just the approach that's taken, which is very unique. Um, so really excited about that, and yeah, there's been a real big interest late within youth culture, currently right now, with this huge interest in listening and making and doing things with their hands and coming together. So I think it's a really good time and to create that space for that to happen.

SPEAKER_02 7:53

Yeah, building systems again.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

People are really building systems again, going DIY in this like culture of like you know, like social media perfection, every everyone needs to like show a face. Um, it's just nice to have something like authentic and you know, especially especially when you know there is higher youth unemployment, it's just just to have like be able to like bring young people in, show them the skills, especially with audio systems and you know hobbies that we can do offline. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:27

Yeah, I mean people, you know, people are doing stuff in their bedrooms basically, making music in their bedrooms, taking photography, doing this. It's in a way, this space allows people to come and do it in an environment which is like like a museum, right? Yeah, proper that with mentors, with help, you know, uh and with all the kitten facilities, and at no cost. Yeah. So, you know, it's a free creative space for young people and you know, and for visitors of all ages, you know, because we've all got our our memories. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:56

Going on to so one of the kind of centrepieces downstairs is uh Lynette's audio system as she's she's created. Um, what was the design process behind building that? Like what what why why did you choose that for the aesthetics? And what what's your own style? Uh, how did that contribute to the installation?

SPEAKER_00 9:15

Um, so I literally live and breathe sound system. I'm always thinking of things, and it starts off in my head, in my imagination, the creativity. And so being, as I said, given this opportunity to work with the team, and I'm like, okay, what would a sound system be like for the Museum of Eve Culture? Um, I love working with natural materials, wood itself, like what we're sat on itself, is sort of warm, beautiful material that again tells stories, you know. And um, my process would be to draw first, to have conversations, to really take in the whole archive, you know. You think about the collection and the photographs and the objects that are here. So I was thinking about what would this space need? And um then there's my sound and light installations that I create. So there's an ongoing series that I do called Bassetone, and um Phoenix is like another version of the Linkermart Bass Tone series, so we've called it Linkermart Bass Tone Mo Y C. And I think I've done about 10 different drawings and then working with like the amazing Matt, who's again like fabricated it with me. Like it's just been a joy, and the team, so it's been a collective effort, you know, talking about what what we would need, and um the most important thing is the sound, you know, as I say, and not only does it look amazing, and it's got my signature light as well, because I love I love having light in there and the globe with the colours for the museum, but I think people will really be impressed with how it sounds, which is really important to me as well. Um so yeah, it's gonna be a real feature, um, and it's it's definitely speaking to this increasing uh interest that I've seen globally as well. This is not just happening here in Britain, it's around the world with young people really having an interest in making speakers and sound and sound system culture. Um, so so yeah, it's a good timing.

SPEAKER_01 11:21

How do you what what do you think is the like best ways to try and bring younger people into audio, into sound systems?

SPEAKER_00 11:29

Um, I mean, everyone comes into it, I'll say for different ways, but I think having a space where you can ask those questions, you can be taught, you can learn that. So that again, we'll look at how we might program that, you know, and build that in so that people can learn how to do this. This is the DIY code, but also to kind of create an experiment as well. This isn't a blueprint, you know, the sound system downstairs, you won't be able to download that off anywhere, you know. It was created organically, and and that's what's beautiful. And so we want to encourage that as well. And um I would, you know, I would say, yeah, learning about the history, talking to different people like myself and others around with their experiences or sound, and again, you know, monitor audio itself has this rich history, the archives you know, looking back at how people before us worked with sound, and then creating what does it mean for now? Like, what can we make now? So um I feel that's that would be the way to do it. As I say, you know, often many people say I'd love to get involved with sound system culture. How do I do that? And so I run, for example, like programs with young people to make that happen, not just um playing the music, because often people just think about the performance, you know, creating the music or playing it, but what's important as well is like understanding the logistics, the technical side, the production side, the back-end stuff as well, which we will be, yeah, given those opportunities and learning experiences.

SPEAKER_02 12:56

And just building something like this is a space where people can come and go. All right, you made that. How did you make that? And like you say, you work with young people. A lot of what we do is around education, especially with a lot of young people coming in and then trying to show them you could you could have made that.

SPEAKER_03 13:11

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:11

Actually, it's just it's from here to there. It's just cutting wood and putting it together. Obviously, you've done it a lot and you're an expert, literally the queen. Uh, but but I think it's being able to show people that your dreams can come into reality. It's uh it's really important. Yeah, we will be running, having the system is kind of the beginning. We will be running a lot of workshops around it.

SPEAKER_00 13:31

Yeah. So absolutely, and you know, what's great with something like the archives here, you know, there's a picture of me in the archive of that moment as the child was 15 years old playing on a sound system at Nottinghill Carnival, and someone took a picture, you know, and we were experimenting then, you know. We I was like, why should we just play one turntable like our older brother sisters? We want to play across three. So, you know, this is this is the fun element of it, and having those pictures and the reference points as well will encourage conversation and dialogue and into inspire young people to get involved in absolutely, and they're doing amazing things now, capturing and documenting themselves as well, anyway, with the technology that they have at their disposal. But as we were saying, what's going to be really important is those conversations, those in-person conversations, which you don't you can't make that up, it's just priceless, and that's what this space will bring.

SPEAKER_01 14:27

Yeah, brilliant. Um, so what what were what what do you think were the biggest challenges with creating this space? Um, obviously it's it's a you know a large unit, but like when when you were looking at like curating exhibits, what what what kind of all is on the cutting room floor? What what like do you obviously you can't put everything in here?

SPEAKER_02 14:48

No, no, we can't. I the greatest challenge is I mean, just getting this space was the greatest challenge. Um, but then you know, very grateful to the landlords for for identifying with what we do and and going with it. It's you know it's an amazing opportunity. Um but you know the the the the challenge I suppose is getting people a bit to understand what this is. That's quite challenging at times. Uh why is it important? A lot of people question that, you know, and for me it's just obvious. Uh for yourself as well. I think for a lot of people who work with young children, it's it's you know, it's it's obvious, right? But a lot of people out there it isn't, and like I think people forget that. So I think that's the fundamentally that's the biggest challenge in terms of what we're putting in. Uh it'll just it'll evolve, it'll constantly evolve. So they'll we'll represent as much as we can. I really don't want us ever to be an organization with a big warehouse because stuff in drawers is doing nothing for anyone, yeah, you know. So we'll scan, 3D scan, photograph, do whatever we can, make digital as much as we can, so it's always on show or always available to people. But I think, yeah, it's yeah, we don't want to lock anything away. Uh but you it'll be every time someone comes here, it'll be fresh. Something will have changed.

SPEAKER_01 16:04

Why do you think monitor audio is a good fit for as a brand for the the space? Um, you know, what what what kind of installations have we done throughout the I think monitor audio is perfect.

SPEAKER_02 16:15

British, great history, lovely story, amazing team. Um and the whole experience of of working through this from start to finish has been incredible. Not to mention that obviously my first pair of speakers were in Monitor Audio. Oh, wow. R352, uh back in the 1980s, which I sadly, when I was about 20, painted. I was just like, why did I paint them? They're hideous. But it was a phase, but they still sounded good, you know. Um so for me, and that was me testing out, I was into audio, I was into good quality sound. So for me, it was really important that when we're doing that, yeah, let's let's rather than PA, which is easy to do, and everyone does, uh, and you just move it into place for a show or something. No, we wanted it to be an experience, and as we kind of touched on at the beginning of this, it's sound is actually the driver of it all. So I think sound drives fashion, sound drives the groups, the subcultures. The sound in many ways is the thing that comes first.

SPEAKER_03 17:11

Yeah, the dance.

SPEAKER_02 17:12

Somebody experiments with it, and then the dances follow, and with this, and it all I think it's you know, monitor audio is peak, you know, in terms of its uh quality. Uh and we're just absolutely thrilled that you guys said yes.

SPEAKER_01 17:26

Well, it's good to be it's great to be part of this space. It's said like it's it's do it's gonna do so much like public good, uh, especially for the youth in the area and even around the country. Yeah, well, we're looking forward to showing off your kitchen for the time and time to come.

SPEAKER_02 17:41

You know, it's it's I think people are gonna be wowed. I think that's a really nice thing.

SPEAKER_00 17:47

When they see the system of what you can do with the with monitor audio, you know.

SPEAKER_01 17:53

So to each of you, what does youth culture mean to you? And is there like something very specific? Is there like an item or a piece of music that you think sums up your youth?

SPEAKER_00 18:03

Gosh, that's a good question. Um I think you really kind of have no idea, maybe looking back at the time, but it's it shapes you, you know. The the experience that you you have can really, and I think the positive ones, I think, you know, I'm I'm touching upon that. Like looking back at me, I was that young girl that was a bit fearless, you know, she took didn't take no for an answer, and she shook up the status quo bit, and I think that's what I love about working with younger people as well. Like they do challenge things, they do question and say, Well, why not? And think of a better way, and things could be different. And I find that really refreshing, so that's that's what it would be for me, you know.

SPEAKER_02 18:45

Yeah, you say I've watched it with my own kids. There's a there's a day when they go to secondary school and uh suddenly you're not the oldest kid in the school with no one to be influenced by because you know you've been there, suddenly you are the smallest fish in a very big pond, and the people around you you're just looking at everything they do, and you absorb like a sponge, and that's the moment that's the moment that it all starts for me. Some people start earlier than that if they've got older brothers and sisters or different things like that. But I think generally the beginning of secondary school, people become almost the language of my children changed within a week. It's like you know, just words and attitudes and mannerisms, you know, whatever just suddenly happened, and it's just hilarious. So I think but that period is it's essential. It's the period where they push and they rebel, things change in their brain, though. Brain chemistry actually changes, it doesn't settle till you're in your late 20s. So, you know, without that, cultures don't change because it's the pushing of the limits, the not understanding risk. Uh all of that is what makes people experiment and do things, and that's why things develop, why they they become different over time. We just stay the same otherwise. Yeah, you know, so yeah, youth culture for me is just it's sort of that when you start referencing the rest of the world as opposed to just your primary school. It's sort of it's a big change.

SPEAKER_01 20:08

So the doors open to the public soon.

unknown 20:11

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 20:12

What can they expect when they come into the space? What programs are you running initially? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:17

Doors open 20th of June, uh, midday till eight o'clock every day. Uh sorry, Wednesday to Sunday. Um, Monday and Tuesday we do education stuff. Uh what can they expect? Uh there are four galleries. Um, there is an incredible sound system. There are loads of details throughout the space that constantly reference back to subculture, youth culture, history, uh, and sort of identity. Um, there is a cafe, a bar, and a reception, and and all sorts of visuals, and we've got a collection of objects, which is kind of insane. We've got some beautiful, beautiful objects uh which we're gonna be displaying all around the space. Um, but it's a place, I think most of all, it's not somewhere you come in and just look at all the pictures on the walls and then leave. Yeah. It's a place you come in and enjoy the space. You hang out, you know, come here and hang out. If teenagers come here and start dancing in the halls and practicing their K-pop moves, I'm totally I'm totally down with that. I think that would be a happy day if I walk in as a one. You know, it's a space for everyone. Come and enjoy it, come and hang out. Yeah. And we're sitting in a record store space as well. So you've got right now, yes, it's collaboration with Rough Trade. So it's a Rough Trade Museum, a youth culture collaboration, will be in this space literally here behind me. Um I don't know if it's on camera, but the visuals on the ceiling here by an artist called Mark Wigan, who is my first memory of youth culture. As a person who grew up in the countryside and came up to London and like with my girlfriend and wandered into this place called The Brain on Wardore Street in the late 80s. And this the walls were just covered in this stuff, covered in it. Um I was just like, oh, this is cool. Never seen this before. I might have to check this out. So it's that's almost the beginning of my journey. But all these little details around are very personal uh little sort of things going on. There's even a subculture table football table. Oh wow. So we've painted and decorated all of the subculture uh all of the players with different subcultures. So every everything we're doing, we're sort of transforming it into something relevant. So it's good fun. Incredible, incredible.

SPEAKER_01 22:25

So thank you so much, John and Lynette, for your time with us. Thank you so much, Matt. If you want to come down and see Museum of Few Culture yourself, the doors open on the 20th of June. All right, yep. Um please uh remember to like and subscribe to the podcast if you want to see more episodes. Thank you.