There’s something powerful about music that doesn’t just live in your headphones—but in your history, your culture, and your identity.
That’s exactly the feeling I experienced at Black Sound London, an incredible exhibition currently showing at the Barbican Music Library. It’s running until Saturday 19th July 2025, and if you haven’t experienced it yet—you really need to add it to your list.
From the moment I stepped in, I was taken on a sonic journey through the evolution of British Black music. Featuring legends like Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Stormzy, and Wretch 32, the exhibition celebrates artists who didn’t wait for mainstream acceptance. They created their own platforms, built their own communities, and reshaped the sound—and spirit—of Britain.
The exhibition was deeply immersive.
You could listen to soundbites of legendary tracks, hear personal testimonies from music lovers, and even read memories scribbled on a nostalgic wall of post-it notes—where visitors shared the music shops and spaces that shaped their experiences with Black music in the UK.
It felt like a living archive, filled with love, struggle, creativity, and resilience.
Through vintage mixtapes, fly-posted walls, and classic magazine covers, Black Sound London explores how genres like grime and lovers’ rock became more than just music—they became movements.
Powerful statements of identity, resistance, and pride.
One of the things I loved most about the exhibition was how it actively invites the public to contribute. It’s not just about preserving history—it’s about building it, together. It was a beautiful reminder that the story of Black music in Britain is still being written—and we are all part of it.
However, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice a gap.
While the exhibition did an amazing job highlighting male artists, the lack of representation of Black female pioneers was disappointing. Aside from a few images of Sade, there was no sign of trailblazing women like Shystie, NoLay, Lioness, or Lady Leshurr—all of whom played critical roles in shaping the UK’s music scene.
Their absence was a missed opportunity in an otherwise brilliant showcase.
That being said, for a library-based exhibition, Black Sound London was incredibly bold, heartfelt, and moving. I left feeling nostalgic, inspired, and even more committed to celebrating and amplifying the voices that have paved the way.
🎥 Check out my video voiceover capturing my experience below:
Black Sound London runs until Saturday 19th July 2025 at the Barbican Music Library.
If you love music, culture, or want to understand the heartbeat of modern Britain—you need to experience this.
#BlackSoundLondon #BritishMusicScene #BlackMusicMatters #CulturalLegacy #SashaShantel
