Urthboy + Josh Pyke collaborate with Life Without Barriers kids in a track via The Precinct Studios

Australian artists Urthboy and Josh Pyke have collaborated with Life Without Barriers’ kids in care to create an original hip hop track, which debuted at #3 in the Australian iTunes hip hop charts.

The project began when Life without Barriers approached The Precinct Studios to help empower young people in care whilst raising awareness within the community.

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Says Tara Dimopoulos, Life Without Barriers: “After hearing findings from the CREATE Foundation 2013 report card, I was inspired to create an opportunity for young people in care to have a stonger voice – not only across the organization but more broadly the care system and also the community.”

The Precinct, after gaining in-depth insights from the kids, caseworkers and the system, created and produced a campaign around the social collaboration between young people in care and popular Australian hip hop artist, Urthboy.

Says Henry Motteram, The Precinct’s managing director: “Music is such a powerful language. Giving these kids the opportunity to work with an artist they respect and to have their stories play out through the lyrics has been an amazing experience for all of us.”

The collaboration unfolded on a private Facebook group between young people in care and Urthboy, followed by a face to face session to share their personal stories.

Says Urthboy: “The things that emerged from the conversations that I had in person with these kids was some of the issues that are really important… or what some of the kids think is not talked about enough.”

Urthboy then teamed up with Josh Pyke and producer Sulo, to turn these stories into a track – all the while, sharing his progress with the kids over their private Facebook group.

The track, titled ‘Someone Else’s House’ launched at the CREATE Foundation Conference generating a positive response within the sector.

Says Claire Robbs, CEO, Life Without Barriers: “I could actually hear the words of young people in care in the song. It wasn’t as though someone had taken their words and done something else with it, it was actually what they say to us and what they say about their lives.”

With input from the kids, carers and Urthboy, The Precinct’s visual storytellers, Beto and Fernanda, used a hand drawn illustration style and cut out animation to explore the themes of hopes, fears and dreams expressed in the lyrics. The end result is a clip that is as emotive as it is engaging and demonstrates the artistic flare of this Brazilian duo.

The track and music video was released to the public last week by Triple J, supported by a story on Hack and a social media campaign.

All proceeds help fund grants and programs through the CREATE Foundation.

Executive Producer: Henry Motteram

Mastered by Joe Carra at Crystal Mastering