May - July 2022

In2 Darlington ‘22

  • Supported by Darlington Borough Council and hosted at Darlington Hippodrome, In2 is a three year project to promote engagement with the arts among primary school pupils in the Darlington area.

  • Over the course of 6 weeks I ran songwriting workshops with four groups of year 6 pupils who were leaving primary and starting secondary school. This had been identified by the council as a key area of concern in and around Darlington, and made for good inspiration!

  • Given that they were moving to a new school, the participants were going through emotional flux, so I designed the projects to be as fun, free and non-prescriptive as possible. I encouraged the children to channel and harness their often subversive rebellious attitudes into something creatively freeing.

  • Using a mixture of games, choice and chance, we wrote beats, melodies and chords that worked together. Back in the studio, I used this musical material as building blocks to structure the songs. I encouraged the young people to sing as freely and joyfully as possible, with a mixture of individual and group voices making the final cut.

  • Film maker Andy Berriman gathered footage from the sessions and made a music video for each of the four songs, which you can watch below.

Northwood Primary (Group A):

‘Dreaming’

  • Verse 1

    I’m in my favourite safe place lying in the sun

    Is this really happening to me, to everyone?

    How far we have come from where we begun!

    I don’t know if I’m dreaming, pinch me am I dreaming?

    Chorus

    I’m dreaming day and night

    A remix of a lullaby

    The stars calling out to me

    A story that never ends

    Verse 2

    One night, not that long ago

    When the moon was high

    I was riding on a dragon in the midnight sky

    Far from the world

    My life had unfurled

    With high expectations

    I push to the finish

    I push to the finish

    I push to the finish

    With high expectations

    I push to the finish

    (CHORUS)

    Rap

    (Mic check 1,2,3)

    Open your eyes to the same old game

    To survive out here you have you to practice your aim

    Is this game over or starting anew?

    This feels familiar..

    Déja vous?

Northwood Primary (Group B):

‘Stand up Tall’

  • Verse 1

    Every day in the witch tower

    I’m tryna gather more power

    Because I’m spooked and scared

    Rooms in the new school gloomy as my dark brown hair

    Yeah I’m a dangerous gamer but today’s made me tamer

    I’m moving to adventures big adventures new,

    But I’ll never forget you

    Chorus

    When I’m in a warm bed late at night

    I know it’s the best time of our lives

    Never gonna know if I don’t try

    If I never try, I’ll never fly

    (x 2)

    Verse 2

    Flying all the way to Disneyland

    I’m in a fairy-tale

    Yeah I’m flying from my old primary school

    But it’s cool

    It’s a magical mysterious ride

    And my friends are on side

    Bridge

    Think about what the future may hold

    Stand up tall brave and bold

    In the future let it be less crazy

    Clean the oceans, stop being so lazy!

Corporation Road Primary School:

‘Remix of a Lullaby ’

  • Verse 1

    We will come, we will go, we will forever glow

    We will fly, say goodbye, the gates will shine to a brand new time

    We’ve done SATs and we’ve passed, and we’ve had such a blast

    We will come, we will fly, the day has come to say goodbye

    the day has come to say goodbye

    the day has come to say goodbye

    Verse 2

    It's time to be, the best of me, a thank you to Miss Sowerby

    This is our track, don’t look back, an honorary shout out to Mr Brack

    Verse 3

    Won’t deny, we will cry, and give all our hugs goodbye

    We will hope, we will cope, wishing all our friends good luck

    We will stick together, friendship is forever

    We will go, enjoy the past, and look forward to the future - Huh!

    Look forward to the future

    Look forward to the future

    Bridge

    I like my cloudless eyes

    I’m always covered in pen!

    Create stories with pictures, that’s how you make good friends.

    If you find my ideas wild, like a flock of ravens

    Then I’ll smile my full moon smile

Firthmoor Primary School:

‘New Chapters’

  • Verse 1

    Outside my new school

    Wondering where I’m going

    Feel lost in my own thoughts

    Not knowing

    Not knowing, not knowing

    Not knowing who

    Verse 2

    But I see new chapters

    And journeys of learning

    My worries are withering away

    I’m ready to explore

    Make new friends and more

    Cos life has to move on up it’s true!

    Chorus

    The sun is now rising

    The sun is now rising

    Oh oh!

    The sun is now rising

    The sun is now rising

    Oh no,

    I think it might be time to go

    Verse 3

    A brand new canvas

    A fresh new start

    Walking on a new path into the dark

    There’s a tsunami

    Of mixed emotions

    We are leaving our friends behind

    But you never know

    What’s coming next in your life

    So are you a friend or a foe?

    Bridge

    I’m happy to join a new school

    And I’m feeling rather fine

    Looking forward to making friends

    And laughing all the time x3