Bristol Music Legends and Young People Unite to Create Original Track for 224 Youth Zone Opening
We’re incredibly excited to share some behind-the-scenes footage of Same Old Story – a brand-new track created to celebrate the opening of 224 Youth Zone.
The song is the result of a unique collaboration between Music Producer and Film Composer and 224 ambassador Geoff Barrow, jungle pioneer and 224 ambassador DJ Dazee, Jason from The Cause Bristol, singer-songwriter Tor Maries from Billy Nomates, Adam Devonshire, bass player for Bristol post-punk band Idles, and talented young people from 224.
Premiering for the first time at our Grand Opening on Saturday, Same Old Story will also be released across streaming platforms, giving everyone the chance to hear the creativity, energy and talent that helped bring the track to life.
The project began with a simple but powerful ambition: to give young people direct access to professional musicians, producers and creatives working at the highest level of the music industry. Over a series of sessions at Geoff Barrow’s Invada Studios, young people worked alongside established artists to write lyrics, record vocals and contribute to the production of an original song, gaining first-hand experience of how music is created from idea to release.
More than just making a song, the project provided a unique insight into the creative industries. Young people spent time in a professional recording studio, learned about the many roles involved in bringing music to life and experienced first-hand what a career in the sector can look like.
Working alongside experienced artists and creatives gave young people the opportunity to learn directly from professionals who have built successful careers in music. For many, it was their first experience of a professional studio environment, helping to build confidence, develop new skills and broaden their ambitions for the future.
The impact of opportunities like these was highlighted by Geoff Barrow in The Times this week, where he reflected on the life-changing role youth clubs played in his own journey. Writing about the opening of 224 Youth Zone, Geoff said: “As a teenager from a council estate who left school with no qualifications, I would never have had a music career without it.” He also highlighted how projects like Same Old Story give young people access to “the world of professional music production and jobs they might not have known they could do.”
This is exactly the kind of opportunity 224 Youth Zone aims to create. Through partnerships with local businesses, artists and organisations, young people can access experiences that inspire them, raise aspirations and help them develop the skills and confidence needed to achieve their goals.
The collaboration perfectly captures what 224 is all about: creating opportunities, building confidence, developing skills and helping young people discover their potential.
We’re hugely grateful to everyone who helped make this project possible. Most importantly, we’re proud of the young people whose creativity, commitment and enthusiasm helped shape Same Old Story into something truly special.
As we open the doors to 224 Youth Zone, this track is a celebration of what can happen when young people are given the space, support and opportunity to thrive.
Watch the behind-the-scenes film to see how the track was created and hear directly from the young people and artists involved.
Same Old Story premieres at the 224 Youth Zone Grand Opening on Saturday and will be available on all major streaming platforms from the same day.
Join Us at the Grand Opening
You can be part of this special moment by joining us for our Grand Opening on 20 June, where you’ll hear from the people who made this project happen and be among the first to hear Same Old Story, created by young people from 224 Youth Zone.
Grand Opening: 11am – 3pm
Official Opening Ceremony: 1pm