News article
David Gray joins songwriting group at Crisis Skylight London
Homeless and vulnerably housed members of Crisis Skylight London's songwriting group were able to pick the brains of one the country's biggest recording artists when they welcomed David Gray into their regular session.
Members were treated to acoustic performances of a number of tracks including Babylon and a Bob Dylan classic and crucially were able to get down to the nitty-gritty of songwriting with the multi-million album-selling artist.
The event gave members the chance to pose questions to David about his and their own songwriting and at the heart of the session was a group critique of Babylon - David's most successful hit to date.
David said: "I had an amazing night at the Crisis centre last week where I enjoyed a lively and passionate session with the songwriters group during which we talked about writing and music, and then played and listened to each others songs.
"I was witness yet again to the great cathartic power of making music, particularly for people who are at times struggling to make sense of their world. The simple process of recording then singing out your feelings provides a vital outlet and emotional release, and it was obvious from the short time I spent at the centre just how precious the songwriting sessions were to all involved. It was a real honour to be invited along."
David shared his own experiences of the ups and downs of song writing and listened to songs written and performed by people in the group. Much of the discussion focussed on the origins and different interpretations of the word Babylon itself and how creating music is not just about writing, but editing.
Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: "How inspiring to have an artist like David Gray visit Crisis. At our Skylight Centres the creative arts are a vital element of building self confidence and equipping members with the tools and ability to leave homelessness behind, so his visit was particularly poignant.
"The members of the song writing group gained a real boost from being able to ask questions of such a successful artist and there was a fantastic atmosphere. We hope David enjoyed the visit as much we enjoyed having him at Skylight London."
The evening event took place at Crisis Skylight London which is an award winning education, training and employment centre for homeless and vulnerably housed people in East London. It offers practical and creative workshops in a supportive and inspiring environment together with formal learning opportunities that lead to qualifications and finding work.
