Interviews: What does Northern Soul in Sheffield mean to you?
What does Northern Soul in Sheffield mean to you?
Pete McKee
Sheffield Artist
Age: 53
"Despite this not being a direct answer from Pete, I can tell you that Northern Soul in Sheffield is important to Pete as he has a strong passion for music and subcultures, which he regularly explores in his work. He is a proud Sheffielder and the music and creativity of the North is something he takes a lot of interest in."
Ella Mcinerney
Works in Sheffield
Age: 20
"When I think of northern soul in Sheffield, I think of the working class. The way that the working class is often portrayed through things such as media has had a common theme, that being quite colourless, bleak, and often emotionally strained. The working class have often been shown as people who live in struggle, depression, with minimal celebration due to the often difficult circumstances they have faced throughout history. However, when northern soul was brought to England, Sheffield in particular, I feel that from what I have seen, the working class adopted it. The fashion and the dancing seemed to inject colour and excitement into what seemed like a bleak time for people of a working class status. The New Orleans culture that was exposed to the people of Sheffield completely juxtaposed what they were used to, the fast paced movement, lively music and carefree attitude was so different to how they were usually portrayed and viewed by others. The way I see it, it gave them a distraction. Something new, and exciting. The way British culture adopted another is something that I find fascinating, and although northern soul and what it looks and sounds like in modern day Sheffield has changed, I believe the very core of what it meant when it first arrived here remains. The fashion is something that has stayed with us, and so has the music and dancing style, although it has evolved and become modernised, it is still very much an adopted piece of our culture, often still Influencing bands, clothing brands, makeup brands and film. It brought us together when it first arrived, and it brings us together today, through a shared love of ‘letting go’, being free, and enjoying something a whole lot different to what we are used to. To conclude, northern soul means a lot to me, as being northern myself, I believe the charismatic energy and excitement that it brought to the working class made them feel a sense of togetherness, being proud of who they are despite what may have been difficult circumstances, and whatever setting you may be focusing on, be it fashion, music, beauty etc, it is highly important to remember the influences and people behind the magic. In a world where cultural differences can tear us apart, how brilliant that in Britain we have adopted and accepted cultural beliefs and celebrations, and we can enjoy them with the originators and other people from around the world on a daily basis."
Jacob Driver
Lives in Sheffield
Age 21
"To me, Northern Soul has taken on something much bigger than what it ever intended to be. To me, Northern Soul is a characteristic in a person that is shared throughout Sheffield. The feeling of belonging wherever you are in the city, the happiness despite the rubbish weather, the desire to provide and succeed against hardships set in place. Northern Soul is embodied in Sheffield and the idea of Sheffield. It's the buzz that you can feel walking into any pub, bar, coffee shop or cafe, from Division Street to Kelham Island. Musicians and Artists taking the pent up anger and frustrations laid upon them from people in higher power making decisions for people that came a generation before them, and creating something so meaningful and powerful for so many people in the same position as them. Northern Soul is the thing that makes anyone, young and old, rich and poor, feel like they can go on to achieve higher; to be the next Alex Turner, Jarvis Cocker or Jessica Ennis-Hill. To me, Northern Soul in Sheffield makes Sheffield what it is today."
Pete McKee
Sheffield Artist
Age: 53
"Despite this not being a direct answer from Pete, I can tell you that Northern Soul in Sheffield is important to Pete as he has a strong passion for music and subcultures, which he regularly explores in his work. He is a proud Sheffielder and the music and creativity of the North is something he takes a lot of interest in."
Ella Mcinerney
Works in Sheffield
Age: 20
"When I think of northern soul in Sheffield, I think of the working class. The way that the working class is often portrayed through things such as media has had a common theme, that being quite colourless, bleak, and often emotionally strained. The working class have often been shown as people who live in struggle, depression, with minimal celebration due to the often difficult circumstances they have faced throughout history. However, when northern soul was brought to England, Sheffield in particular, I feel that from what I have seen, the working class adopted it. The fashion and the dancing seemed to inject colour and excitement into what seemed like a bleak time for people of a working class status. The New Orleans culture that was exposed to the people of Sheffield completely juxtaposed what they were used to, the fast paced movement, lively music and carefree attitude was so different to how they were usually portrayed and viewed by others. The way I see it, it gave them a distraction. Something new, and exciting. The way British culture adopted another is something that I find fascinating, and although northern soul and what it looks and sounds like in modern day Sheffield has changed, I believe the very core of what it meant when it first arrived here remains. The fashion is something that has stayed with us, and so has the music and dancing style, although it has evolved and become modernised, it is still very much an adopted piece of our culture, often still Influencing bands, clothing brands, makeup brands and film. It brought us together when it first arrived, and it brings us together today, through a shared love of ‘letting go’, being free, and enjoying something a whole lot different to what we are used to. To conclude, northern soul means a lot to me, as being northern myself, I believe the charismatic energy and excitement that it brought to the working class made them feel a sense of togetherness, being proud of who they are despite what may have been difficult circumstances, and whatever setting you may be focusing on, be it fashion, music, beauty etc, it is highly important to remember the influences and people behind the magic. In a world where cultural differences can tear us apart, how brilliant that in Britain we have adopted and accepted cultural beliefs and celebrations, and we can enjoy them with the originators and other people from around the world on a daily basis."
Jacob Driver
Lives in Sheffield
Age 21
"To me, Northern Soul has taken on something much bigger than what it ever intended to be. To me, Northern Soul is a characteristic in a person that is shared throughout Sheffield. The feeling of belonging wherever you are in the city, the happiness despite the rubbish weather, the desire to provide and succeed against hardships set in place. Northern Soul is embodied in Sheffield and the idea of Sheffield. It's the buzz that you can feel walking into any pub, bar, coffee shop or cafe, from Division Street to Kelham Island. Musicians and Artists taking the pent up anger and frustrations laid upon them from people in higher power making decisions for people that came a generation before them, and creating something so meaningful and powerful for so many people in the same position as them. Northern Soul is the thing that makes anyone, young and old, rich and poor, feel like they can go on to achieve higher; to be the next Alex Turner, Jarvis Cocker or Jessica Ennis-Hill. To me, Northern Soul in Sheffield makes Sheffield what it is today."
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