Beat Routes works with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to encourage creative expression, and show them how to document cultural heritage through research, oral history, film and photography.

The Rewind project focused on the heritage of professional studio recording techniques. 40 young people from the Slough area – experienced in using digital technologies to record and develop tracks – were introduced to earlier techniques and analogue hardware for capturing and developing music.

A series of workshops in Slough gave them the opportunity to explore and experiment with some of these technologies. The project then moved to Snap Studios in North London, where recording sessions began and participants were able to experience the process of producing tracks live with multiple musicians in the same space.

The process revolutionised participants’ attitudes to 20th century musical heritage, allowing them to discover and develop skills from the past and apply them to their own writing and music-making. 

A project participant said: "You need to start from the beginning for you to truly understand it. I think a lot of people who make music, they just get a laptop and use the software without really knowing the history behind music. I think that’s important."