DJ/Producer Mazoel

Josh Allen was referred to Andrew Marvell Youth Centre for support with emotional resilience when he was in Year 6/7.  He was shy, didn’t look people in the eye, and dare not ask people for things.  At the same time, Santino (DJ tutor) was working as a Voice & Influence worker for Hull City Council on the HeadStart project.  When Santino first met Josh, he was producing Trance music in a small room in the youth centre.  He didn’t seem to understand the theory and structure of the music so Santino told him he would produce better tunes if he learned to DJ.  Santino worked 1:1 with Josh on the FMC project and he earned a Discover Arts Award.  Josh suggested Santino invite James Orvis (his local hero) to his skill share performance and laughed thinking it was impossible.  Santino made it happen.  The look on Josh’s face!

His love of music really comes through.  He goes out into the countryside now and makes his own DJ performance films.  Nobody else we teach does anything like this.  He even ‘borrowed’ his mum’s ironing board because he didn’t have a proper DJ equipment stand!  Josh loved doing the Arts Award so much he decided to go for his Silver Award.

The manager of the youth centre invested in Santino's project as part of this.  The idea was for Santino to teach Josh ‘how to teach’ DJ’ing so that he could deliver his own workshops.  We could not have dreamed of this three years ago, but now Josh has taught quite a few younger people at the youth centre.  His biggest achievement has been to teach another young person on the autism spectrum.  He and Josh didn’t use to get along, arguing over who could use the computer!

Josh can now look anyone in the eye, hold a serious conversation, and assertively put his thoughts across.  He has applied to the Navy and expects to go in by October.

“I have been through some tough shit, and music production and DJ’ing helped me through it”.