WOBBLING ABOUT & ROCKING OUT – A platform for disabled musicians

Interview with Dom Smith

1. Can you please describe us your platform “Wobbling About & Rocking Out”?

Thanks for asking! Wobbling About and Rocking Out is a platform centred around promoting disability and mental health awareness locally (in Hull and the East Riding) as well as nationally, and internationally where appropriate.

2. How did you decide to run this platform and what is your feedback so far?

I was working at the Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship in Boston, US. There are these incredible people there, right? These young people who are building the next generation of robotic limbs and such, you can read some of the interview series I did here, if its of interest: http://entrepreneurship.mit.edu/author/dom/

Anyway, the entrepreneurial ecosystem there is so intense. They push everyone at MIT – whether it’s staff, students or a Storyteller/Journalist in Residence like me. They wanted to know what else I was gonna do with my life. I would say, ‘Oh, yeah! I edit Soundsphere magazine and have done for ten years…’, and they’d be like… “Yeah, but what else!?” Haha!

WARO came about because I then questioned whether I just wanted to write about music, or if I wanted to do more….like maybe help people see how having a disability doesn’t have to stop you from being creative, or starting your own business. Because of my short time at MIT, I was able to find a tonne of drive and determination to come back to the UK, go back to my roots and start something that I think has reinvigorated my career, and got me excited about journalism again.

3. What is the benefit for a disabled musician if he/she joins your platform?

I think it depends on how you think about it. I’ve always wanted to tell stories, and to report on good people doing good shit with their time and energy! WARO is an opportunity for people to tell their story! Are you in a band, and have a disability? I want to hear from you. Do you have a creative business, and have a disability, challenge and/or mental health issue? I want to hear from you too!

4.  How did BBC  get in touch with you regarding your platform?

Oh, man! That’s my good buddy, Kofi Smiles! Kofi has the best smile in all of Hull! I think he is officially the face of the place! Haha! He’s one of the nicest, and most prolific dudes in the area, and he (alongside a great team of people at BBC Radio Humberside) decided to feature me. They’ve also done stuff on an incredible band from the area who promote mental health awareness in theur songs (NEWMEDS), body positivity (Rishi Bhaskara [Positivity Poppa] and Milly Smith [SelfLoveClub] and the deaf community (Elephant In The Room, and Rexy Adventures). Please do go check out their content: https://www.facebook.com/BBCNoFilter/

5.  You also run a magazine a label and you are an active musician as well. How do you share your time between all these demanding activities?

I need to sleep more! I try and have regular coffee/tea meetings, and spend time with all the people that matter most to me as often as I can. I think forward planning has saved me from losing everyone! Ha!

I just make sure I have to physically leave my office and go and see someone, or go get food so that I can be as productive as possible when I get back. I do believe that the secret to a happy life is to stay busy, but to take enough time out, and to surround yourself with positive inspiring people. With Soundsphere, it’s a 24/7 job if I allow it to be – it’s taken me all over the world, and we’ve been able to help some incredible young people get the careers in journalism (and the wider creative industries) that they’ve always wanted to. I am proud of that, but yeah…it doesn’t leave much time to rest.

The band? The Parasitic Twins! I’m lucky enough to be able to share the stage with a lad who I consider to be my brother, Max Watt. Man, his riffs are insane. I mean, he’s a miserable bugger, and his lyrics reflect that, but he is one of the most creative, and talented souls I’ve ever me – I’m lucky enough to have met a lot of ‘em. It’s grindcore and doom metal, so it’s pretty bloody niche, but we’re happy because quite a few people have dig it so far!

I also have a post-punk band called Mary and The Ram which I’m really excited about doing more stuff with later in the year, and a drone band called The Hellish Trembling Infernal Nightmare Generator (The Thing), which is just really good fun!

With The New Anonymous record label, there are cool things happening too! We’re gonna be putting out some new stuff from a killer band called Waste Of Paint! So, watch this space!

6. What is the current situation in UK about disabled fans/musicians and their access to the musical resources?

It could definitely be better! That said, I feel that disabled people who are keen on becoming musicians need to be open to trying to find ways around their disability – wherever possible – so that they can play in a way that makes them comfortable.

For example, when I play, I use the kick pedal pretty sparingly, and I don’t use a foot with my hi-hat – that freaks some people out, but it suits The Parasitic Twins’ genre of slow and heavy doom metal, and it means that I’m not forcing myself to do something that would mean I was in agony for an entire set!

That being said, some people with Cerebral Palsy will be able to use a hi-hat and a kick pedal loads, it’s just each to their own! If you don’t have use of your legs at all, work really hard to use your hands in different ways (obviously this is specific to people who play drums). I’ve seen people play guitar with their toes! I’ve seen vocalists in wheelchairs! I know an internationally renowned DJ with Autism. These things are things, and you can do them too.

I think the main thing to stress really, is that nobody is going to do it for you, and you have to make the effort, a lot of the time at least! Remember that people are unsure about what they don’t understand, and so as a disabled musician you have to make people aware of what you can do…by doing it. Some people will love it, some people might not, but do it for you first and foremost.

7. Did you have any support from local or international bands so as to change the situation?

I think the more conversations that are had, the better things will be. There are accessible venues in Hull (like O’Riley’s) making more of an effort, but that’s because guys like Darren Bunting and Louie Scott who run it will listen to what people need! Other people with spaces in our area like Mark Page [The Sesh], and Casey Stead and Mat Oliphant [The Adelphi] are making strong efforts to change how they do things too. I think nationally, it’s about awareness – for me, how is someone supposed to understand what it’s like to have a disability if they haven’t lived with one, or if they don’t know someone with one? It’s nobody’s fault, there just needs to be more awareness, and conversation between bands, and venues. Luckily, there are wonderful platforms now, including Attitude Is Everything who as an organisation are working really hard, and then outlets like the aforementioned BBC No Filter trying to spark that conversation.

8. What do you suggest as a potential solution to solve the current issue of non access to the music?

Conversation. Absolutely. More disabled artists need to be e-mailing venues in advance of playing asking if allowances can be made – like someone might do with a venue if they were going to watch a band. A person with a disability should, but unfortunately cannot expect a venue to have made reasonable adjustments without prior warning. That is massively unfortunate, I know! But, like I said…people that haven’t lived with it won’t be able to understand, so please don’t fret or get angry – try and educate and inform venues about how they can be better by contacting them in advance of you playing. Then, maybe they’ll be like…. “Oh, there are disabled musicians who are gonna play here, so I guess I’d better get a ramp, or some other aid put in.” All that said, if venues aren’t willing to help, then they should be called out but I’ve never had that experience, so far.

9. Do you think that the labels have the power to change the current policy for the disabled musicians and fans?

If these labels are made aware, yes definitely! Attitude is Everything are doing incredible work in this area.

10. How can someone help you with your effort by donating or other action that will be helpful for you?

You’re helping right now! Cheers! Spread the word. Tell people we are here! Share your story and/or experience with me! I’d love to hear from you!

Info: https://www.facebook.com/WobblingAboutAndRockingOut/

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