The Bop Live 2022 is a community music festival produced by Croydon based company SDS Entertainment and funded by Arts Council England. The Bop live showcases grass root talent from the borough of Croydon and surrounding areas. It was curated to utilise the very few spaces available in the centre of Croydon where musicians could express themselves in the form of live performances. Over the years an array of venues have been closed leaving these artists with limited access to creative spaces. The Bop Live has filled that quota in the form of this festival - the first of its kind in the borough of Croydon. 2020 saw the likes of artists such as Asha Elia, Still Shadey, Mychelle and DXVL headline across stages/venues, Limitless VR, The Venue On Middle St (formerly Project B), Reggae Masters and The Front Room. Supporting artists included Deanna Chase, Le3 bLACK, Emily Mutaako and Boy Nash who has since gone on to work with Dj Semtex and perform on Charlie Sloth’s Beats Radio show.
Originally birthed during the pandemic as virtual only, SDS brings a hybrid version of the festival for 2022 now that the world is back to some kind of normality. The festival consists of 12 part live and part streamed performances across 3 stages/venues, working with PWR Magazine as curators for one of the stages. On February 5th, like an award show, audience members enjoyed viewing pre-recorded performances on a big screen followed by live performances with an in-house band, all taking place within The Front Room venue in Croydon.
PWR: What inspired you to start music?
Alichè: Music has been a part of my life since I was brought into the world. It’s always been a safe haven for me. Somewhere to go, think and feel when listening and somewhere to express and release when writing. So really there’s never been any other option than to have music follow me through my life and future.
PWR: Who are your main Influences and why?
Alichè: Maya Angelou, Stevie Wonder, Prince and my mum.
Maya Angelou is honestly one of the most inspirational souls. I'd advise anyone who hasn't already to read her autobiographies because the things this woman went through and then went on to do and achieve is just incredible!
Not only do I adore Stevie Wonder & Prince as musicians but I love the way they didn't let genres dictate the music they've created, twisting and styling different genres into their sound not the other way round. As artists and musicians we have to be brave with our sound, sure of ourselves and our capabilities; something these two sure are/were.
Then my Mum because I’ve first hand watched her start her own non-profit company in our living room whilst having a job, attending art school, freelancing and being a mother of two and juggling it all until it’s now she runs a top contemporary extraordinary visual theatre company that is globally recognised and rated; and also has two very proud adult children.
PWR: How was your experience of being part of the Bop live?
Alichè: I loved it! Any opportunity to share my music and creations with people will always be a blessing. It's needed after a weird two years of real uncertainty especially in the live and creative worlds, so I'm grateful to be invited by PWR Magazine and welcomed into The Bop Live festival with warm open arms.
PWR: How do you create your music? Do you wait for something to happen in your life or do you just enter the studio and the magic happens?
Alichè: Well, being super emotional and very self-aware means I never really have to 'wait' for anything to happen, there’s always something bubbling under the surface, some form of reflection to be done or something I'm over thinking. Which can either flow out or can sometimes be harder to really tap into, getting in the studio and collaborating with other musicians pulls it out of you even more. Even the times I've felt numb and disconnected and demotivated have been some of the times I've written my most honest and vulnerable words.
PWR: What does 2022 have in store for you?
Alichè: Consistency. And I mean that in terms of giving it to myself as well as my music. My career, my health and my mental are my top 3 priorities this year. I’ve been working on a lot creatively whilst working on myself and I’m excited to continue doing so and sharing it all through 2022.
Find Alichè on social media: @itsaliche
