Community
Olivia Stock
12 January 2024, 12:10

Saffron and Black Artist Database announce collaborative series of online music production workshops

Guest hosts include B.A.D. co-founder NIKS alongside Coco Em and [M]

Photos of NIKS, Coco Em and [M] on a poster for Saffron and Black Artist Database’s new collaborative series

Saffron and Black Artist Database (B.A.D.) have announced a new collaborative series of online music production workshops for women, trans, and non-binary people worldwide.

The three-month programme – based on Saffron’s regular Tech Dissect series – will kick off on 31st January with an ‘Introduction to Ableton Live’ workshop hosted by Coco Em. Inspired by the Nairobi-based artist’s Sim Sima program, the online session is designed for absolute beginners eager to explore their musical potential on Ableton.

For the second workshop, taking place on 29th February, fellow Kenyan trailblazer [M] will offer an introduction to music coding software Sonic Pi and explore how it can communicate with Ableton Live. The third and final workshop of the residency series will be hosted by B.A.D. founder NIKS, who will share simple techniques to build the structure of a track from beginning to end.

Access to the sessions is free for members of Saffron’s online community, Saffron Members Club. Membership starts at just £5.50 per month and provides access to regular online workshops, alongside an online community space, video masterclasses, free music tech tools, discounts and more.

Check out the full workshop schedule below and find out more information here.

Last summer, Saffron launched a fundraising campaign to help it continue its vital work advancing gender equality within the music industry. You can support Saffron by heading to the group's GoFundMe campaign.

The record label arm, Saffron Records, also put out the first single from producer Marla Kether in February, followed by feature collaborations with Onipa frontman K.O.G., Solomon O.B. and Arlo Parks’ keys player, Madeleine.

Black Artist Database also launched a new label in 2023 with a compilation of club-ready tracks made by Black women from around the world, ‘Synergy’. Read Christine Kakaire’s interview with curators NIKS and Tanya Akinola on the label’s inception here.

31st Jan – An Intro To Ableton Live w/ Coco Em – 7.30pm GMT
29th Feb - Software Synergy: Sonic Pi & Ableton w/ [M] – 7.30pm GMT
28th Mar – Structuring Your Tracks w/ NIKS – 7.30pm GMT