Sophia Wekesa: Responsibility in the Music Industry?

In the first episode of the series, Sophia Wekesa discusses the mental health of an artist with rap/R&B artist Hassan Maikali and his manager Setumo Bodibe.

In the second episode, the guests are jazz musician Kalle Salonen and his manager Teuvo Merkkiniemi (Pertin Valinta). Wekesa discusses with them what societal changes need to happen for the creation of art and music to be more accessible to disabled musicians. They explore how certain structures in the music industry might exclude disabled artists and what good practices have already been discovered to tackle these challenges.

In the third episode, the guest is singer-songwriter Liisa Akimof. They discuss what it takes to build a long career in music and how an artist’s age affects their music career. Akimof also shares insights on how to make a successful comeback!

In the fourth episode, the topic is LGBTQ+ identity and artistry. Wekesa is joined by artists Lxandra and Knife Girl (Lili Aslo). The episode discusses whether the music industry has queer-sensitive expertise and how norms have been challenged in the industry.

In the fifth episode, Wekesa discusses with managers Lilli Kehin and Kevin Reynolds about how to take care of the well-being of Black and Brown artists. They also explore what is needed to ensure that the art and culture of Black and Brown artists are represented in a respectful and ethical way. The episode is in English.

Photos and videos by Camilla Hanhirova.