This year, Surfing Sofas, the inspiring spoken word poet and Museum of Homelessness artist in residence, is making waves with his new album, "Objects and Concepts”.
This vital concept album, released late last year and produced by acclaimed musicians Renell Shaw and Camilo Tirado, in partnership with Lyrix Organix, delves deep into the invisible stories of the UK's homeless community.
In 2024, Surfing Sofas has been spreading the message of the album and will be appearing at festivals and conference keynotes. We are delighted to announce that, as part of this, Surfing Sofas will be appearing for an unplugged homecoming for one night only at the museum on 8th August.
About the contributors
Surfing Sofas is a social justice poet and community artist, bringing a personal history of homelessness, racism, trauma, and mental health to life, inspiring audiences both in workshop rooms and on stage. He's was also co-curator for the One Festival of Homeless Arts 2023 and has performed at renowned venues like Tate Modern and Tottenham Football Stadium.
In his new album, through the magic of poetry, music, and archive recordings, Surfing Sofas weaves a tapestry of nine tracks, each through the lens of nine objects from the museum's collection. He layers new meanings upon them while sharing the original stories behind these objects, creating a profound yet hopeful album that reflects society's housing crisis.
As the first-ever poet in residence for Museum of Homelessness, Surfing Sofas guides us through each object, offering a raw and moving re-interpretation of their essential truths. His powerful storytelling, combining humour, poetry, and a dynamic soundtrack, echoes the styles of artists like George The Poet, Leonard Cohen, and Loyle Carner. This year Justin will be taking his work to new audiences, including appearances with the Soul Sanctuary Choir, Love Supreme Festival, and the Museums Association conference keynote.