We chat to Tobi Read, founder of the Nottingham art collective SunFried Tribe, to learn about the project, how it began and what to expect from future ventures…
What is Sun-Fried Tribe?
It is essentially an oddball orchestra, kooky and thrifty, mixing and rapping on top of the kitchen grease - what would become of such...? Del Perro Sheeg, SunFried Stoneheads, Sunny Skies are now among the SunFried hits, to be our pride; malfunctions lead to breakthroughs!
A mobile phone was the producer’s musical tool; grab a donny and extract their God-given instrument. Recordings are punched into GarageBand so we can make it sound west. Our conjoined lives tucked away in a cheap gaff were turned into a blog, then a page, then an events collective where we would all contribute our art. Posters, edits, skits are supporting a platform for local DJs to express their musical ear and rare finds. SunFried Tribe is an energy permeating across the universe, like a fart in a cinema.
When did the idea for the collective come about?
In 2020, from a group of students living together in a house, all artists of different disciplines: the painter, the sculptor, the engineer, the psychologist, the graphic designer and the musician. With the help of certain substances (specifically herbal teas), we were able to expand our individual creative minds to a frugal soul that were riveted amongst the Wisdom of the Frog, the Eyes of the Fly and the Kings of Scrap.
Sheeg sings the words ‘my name is Del Perro’ and the flock are howling. We loved the music so much that we all spoke in harmony, the Mustard Man has nodded his approval and we are online, exposed [gasping emojis], a quick tippidy tap tap – “who are these men?!” The Golden Fleece where Widdim was found dodging a swift exile to the depths of musical purgatory with a grizzly bassline and a one-two skank. We packed our bags and set off north, with the basement of our beloved Pricky Pear restaurant as our destination… to be transformed in the SunFried style to host our first party. The rest is in the history textbooks. Due to the beautiful, youthful and welcoming soul of Nottingham, we have become exposed to the permissive eye. Shocked and gasping expressions; here, your very own off-the-cuff university boys focused on musical artistry and all things that come joyfully around it.
It will take time to bring light to the darkest systematic oppressions in the history of humankind… and all will come with a rollercoaster of rhythm
What are the aims of the collective?
How does it sound if Nottingham became the hub of cultural recreation? We will erode the wall that borders the disciplines of exhibitions and events. Gentrification and social segregation tackled by SunFried, providing the people with a voice and a medium for expression. We hope to fund homeless charities across Nottingham with frequent events and street parties. Bigger festivals, too, even partnerships! Crafting a strong, eccentric and fair music industry that exploits the boundaries between scatty and calm, sociable and non, nightclub and pub. We are people, not products, staying true to the music. Commercialisation is dead. Food is life. We can water our own plants!
Nottingham is the HQ and birthplace of SunFried Tribe, are you here to stay?
Good question. Yes, we drink the milk of Mother Notts' breast, but our ambition is for the 99% over Planet Earth. It will take time to bring light to the darkest systematic oppressions in the history of humankind… and all will come with a rollercoaster of rhythm. Perhaps we ourselves won’t venture across the universe - however, our energy will.
We’re all scared but continue fighting these fears the way we always have: breaking out of the cage
As the founder, would you consider yourself the leader of the tribe?
The logo is our leader. I may have dedicated myself to the Tribe more than other members, but we share an interest of irregular, makeshift, crude and sustainable art. We like to call ourselves the proletariats. Everybody has played a huge part in its development; we are either creating, researching or having a big chat about it. So now it’s flexible like that. Each of us are allowed to set up an event on our own device, either individually or by teaming up with a fellow artist. We are all under the same sun!
Where do you see SunFried Tribe in a year?
I see us cooking up good food from stalls in the middle of a sectioned-off road, or a park, or in a shopping centre; we just love food. Reduce homelessness - we want to fund and support charities across Nottingham that aid the homeless. The Golden Fleece will be a hotspot for the artistic minds, SunFried will rise and (never) set in venues across England, experimenting, setting up fundraisers and saving up for ambitious opportunities! We’re all scared but continue fighting these fears the way we always have: breaking out of the cage. Flower power, gay rights, cultural diversity and more equips the people with the collective hand to inspire, pioneer and evolve the future of the emerging generation.
SunFried Tribe regularly perform music around Nottingham - follow their social media to keep up-to-date with gigs and events
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