1Xtra Talks: My Deaf Life – Full Transcript
On Sunday 9 December, 1Xtra Talks hosted a discussion about life as a deaf music fan. Reece Parkinson was joined by Troi Lee and rapper M.C. Geezer, the founders of Deaf Rave.
To make the 1Xtra Talks episode accessible for all music fans, we have uploaded the full transcript from the discussion below.
WWSReece Parkinson: [00:00:01] On the show tonight we are finding out what life is like for young music fans who are deaf. We're joined on a show by Troi Lee, the founder of Deaf Rave and rapper M.C. Geezer. So you know, we were speaking off mic just then, and he said a really good point especially about the radio, when you were like: 'I just want some way to listen to the show.' So do you feel alienated in certain types of media and do you feel like you're not allowed to join in the conversation and on some things when like you said you can't have subtitles on a radio show?
Troi Lee: [00:00:44] I've always felt left out especially when I'm driving my car and especially back in the day when we had the Capital Radio or Kiss – there would be a presenter or M.C. talking, and I could never understand what was being said. Still to this day. Right now in modern times. I thought it should be more accessible at some point but at the moment it's not.
Reece Parkinson: [00:01:12] Do you feel like that's one of the reasons that got you into starting Deaf Rave as well?
Troi Lee: [00:01:19] It's definitely one of the elements, because the deaf community is a subgroup. A bunch of people especially BSL (British Sign Language) users. In deaf culture we all used to meet up once a month in the deaf pub and over the years when I was growing up I kept telling them let's go raving, let's go partying. They always said no it's not for us, it's for hearing people. We deaf people have to stick to the pub. So I knew at one point that they were missing out a lot in that world there in that musical sense. But then I can understand why it didn't relate to them. So that's where I decided let's do Deaf Rave anyway and then give them an opportunity to experience a real party and a real rave atmosphere.
Reece Parkinson: [00:02:09] Okay, so how did [the idea of Deaf Rave] go from a chat in a pub to Indonesia?
Troi Lee: [00:02:14] I mean over the years, you know, you keep doing these events because it has to be done, because you know the government are not really supporting us in any way of social terms.
Reece Parkinson: [00:02:28] Do you not feel like they do?
Troi Lee: [00:02:30] No way! I mean we created Deaf Rave and deaf events ourselves. Nobody is doing it for us.
Reece Parkinson: [00:02:39] So no support?
Troi Lee: [00:02:42] Okay, well if I was to create an event for deaf people I would definitely have to approach – and thankfully Arts Council England they will help me to fund some of the money to avoid the cost to provide an event for deaf people. They are the only people that are supporting us.
Reece Parkinson: [00:03:02] So going to Indonesia, how was that? And you know one thing as well: How does sign language work in different countries? Because it's a completely different language.
Troi Lee: [00:03:13] Well we have got the biggest advantage, you know sign language is a visual language. It's just another language in your eyes.
Troi Lee: [00:03:22] But for us deafies we were lucky because you know if I was to land in China or Vietnam or South America and I meet other deaf people – we can just get by, just about. But you guys, if you meet a Finnish or a Russian it's gonna be difficult for sure.
Troi Lee: [00:03:43] So we have an advantage, but yeah Indonesia when me and MC Geezer went out there communication was never a problem with deaf people, never.
Reece Parkinson: [00:03:54] And what about with the music as well? So we're gonna play the 'We Are One' track. So how did that come together? And when you're in the studio how are you all communicating in what you want the beat to be like and stuff?
Troi Lee: [00:04:06] Okay I'll let M.C. Geezer do the talking here.
MC Geezer: [00:04:08] Yeah well I'm working with Pon Your Tone and they're all hearing so we can just get by and they speak English so it was quite straightforward really. And then with the music there's a guy called Dipha Barus, he came by and started making some beats on the piano.
Troi Lee: [00:04:30] Dipha Baru is the Indonesian top DJ and music producer. We were so fortunate and lucky to work with the best of the best. And in that short time frame we managed to create a track and that was part of the whole aim of the project and thankfully these guys were legendary.
Reece Parkinson: [00:04:52] Is this the first time it's getting played on radio?
Troi Lee: [00:04:56] Absolutely. It's actually the first time it's going to be played in the UK. I have got the full permission from the Pon Your Tone family and big up to Matter Mos the rapper mainly talking on the track alongside M.C. Geezer.
Reece Parkinson: [00:05:11] Shall we do this? Let's do it! *Plays We Are One track* Banger. Yeahhhhh! Dun Know!
Reece Parkinson: [00:05:25] We Are One! I like that, that was a tune! Troi Lee, MC Geezer and Pon Your Tone, Deaf Rave. We Are One so that's out right now? Yeah.
Troi Lee: [00:05:39] Not quite out yet in Indonesia. We have to wait until they finalise the red tape and stuff. But yeah it's coming out soon so that song We Are One had inspired us because the way I see it in my eyes it's one world. We are all human and it doesn't matter if you are hearing, disabled or deaf.
Reece Parkinson: [00:06:00] We are one. Facts. One hundred percent. So if you just tuned into the show tonight. This is 1Xtra Talks with Reece Parkinson. We are finding out what life is like for young music fans who are deaf so we have Troi Lee on the show and we have MC Geezer and they founded Deaf Rave. So guys It feels like you are one community and you've got each other's back and support each other with all the different things that you do. So are there actually any advantages of being deaf?
Troi Lee: [00:06:37] To be honest my friend there's not many advantages of being deaf, you know, deaf people as we speak are going through all kinds of madness and it's not an easy story. That's because of communication barriers, It's not easy out there. Mental health issues and education. So it's a whole range of different things that affect deaf people every day. So I wouldn't say we have much advantage.
Reece Parkinson: [00:07:17] So what are some of the mental health issues that you know deaf people face is it very similar issues that you find with a lot of deaf people?
Troi Lee: [00:07:27] Yeah it's definitely a link with the education system, because it also links with early age as well. Because if you are profoundly deaf and your first language was sign language, the biggest barrier or problem is Mom and Dad don't know how to sign and therefore the child gets a loss of confidence and growing up in the latter stages, that develops some kind of mental health [issues], not just because mom and dad but also in education they maybe did not have the right access needs or any BSL interpreters in the class or CSW's (Communication Support Workers).
Reece Parkinson: [00:08:37] Yeah I remember even in primary school you know. You know one of my classmates was deaf. The teacher didn't tell us the best way to communicate. We knew he was deaf. The teacher said he was deaf but there was no kind of support for him and support for us to be able to know what was the best way to communicate.
Troi Lee: [00:08:56] Yeah. So I am living proof that I've been down that road myself. You know I went to mainstream school, 30 children in the class, just me the only deaf person. We never understood what the teacher was saying but at three years until my mom realised that with the biggest issue there. So she'd fight with the Hackney Council for example. They sent me to a special deaf school and that changed my life or I wouldn't be here right now.
Reece Parkinson: [00:09:24] Wow. In what sense? What was is about that school?
Troi Lee: [00:09:27] It would have been a different ball game. Growing up you know. But now I found the sense of my a deaf identity. Now I have fully embraced deafhood and culture and that's what we have to do. My Deaf Rave crew MC Geezer, we have to lead by example and just keep spreading the love of our deaf culture and inspire many hearing people out there to elevate deaf awareness.
Reece Parkinson: [00:09:55] So was it similar for MC Geezer? Did you go through a similar thing at school?
MC Geezer: [00:09:59] I went to a mainstream school. Luckily I had the support of the HIU. Now after I left school I didn't get any GCSE's I left in year 10 and then I went to a deaf college and at the college I learned BSL and I really got to understand deaf identity. So you didn't learn sign language until college? Yes BSL Yeah because at school they taught me SSE which is done with spoken English really completely different
Reece Parkinson: [00:10:38] Okay so what's the difference between SSE and BSL?
Troi Lee: [00:10:40] Yeah yeah okay. Basically how do I put it this way? In BSL they took out all the grammar and stuff. Let's say for example I went to the shop. In BSL they shorten that down to shop I go. This is the biggest confusion we have these days and the lack of communication access, but it is growing and it is improving him over time by time. But it needs to get better and better and we hope that this interview will inspire many listeners out there and try and elevate awareness of deaf culture and our situation.
Reece Parkinson: [00:11:32] So what do you feel I should be taught in schools?
Troi Lee: [00:11:35] Well providing the right interpreters in place for the children so you don't want to provide a level one or level two interpreter for the child, because that person is just learning sign language and they don't have to fluency or the jargon or know how to translate it in the right order, so you need high quality interpreters in place. Then the children will have absolutely fantastic futures in that sense.
Reece Parkinson: [00:12:06] Okay. And what is something that you feel like hearing people could do or could do more of?
Troi Lee: [00:12:14] Well definitely mum and dad. If you've got a deaf child I'd definitely recommend you go to a sign language classes. In some places it's free. Some of them you have to pay, it all depends. So I definitely recommend that or go out there and learn and it's just another language but, it's definitely compulsory to do it.
Reece Parkinson: [00:12:43] Is there anything else in everyday life? Things hearing people do that you think is, they don't really think before they do it? It's quite ignorant, maybe?
Troi Lee: [00:12:53] Yes it's very common. I mean deaf people do feel isolated for the majority of the times. But if the hearing people had that awareness in the first hand then life would be much easier much simple and you know, positive. Yeah well we can only keep going and keep trying and keep spreading the deafhood. And the reason why I keep saying deafhood in this interview is only because I've just found myself as a deaf person and I'm proud of my identity and stuff like that. But somebody that created deafhood and is a pioneer of deafhood that's Dr. Paddy Ladd and listeners you gotta check out he's the first deaf person to write an academic book called Understanding Deaf Culture. So check that out. Get one for Christmas.
Reece Parkinson: [00:13:49] What are some of the keys in that book?
Troi Lee: [00:13:50] It has insightful information and it's knowledgeable about the history of deaf culture. The school system – the failures of that – and some other issues in the book like mental health and the direction of where deaf people hopefully go on a better journey can achieve better things in life. But yeah the book is mainly aimed for academics and health professionals and stuff like that because it's very knowledgeable and very useful.
Reece Parkinson: [00:14:23] OK what's the book called again?
Troi Lee: [00:14:25] Understanding Deaf Culture by Dr. Paddy Ladd
Reece Parkinson: [00:14:34] We spoke to an artist called Alicai Harley who we are big big fans of here at 1Xtra and a lot of our listeners know Alicai as well. She's got someone doing sign language in the music video for her new single. How far do you feel like Deaf Rave can go in terms of the music scene, and can it break the mainstream?
Troi Lee: [00:14:58] Yes and SignKid is the living proof. He's just been on the BBC Breakfast Show a couple of months ago. He also performed at the Wireless Festival with Big Shaq, smashed it!
Troi Lee: [00:15:14] And you know deaf artists, musicians and DJs... we are slowly getting out there in the mainstream and elevating the messages across. You know it's expanding. The whole point of it is for me the Deaf Rave is to carry on providing and create more workshops, because for example I've been doing Deaf Rave for 15 years now and we've only just started doing music production workshops in 2012 which is about seven years ago. And these guys, here they are making music, writing their own lyrics and getting out there, music is the message man.
Reece Parkinson: [00:16:04] 100 percent because, you know, it's interesting because you say you feel the music and in a sense you know being hearing or being deaf we all feel the music whether that's through the lyrics or the bass of it and We Are One your song, it really is because we're all one with the music. We just take it in different ways and different genres.
Troi Lee: [00:16:24] That's what I'm saying man. That's the reason why we made that song it's just perfect timing when we went out there, there was a reason, that's what I call fate.
Reece Parkinson: [00:16:34] And you see it in a lot of the live shows the artists do whether they have an interpreter on a side.
Troi Lee: [00:16:42] That's a new trend that is coming through. And you know music goers must inform venues to try and provide BSL interpreters for the artist because you have deaf audiences and they want to listen to the music they want to see what the lyrics are saying and in sign language it's visual so we need those interpreters on the stage and we want more deaf music goers to go and enjoy these events.
Reece Parkinson: [00:17:11] And with Alicai. She's put an interpreter in the video. So do you feel like that should be something that we see a lot? Because I'm thinking sometimes you see it on TV. I remember it being a lot of the early shows.
Troi Lee: [00:17:33] It's all down to the artist to be honest, if MC Geezer or SignKid was to create a music video it would be in sign language for real. 110% and with vocals on top of it. That would be definitely viable. But yeah interpreters collaborating with artists, yeah it's cool man. The more the merrier, it becomes more confident for the deaf community.
Reece Parkinson: [00:18:15] So now we're going to hear from, I know you lot will know this artist, Alicai Harley we play her a lot on 1Xtra, she just released a new tune and she's got this to say.
Alicai Harley: [00:18:29] So I get a lot of people that DM me and want to collaborate. There was a specific DM from a lady. She said that she was a British sign language interpreter. And then the thing that stood out to me: She said, she was like, 'you're probably thinking how, but you'd be surprised how many deaf people want to know what music is actually saying'. And when she said that like I literally just saw music on a whole new level. I was like, I was already in love with music. But then it's like there was purpose. I said like let's do it, I've got a new video coming out for Proper Paper and then we just did it. It was just amazing. Like every day she's always like 'Yo. Thank you so much. You actually saw my vision that I just felt like.' For me, I'll be like, 'no thank YOU, you opened my eyes to something else.' When we did do it all I kept on thinking was: 'Why did something like this never come to my mind before?' This is like, we could actually be helping by doing so and so and It's not really spoken about stuff like the more people start doing it and the more people see it I feel like one day can become something that's just like done in the same way you see it on television. Go and check out the video now on my YouTube channel and follow me on @alicaiharley.
Reece Parkinson: [00:20:02] We're on til 10pm this evening until DJ Edu takes over and tonight on the show we are finding out what it's like for young music fans who are deaf. And we've heard Troi Lee on the show plus M.C. Geezer as well. So I want to ask you next, do you do you see yourself as having a disability?
Troi Lee: [00:20:29] Yeah I would definitely say yeah. I have a definite hearing loss for sure. So I'm not going to deny that. I'm not shy from that either. Yeah I mean if you're deaf and you can't hear any of the words come out of vocals. How would your brain process it? That kind of thing. Yeah we missed a lot of information. So yeah if there's no interpreter in place. Yeah I'm definitely disabled in that sense. Yeah but if I had an interpreter there then it's accessible. So it's a very black and white there. But yeah I'm I'm I'm proud of being deaf. Yes I am deaf. I'm deaf, I'm proud, I'm loud!
Reece Parkinson: [00:21:17] And M.C. Geezer with you, what sort of messages do you get from the fans that listen to your music?
MC Geezer: [00:21:25] Well definitely the deaf audience. You know they really react to what I say about deaf culture. Some of the lyrics are about what I've been through and what all the other deaf people have been through in life so yeah just getting the message out.
Reece Parkinson: [00:21:41] And so that's the biggest thing that you know kind of feedback or messages from the fans. They're like thank you for saying how I'm feeling? Definitely definitely. Yeah. Okay awesome. And with the future of Deaf Rave as well, where do you see this going? What's the next step. What's next on your mind?
Troi Lee: [00:21:59] We still want to carry on providing events for our deaf community. Our biggest next step which I'm working on and currently planning is to try and create the first ever London outdoor festival which has never been done before. So it's a lot of things to sort out especially in sponsors and funders. And yeah, if you guys want to hit me up!
Reece Parkinson: [00:22:33] So an actual festival different lineups and different DJs?
Troi Lee: [00:22:37] Yes a strictly deaf festival, I mean is it deaf-led. It's 100 percent of deaf performers and DJ's. And all kind of different acts. But yeah we will be collaborating with some hearing and disabled artists as well. We don't mind, you know it's inclusion for everybody but it's mainly primary aims for deaf people.
Reece Parkinson: [00:22:59] Sure. And in terms of the music side as well, making tracks and stuff. What about you MC Geezer, what stuff have you got coming up?
MC Geezer: [00:23:08] My first EP comes out in January. My five track EP. It's called the Yin Yang of Deafhood.
Reece Parkinson: [00:23:30] You said about going forward and having the festival and that but, I feel like you've inspired a lot of people that have listened tonight and they're gonna watch this back and listen to the show back and this is a question for you both really... What's something that you'd love to have been able to say to your younger self? The young you that didn't get to listen to this show and get to see where Deaf Rave can go.
Troi Lee: [00:24:02] I would say: You know, keep your passion, dedication and commitment in whatever you love doing. Don't let nobody stop you or put a barrier onto yourself. You know, just keep going and you will get there. Just like how me and MC got to this studio. Don't give up your dreams. Put in a lot of effort and a lot of positivity, that's the fundamental aim to be honest. Yeah. Keep believing in yourself.
Reece Parkinson: [00:24:37] It's amazing especially I'm sure to when you was at school to look back then and now where you've come at this point I mean even to Indonesia and stuff like that.
Troi Lee: [00:24:45] Absolutely. I mean not in my wildest dreams did I know that I would ever go there on a project like that. For us. It's been an amazing journey and it's still unknown path on the uncommon days. We just keep going and be positive and productive. And hopefully many good things will come in life.
Reece Parkinson: [00:25:07] More tracks on the way?
MC Geezer: [00:25:08] Definitely. Especially for BBC Radio 1Xtra.
Reece Parkinson: [00:25:15] Love for that, nice one. And where can we find you guys on Twitter?
Troi Lee: [00:25:20] Just type in Deaf Rave on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter, the same name. And you'll find more information of what we're doing these days.
Reece Parkinson: [00:25:30] That's amazing. I mean thank you so much. Thank you for coming on the show thank you so much.
Troi Lee: [00:25:35] A pleasure to talk to you too as well.
Reece Parkinson: [00:25:37] Thank you so much. And M.C. Geezer thank you bro. Appreciate it and send the EP as well in January. And thank you so much to you lot for tuning into the show tonight. Really really really appreciate you.
