Hype, Camden and the story of Britpop – with Matt Everitt

Who really won the battle between Blur and Oasis? Host Zakia Sewell chats to writer, broadcaster (and drummer for 90s Britpop band Menswear) Matt Everitt, and V&A curator Harriet Reed about the heady days of Camden in the mid 90s.  In this episode Matt explains what the scene was really like and puts to bed the myth that it was Damon Albarn who chose the release date for Country House, causing the infamous battle of the Britpo...

The Haçienda and the Manchester scene, with DJ Paulette

How did one club in the 80s change the face of nightlife across the UK? Host Zakia Sewell is joined by queer club pioneer DJ Paulette, and V&A curator Harriet Reed to unpack the heyday of the Haçienda club of the 1980s and 90s.  Looking at photos and footage of Paulette DJing at clubnight Flesh at the Haçienda in the early 90s, they recall the inclusivity of the scene during a time that was not-at-all welcoming to the queer com...

Creepy or Beautiful? Unboxing Memento Mori Skull Jewellery

The roots of Lovers Rock, with Janet Kay and Carroll Thompson

Queens of Lovers Rock Janet Kay MBE and Carroll Thompson join Zakia Sewell and V&A research assistant Josephine Small to explore the origin story of the soulful genre. Looking at objects from the V&A collections, including Sonia Boyce’s Lover's Rock (1998) wallpaper, they discuss the impact of this first generation of British-born musicians on the UK music scene. They explore how Black British music was heard at a time when...

The genesis of UK Garage – with Norris ‘Da Boss’ Windross

Did major labels and the mainstream media take over and shut down a grassroots scene? Zakia Sewell chats to UKG pioneer Norris ‘Da Boss’ Windross and V&A Researcher Josephine Small to uncover the rise of the UK Garage scene – and the turbulence along the way. Looking at Norris’s early dubplate collection they recall Sound System and DJ culture, and chart the differences between Rave, Jungle and Drum n bass nights w...

Revealing the Hidden Interior of a 1930s Couture Evening Dress | Textiles Conservation

Go behind-the-scenes in our Textiles Conservation studio, as Conservators Caterina and Nora perform an almost surgical-like operation on an extremely fragile silk dress designed by Elsa Schiaparelli. Almost 100 years old, the dress is severely damaged and disintegrating in several areas, requiring additional support and intervention before it can go on display. Caterina dyes support silk and a net over...

The story of Grime – with NoLay

Did a Super Nintendo console help create the sound of grime?  Host Zakia Sewell is joined by special guest NoLay to find out how the classic console was instrumental in a global cultural phenomenon, as well as remembering how NoLay won over a highly sceptical Glastonbury crowd (despite an epic tech fail), blagged her way into a club for her MCing debut, and her early experiences on pirate radio.  The SNES (owned by Boy Better Kno...