Hidden Tracks
Let us help you tell the story of a song that changed your life
Is there a song that changed your life? A piece of music that takes you to a significant moment, that reminds you of a choice, a person, or a crossroads?
Unpicking these moments and memories to craft a story is the basis of Hidden Tracks. A cross between Desert Island Discs, a Ted Talk and The Moth, Hidden Tracks takes you through the process of crafting the story around your track, ready for it to be performed on stage as part of our Montreux Jazz Festival Residency. And after your story is performed, your track is played from beginning to end, framing your story within the music it’s rooted in.
Past Hidden Tracks have seen stories about friendship, love, almost-love, loss, family dynamics and self discovery; stories that took us from the sun and sea of Mallorca to the sweltering streets of Lagos. We’ve heard about a phone call that broke a heart, of a day trip to Liverpool belting out Paul Weller, and of a parent teaching their children the lyrics to David Bowie’s ‘Modern Love’ on the M25. ‘I know when to go out. When to stay in. Get things done.’
Hidden Tracks has given voice to stories that have stolen our breath, and stories which have left an entire auditorium without a dry eye. But most importantly, each story we’ve heard performed has carried within it the essence of this event; the unifying power of storytelling, the way in which music can act as a catalyst for emotion and empathy, and empowerment that comes out of the vulnerability and honesty of sharing a personal story on stage.
All of this is why we love doing Hidden Tracks, and it’s why we want to help even more of you to find the story within the song that changed or shaped your life.
Apply now for Hidden Tracks
Applications are now closed.
What it’s like to tell your story
Jumoké Fashola, who performed her story as part of Hidden Tracks at our 2024 London Literature Festival, shares some insights from her experience for all of you would-be storytellers.
How can I craft an application that will grab attention?
The whole process focuses on you and your story, so authenticity is vital. What makes you tick, what makes you glow when you think about the question? What is your instinctive response to any of the questions? Craft it so the panel feels they know a bit more about you and add some ‘flavour’ too.
Did anything about being part of Hidden Tracks surprise you?
That telling stories about your own life can be difficult, but also cathartic. That sharing can be healing.
Has taking part in Hidden Tracks helped you beyond the event?
Yes, It’s made me a better writer. It’s made me realise the value of my own stories, even the bleak ones! It also reminded me that storytelling involves more than words; it also includes the look, feel, taste, and smell of the story. Incorporating these elements helps the audience engage their imagination, allowing them to truly see, feel, and taste what you’re sharing.
Useful information
Who can take part in Hidden Tracks?
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve any background of writing stories or performing on stage. So long as you’ve had experiences, music in your life, and you’ve a desire to tell the story of how these two things have come together, Hidden Tracks is for you.
All we ask is that you’re aged 18 or over. And, because this edition of Hidden Tracks happens within our Montreux Jazz Festival Residency, we’d like to put a focus on stories that are related to songs from the jazz tradition.
What does it involve?
With Hidden Tracks, the process is just as important as the performance – through a series of five workshops and tailored writing sessions, you’ll discover the perfect way to tell your story.
Key dates
To be a part of Hidden Tracks you will need to be available to attend one of our initial in-person workshops:
- Sun 1 Feb, 12 noon – 2.30pm
- Wed 4 Feb, 6.30 – 9.00pm
From these sessions a group of storytellers will be selected to participate in further in-person workshops, working towards the main event on Sat 14 March, so you will need to be able to attend on each of these dates.
- Wed 11 Feb, 6.30 – 9.30pm
- Wed 18 Feb, 6.30 – 9.30pm
- Wed 25 Feb, 6.30 – 9.30pm
- Wed 4 Mar, 6.30 – 9.30pm
- Sat 14 Mar (performance), 4 – 10pm