For The Community By The Community
Founder
Growing up, music was the nucleus of my expression, from the age of 11 I was heavily immersed in the creative culture and how it connects people from every facet of life. This developed into a love which influenced myself and peers to embark on various musical endeavours from writing, recording and performance. This also enabled us to support some of the most iconic names in the Uk and globally, such as Giggs, N-Dubz, Asher D, Bashy plus many more.
After years of life experience, facilitation, events and project management for young people, the appetite for a space that nurtures, cultivates and showcases urban practices which truly reflect that culture was ever present. After a 4-year hiatus, Slambarz is now the catalyst, pulse and machine unearthing hidden talent in Sheffield/ south Yorkshire and most recently UK wide.
Being able to provide accessible, safe, inclusive and creative spaces to a community that exemplifies our culture is the most fulfilling experience to date. Working with a team of thinkers, change makers and visionaries is testament to what is achievable through cohesion.
Co−Founder
Dylor started to make beats for his friends and involved himself with mixing/producing /direction and eventually found a love for DJing, blending genres and creating mixes, Dylor brings energy to every set that he is at.
Coming from Sheffield, Dylor discovered his love for music at an early age and quickly immersed himself in the art of DJing. Drawing inspiration from diverse musical genres such as grime/hip hop/ house/Rnb. He co-founded Slambarz which was the missing link in gathering Sheffield’s young talent and helped give them a stage to perform on!
His style is blending the new skool with forgotten gems that we all love, Dylor crafts sets that are dynamic, danceable and creative.
Director
I am passionate about children and young people from seldom heard communities having the opportunity to creatively express themselves, feel heard and create change for themselves individually and others around them. Over the past 20 years I’ve worked in the youth and voluntary sector in advocacy, voice, influence and change. This was initially in Edinburgh and for the past 16 years in Sheffield.
Four years ago I met Dom Heslop when he came to do a taster session for a create and change group I was running for care experienced young people. This was a life changing encounter. Seeing the young people that ‘hated writing’ create lyrics and tell their stories through spoken word, put beats to then and 18 months later perform their work on stage, absolutely blew me away. Young people appeared from nowhere, that were previously writing music in their bedrooms. The young people now had a community to support them and a safe environment to develop and grow. This was a glimpse of what was possible in Sheffield and what Slambarz could and would grow to be under Dom’s leadership.
It’s been an unexpected delight and privilege for me to become a part of the Slambarz community as a Director alongside Dom Heslop and Rose Wilcox. I knew nothing about urban genres of music previously, but now I adore the beats and hearing young people’s stories in their own words: their challenges and experiences what they have overcome. I love supporting behind the scenes by helping to network, write funding bids and support events. It’s an honor to see our Slambarz family of creatives: both adults and young people, grow and blossom through the work we do together. Creating safe spaces where young people from seldom heard communities can co-create their own Artist development programmes and events is an absolute joy to watch and be a part of. The Leadmill and the team there headed up by Rose Wilcox have been instrumental in helping make this happen. The Leadmill is a home for the Slambarz community and space where many who would not feel it was a space for them is now a place they feel they are proud to own and belong.
Director
Bringing people together to experience the power of music and performance is one of the most joyful things in my life! Over the past 15 years I have worked alongside The Leadmill, a number of festivals and community organisations to work on programming engaging experiences within arts & culture whilst helping to develop audiences and focus on connection between communities.
I was lucky to reconnect with Dom around four years ago, (20+ years after we went to primary school together!) over another project that I was looking for partners on and have not looked back! Learning about everything Slambarz stands for and being a part of this creative process has been one of the most meaningful experiences yet. After starting my own career by hiring The Leadmill in order to promote shows from Artists I wanted to see live, I am passionate about providing opportunity and insight to others to help them find what it is that they love to do – whether that be performance or behind the scenes. Being able to play a small part in Slambarz’ development and supporting the organisation to be able to fulfil its ethos is a dream come true – I’ve found myself a part of a new community of incredible talent and feel so fortunate.
I cannot wait for where this journey is heading!
Project Management, Creative Director, Journalism
Working with a Slambarz who are dedicated to curating music events in Sheffield has been an enriching journey. Slambarz help shine a spotlight on emerging talent, providing a platform for aspiring singers and rappers to showcase their skills.
As a team member, I engage in a variety of tasks, from brainstorming content to problem-solving and hosting. It’s immensely fulfilling . Assisting wherever needed I try to offer consulting on event strategies, given creative directing or being a runner on events every aspect contributes to fostering Slambarz’s goal in creating a vibrant local music scene. Slambarz team collective efforts resonate within the community, amplifying the voices of artists and bringing people together through the universal language of music.
Assistant Project Manager
Hey! I’m Jasmine, I also go by Jaz.
I have 10 years of experience working with children and young people across Sheffield and am currently in the middle of a career change as I move into events. Working for Slambarz is the perfect cross-over of the 2 fields and I am so excited to see how big the team can make the Slambarz name and how many young artists we will impact and champion.
Sheffield born and bred, I am proud of the city I grew up in and want to show the world what we have to offer.
Creative expression is so important to me, and I have many creative hobbies including writing poetry, painting, and crocheting… honestly, anything creative I can try I will try.
Names Enoch, but everyone knows me as Belly. Where do l even start? I’m a videographer/ photographer all round content creator at Slambarz.
I mainly control the interview side of the things with my right hand Kenz (Kenan). Been a part of Slambarz since the very start back in 2017 and honestly what an incredible thing to be part of.
When Dominic reached out to me after seeing my work through Instagram and to see how far I’ve come especially not even going to film school or even studying all of this at uni. To think some of these things were just thoughts in my head, that l’ve turned into life on a screen sometimes overwhelms me.
Slambarz has really helped me and I know it will go so far to help others like myself reach heights they probably thought they couldn’t reach.
God Bless, “For the community, by the community”.
Hey, I’m Harry, lead photographer at Slambarz and a film-making graduate. Teaming up with Dom since we met in 2019, we’ve shot everything from Tramlines to The MOBO Awards and a variety of events throughout Sheffield.
I’m all about capturing raw moments. Let’s push visual storytelling limits, one shot at a time!
Media technician and Editor.
I first started working with Slambarz in 2022 when I was brought in to film and edit artist interviews. I have been involved in Slambarz ever since and seen it grow and blossom into what it is today.
What I like most about Slambarz is the opportunity it provides young people to build confidence by gaining experience via showcasing their talents in front of an audience. Slambarz also provides an incredible opportunity to network throughout the music scene in the city to build a community of engaged creatives.
Astraea Media | Photographer and Content
To work as part of the Slambarz team means being able to combine my love of photography with supporting the hard work, talent and passion of other creative individuals, be it poets, rappers, singers, artists, DJ’s, other photographers, videographers and more, within the community.
As a photographer for Slambarz, I freeze scenes and capture the emotion of the moment for a lifetime.
Youth Liaison Coordinator/DJ at Slambars:
– Mentor and develop youth artists
– Ensure participant safety
– Train Slambassadors
– Evaluate artist progress
– Support recruitment
DJ:
– Curate music and artists
– Conduct equipment and sound checks
– Perform
– Coordinate with venues and artists
My roles at Slambars are fulfilling.
Creative Content Journalist.
Hi I’m Dereece I am a creative content journalist for Slambarz. I first started presenting and co-hosting on the daily devotion podcast which led me to the opportunity of becoming a backstage interviewer for Slambarz.
My role entails making sure all the artists and staff members take part in insightful and informative interviews. I enjoy learning about the artists and give each individual an interview that is catered to them and their respective performances. The thing I love the most about Slambarz is the sense of community at each event, we have people coming from all over South Yorkshire and neighboring cities to show love and support to everyone involved.
Creative Content Journalist
To be apart of the Slambarz Family means I can combine my passion for everything creative whilst getting the chance to engage with and showcase the best creatives and the people of Sheffield!
Creating memories moments for the community with the community.
Warren ‘TWSB’ Gordon is a young innovative music producer from Sheffield, UK. Who founded The Winter Soldier Beats (TWSB) in 2017.
Although Warren does not hold a B.A. degree in Music, he is a self-taught musician and music producer who began his journey taking inspiration from international household names such as Hit-Boy & Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. He’s quickly transitioned from making beats in his bedroom to setting up his very own recording studio located in Sheffield, UK.
From a very young age he’s always shared a passion for music. As a youngster any chance he got to play an instrument he would take. Even if this involved interrupting the church congregation on the drums.
Warren is heavily Influenced by Afro-American and Afro-Caribbean music that represent a vast mix of cultures. He is able to blend these sounds in a unique way defining new forms that integrate these musical traditions, often under-appreciated by the standardised view of UK music.
My name is Jack Godfrey, I currently reside in a rural area of Sheffield, England UK. Since the age
of 8 years old I have loved telling stories. Whether that be in the medium of writing or the love
language of cinema.
Working with ‘Slambarz’ has been an absolute dream, from giving back to the community to witnessing such talent in our very own city.
A Tapestry of Creativity and Advocacy
At the heart of my identity lies a profound passion for storytelling, whether it be through the lens of a camera, the narrative of a documentary, or the written word of journalism. I am Lungani ‘UncleLou’ Sibanda, a multifaceted journalist, filmmaker, photographer, and content creator, whose journey in the creative world is marked by a relentless pursuit of documenting the essence of human experience. My initial dreams of music were beautifully diverted by the compelling call of film and stage acting, leading me down a path where I discovered my love for capturing moments—first through photography and then, naturally extending into film.
Stylistically, I find myself drawn towards documentary filmmaking, a passion that guided me to pursue a degree in Digital Film and Effects Production at the University of Huddersfield, further enriching my craft with a Masters in International Journalism. This educational journey wasn’t just about acquiring skills; it was about deepening my connection to storytelling across various mediums—sound editing, camerawork, television, radio, online, and print journalism. My affinity for writing, filming, and photographing allows me to weave narratives that not only inform but resonate on a deeply human level.
My foray into the Slambarz movement was a serendipitous chapter in my life, introduced through family and solidified by the inaugural showcase at the Leadmill. This encounter was the genesis of a profound connection with a movement that champions the creativity and potential of young minds. Slambarz’s dedication to fostering young talent mirrors my own motivations—creating not just for the sake of art but to empower and uplift the voices of the next generation.
My career is an amalgamation of roles—educator, documentary filmmaker, journalist, photographer—each offering a unique perspective on the world. It’s a career built on a foundation of love; love for people, for stories, and for the moments that define us. With Slambarz, I’ve found a community that shares my passion for creative expression and the transformative power of art.
Proud to stand with Slambarz, I bring my array of skills and boundless enthusiasm to a movement that is more than just art; it’s a beacon for young creatives, guiding them towards a future where their voices are not just heard but celebrated. Together, we are not merely creating; we are igniting a flame of creativity that will light the way for generations to come.
