Transforming young people’s lives through music: Noize Night Review
In February half-term of 2026, Partisan, through our MyLewisham work, hosted a 3 day music programme in collaboration with Lewisham Music entitled Noize Night.
Led by Dominic, a young changemaker on MyLewisham, Noize Night was a chance for young musicians and singer-songwriters from Lewisham to come together in a safe space, to explore creativity and expression, and build confidence whilst doing so. In this guest blog*, aspiring journalist and Noize Night attendee Doris Mbakwe writes a review about the showcase, where the fruits of young people’s talents and collaboration were on full display.
*Please note views do not reflect the views of Partisan
I love music. I love everything about it – the production, the instrumentation, the lyricism and the emotions that are evoked from the songs. So, when I was invited by my friend to Noize Night in Lewisham, I was quick to attend. I am mostly unfamiliar with Lewisham, having only gone to the shopping centre or the odd shop here and there but I was extremely surprised by how vibrant the area is and connected the young people are. Upon entering Lewisham Youth Theatre for the showcase night, I was shocked by the energy and atmosphere I walked into. People of all ages cheerfully interacting with laughter and joyous outcries filling the room – a view I’m not used to seeing.
Partisan runs programmes like MyLewisham to support community-led change. The MyLewisham programme in particular (part of the Mayor of London’s pan-London MyEnds initiative) empowers young people to make decisions that positively shape their neighbourhoods, fostering a sense of safety. It was clear from Noize Night that working alongside psychologists from Partisan, in collaboration with local organisations like Lewisham Music, youth-led events like Noize Night play a key part in supporting young people’s development, social connection and mental wellbeing.
Youth Music reports that music is a large contributor to how young people regulate their emotions, forming community and provides a way for mutual understanding. With higher levels of reported loneliness according to the Office of National Statistics (33% of people aged 16-29 state that they are lonely), cultivating opportunities for interactions and friendships is important for young people. Noize Night provided this opportunity for young people.
The performances I saw were unique and mesmerising, each having their own draw.
I was amazed at the variety of sounds and genres that were used by the musicians.
A range of emotions were expressed and displayed to the audience, encapsulating stories and life experiences through music.
The band that started the show, named Instantaneous for the fact they met and gelled together at Noize Night instantly, featured the young person, Dominic, whose idea was Noize Night, on the drums. He stated:
“I created Noize Night because I wanted to use music to make Lewisham a safer place. Music’s always been a big part of my life, and I wanted to turn that into something that brings people together, gives young people a safe space and sparks creativity”
His band bought that creativity through their original pieces, blending the pop and indie genres. The lyrics supported the sound to portray the band’s vision to be authentically themselves. After them, a series of soloists performed. Some rappers that performed had their creative and original spin on the underground and grime sound, intertwining their culture and experiences. It had catchy melodies and instrumentals that hooked the audience and got them dancing. Other rappers focused on the message that they wanted to send, discussing police brutality and racism.
There was a singer too who leaned into the R&B and soul genre. The song she sang had intricate runs and scatting which was reminiscent of Lauryn Hill. The slow and sultry vibe was a nice contrast to the high energy performances. In addition to the musical performances, there was spoken word. Spoken word goes hand in hand with music. The central idea of both is the artistry – the creative decisions, expression and identity. The performer focused on the cadence and rhyming which added to her vulnerable writing.
The event was around an hour and a half long and it did not feel that way at all. Everyone was equally as immersed because, aside from the performers themselves, there was silence to take everything in. Ultimately, by the end of the show, I was left with a desire to seek out a programme similar to this or to encourage other areas to start to consider what things can be done to help young people more.
Lewisham has largely been perceived as a violent and dangerous area. It is reported by CrimeRate that Lewisham has some of the highest recorded rates of youth violence and violence against women in London. However, initiative like the MyLewisham programme are trying to change that, utilising solutions that come from Lewisham’s communities directly. Dr Naima Fowis, Clinical Psychologist at Partisan, who introduced the night, also commented:
“We often ask ourselves, what does safety in Lewisham look/feel like? In this case, it’s 11 young people performing in front of their peers, family and friends at a showcase featuring a setlist of original songs and spoken word pieces created over 3 days!”
Working with psychologists and specialist community organisations with a focus on supporting young people is something that needs to be implemented more on a wider scale to provide a place for those who are struggling to find their place in school, struggling with their mental health and also struggling with their lives at home.
I think if I had a programme like this growing up, it would have been very beneficial to me or any other kid who grew up in a similar area. Noize Night celebrated the art of music and what music can do – it can unify, it can give voice to, and it can be a means of creative control - something which so many young people don’t typically have in this world. The long lasting impact it will have on me is how brave the performers were to be so vulnerable and confident in themselves to tell their stories. For me, that is what I admire the most.
Author: Doris Mbakwe
Doris is a writer with an interdisciplinary background. She pursued STEM academically, specialising in Chemistry, but has always had a passion for writing. The blend of creativity, academic rigour and curiosity drove her to write about her life, as well as other people’s lives in order to communicate accurate and impactful experiences, stories and cultures. Through her ambition to be a journalist, she has gained knowledge in many areas (art, fashion, politics, sports, music, science, history and so much more). She wants to study at Masters level to support her passion and continue to find new ways to be the best journalist she can be.