Mykaell Riley

Mykaell-Riley's profile photo

Principal Investigator

Westminster School of Arts

(United Kingdom) +44 20 7911 5000 ext 68394
Harrow Campus
Watford Road
Northwick Park
GB
HA1 3TP
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About me

Mykaell's career started as a founder member of the British roots Reggae band Steel Pulse who would go onto receive a Grammy. Over the years he has performed, produced, managed and consulted on many successful artists and their projects. As a professional writer/producer, Mykaell's work has encompassed TV, Film and Theatre, resulting in over eleven UK top twenty positions, and three UK number ones. He also formed The Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra, Britain's first black pop orchestra - and composed extensively for television including the BBC 1&2, ITV1, 2,3, SKY and Endemol TV. He was then invited to join the first popular music, industry-focused course at the University of the Westminster.

Teaching

Mykaell is a Senior Lecturer, Director for The Black Music Research Unit (BMRU) and Principal Investigator for Bass Culture Research at the University of Westminster. He has also worked as the external examiner for Open University, City University, South Themes College, Leeds College of Music, Tech-Music -UK/Dublin and the University of West London and the University of Hull. 

Publications

2019: Consultant, Executive Producer for Bass Culture Documentary – (full-length 59mins)

Contributor ‘Bass Mids & Tops’ by Joe Muggs and Brian ISBN: 9781907222771.

Bass Culture Podcast

2018: Bass Culture Online Platform

2017: The State of Play Grime Report

2016: Contributor - Walls Come Tumbling Down (D Rachel, Picador, 2016)

2014: Contributor - Black Popular Music in Britain Since 1945: (J Stratton, N Zuberi, Ashgate,2014)

Contributor - Return of the Rudeboy: photography, film, and installation by Dean Chalkley & Harris Elliott.

2013 Contributor- The Globalization of Music’s in Transit: Music Migration and Tourism, (Simone Krüger, Ruxandra Trandafoiu, Routledge, 2013).

2012: Contributor ‘Masters of the Airwaves’: The Rise & Rise of Underground Radio, by Lindsay Wesker & Dave VJ, Every Generation Media ISBN 9780955106880

2017:

Principal Investigator: Bass Culture Research – launch bassculturedUK - Symposium Chair - Reggae Research Network 2, WestminsterUniversity East Anglia/Liverpool - Sky Arts –Guest speaker on grime music BBC - Radio 4BBC Radio 6 BBC Live - Guest speaker on grime music - Farah.co.uk/ Film Guest speaker on Sound system fashion and music - Panel guest (Babylon screening) Sussex University - Speaker Ticketmaster Summit, Presenter - Reggae Research Network 1 UAE Speaker - Sound System Outernational 3 - Goldsmiths University

 2016:

Recipient of the first major (AHRC) award, recognizing the impact of reggae on Britain British library chair Panel - Punk Exhibition 1976-78 The Roundhouse speaker Punk Weekender’ Sound System Outernational 2 Goldsmiths University

 2015:

Speaker: Sixth Biennial Jamaican Diaspora Conference - Speaker: South Bank - Changing Britain 1917 – 2015 - Project leader: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Nigeria, ‘Afobeats Educational Roadshow’ - Chair of Bob Marley 70th’ Panel, Jamaican High Commission, Jaipur International Literary Festival performer –  New Art Exchange, Nottingham - Beautiful Days Festival Devon, performer - Gibraltar Music Festival  performer with Dub Colossus

Guest Speaker: BBC1 TV Christmas Special - Bee Gees documentary  Speaker/consultant: Return of the Rudeboy, exhibition Somerset House 

Research

Central to Mykaell's research is his work on mapping Black British music. Bass Culture is a response to the disengagement and lack of education surrounding the heritage of Jamaican and Jamaican-influenced music in Britain over the last six decades. Jamaican music is recognised as a key catalyst in integration and multiculturalism in London and beyond. An understanding of the contribution made by the Jamaican community is also vital for anyone researching and performing popular music production, dance, and fashion

Related Activities - In 2004, he Co-authored the first National Jazz report and the Value of Jazz2 for Jazz Services in 2009 and contributed to Black British Jazz report 2009-2011. In 2016, he received the first major Arts Humanities Research Council award titled 'Bass Culture', to research the impact of Jamaican music in Britain. In his first research output, he championed the Grime Report in partnership with Ticketmaster, which resulted in a change in government legislation in 2017. He staged the Bass Culture Exhibition, the UK's largest photographic exhibit on the impact and influence of Jamaican music on Britain - highlighting the Windrush generation's contribution to British culture. 2019 saw the première of 'Bass Culture' documentary. Mykaell now sits on the academic board for the Museum of London, Brent 2020's No Base Like Home and is a trustee for Tavaziva Dance and Finding. Rhythms.

In addition, he's consulted and or collaborated on projects for; the Mayor of London, Arts Council England, The British Museum, The Maritime Museum, Museum of London the V&A and Brent Council. 

Publications

For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.