Part of a series of blogs, leading to a book, about the music of austerity 2010-2019.
Ask the families of the Hillsborough Disaster, or those affected by the racist Windrush Scandal. They’ll tell you justice is rarely afforded to the poorest in society.
The Grenfell Tower fire on the 14th June was the direct result of austerity measures and a government more invested in profits and property than people. 40% budget cuts to the local authority since 2010 meant corners had been cut in safety conditions and necessary renovations. The tower had no sprinklers, and fewer safety inspectors carrying out less and less inspections without the resources to replace the flammable cladding. Cuts to the fire services also resulted in 11,000 fewer London firefighters. Elliott Advisors UK, a major shareholder in Arconic, the company that provided the Grenfell Tower’s combustible cladding, donated nearly £25,000 to the Consverative Party in 2008, 2017 and 2019.
Many artists took up the cause, either helping on the ground, encouraging donations and support or by actively writing songs documenting the tragedy, and the political ideologies that caused it. Through cathartic lyrics, people expressed their sorrow at the dire situation, and the anger at the lack of accountability and change. Reflecting the multicultural community affected by the tragedy; it was the hip-hop and grime communities of London who felt the most fury.
In the digital age where artists have easier access to recording equipment, there was an urgent response across June. Georgina Brett published the 28 minute ‘Grenfell Requiem’, an ambient looping track with minimal, haunting vocals. Big Zuu released ‘Grenfell Tower Tribute’, highlighting the distinction between the rich and poor, never letting the listener forget this was a class issue. Big Zuu includes a guest clip of Akala adding: “There is no way rich people live in a building with no sprinkler system” and notes the money spent on redeveloping the tower was to put “pretty panels” on the side for the sake of rich people living nearby.
On 28th June, Adele pleaded with her Wembley Stadium audience to donate money to Unite For Grenfell, telling her 98,000 fans: “I can't tell you how out of control and how chaotic it still is down there, it's been two weeks since this happened... it's atrocious that we can't get answers.” She dedicated the song ‘Hometown Glory’ to the victims of the fire. In the spirit of Live Aid, Simon Cowell collected a team of pop stars to raise money to support the victims. One Direction's Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson, X Factor winner Louisa Johnson, pop stars Robbie Williams, Rita Ora, Emeli Sande, Stormzy and The Who lent their voices for a cover of ‘Bridge of Troubled Water’. The song is evocative and soulful, but ultimately lacks the political bite highlighting the tragedy's root in classism, racism and austerity. The song reached Number 1 in the singles chart, raising money for the London Community Foundation.
On 24th June at Glastonbury Festival, Stormzy rapped his verse form the song and told the audience “we urge the authorities to tell the fucking truth, first and foremost. We urge them to do something. We urge the fucking government to be held accountable for the fuckery.” By the end of June, Shocka’s freestyle tribute to the people of Grenfell went viral, with over 109,000 views on YouTube. Lily Allen, Sam Duckworth (aka Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly), Akala and AJ Tracey helped on the ground or used their platforms on TV and social media to raise awareness.
In the wake of the fire, local rapper Peaky Saku appeared on the BBC news live pointing out the shoddy refurbishment as a cause of the fire. Victoria Derbyshire tries to cut him off as he notes “they don’t want us here and they put those rich man’s blocks over there.” In 2019, he released his 1984 EP with the fire on as the cover art. There’s no one to cut off Peaky Sabu’s fury on ‘On The Block It Ain’t The Same View’ where he declares: “lost a couple to the flames / now my mind’s screwed.”
Music benefits were held across London, including guitar bands at Bush Hall, an afrobeats benefit Upstairs at the Ritzy, a mixed-bill of classicists, composers and DJs at Cafe OTO and rap and grime acts uniting as London Stand Tall at Notting Hill Arts Club. A 850-strong audience attended a classical concert at Cadogan Halland, which opened with an emotional ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and raised £30,000. Truro Cathedral Choir, composer Philip Stopford and poet Andrew Longfield collaborated on ‘Grenfell From Today’ in remembrance.
The Conservatives were heavily criticised for their lack of effective action to support the families. Rapper Dave on ‘Question Time’ says Theresa May’s response was “ridiculous”, saying she hid and “dodged responsibility and acted like you're innocent.” On ‘Queen’s Speech 7’, Queen Leshurr asked “Who stood up when “Grenfell? / Where's all the money we raised then? / Theresa May is a wasteman.” At the 2018 BritAwards, Stormzy demanded “Yo Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell?”
Political rapper Lowkey toured with a member of Grenfell United, who spoke to his audiences about the tragedy, and the lack of support from the Government. Lowkey lived opposite the tower, and his ‘Ghosts of Grenfell’ is a 6 minute epic, melancholic obituary to the people of Grenfell. With soaring vocals from Kaia, the song tells the story in painful and unflinching detail. It’s a frank and brutal account of the event, as well as a celebration of the community coming together. Lowkey said:
“I wanted to take control of the narrative and the way the event was historized. With music you’re dealing with something that is imaginative and in a way utopia. You’re achieving things which in the real, tangible world you can’t actually achieve. Through music we have the possibility of creating the cultural ambience within which subversive ideas can be exchanged.”
In June 2020, the government missed its target to remove all flammable aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding from 300 high-rise residential and publicly-owned buildings with the same ACM cladding. It is estimated 1,700 more buildings have some other form of dangerous cladding, like timber or high pressure laminate.
In 2020, the Labour Party tabled The Fire Safety Bill, which would clarify that the responsible person or duty-holder for multi-occupied, residential buildings must manage and reduce the risk of fire for the structure and external walls of the building, including cladding, balconies and windows and entrance doors to individual flats that open into common parts. It was directly influenced by the Grenfell Inquiry. The Conservative Party whipped it’s MPs and 318 voted against the bill.
For some, the dire situation of austerity Britain feels insurmountable, and change a hollow dream. Rudimental’s ‘No Pain’ features Kojey Radical referencing Sam Cook’s civil rights anthem ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ when he asks: “Who fell, Grenfell, what that cost 'em? / They said change was gon' come / Change for who? Change for why?” It feels like the world never changes for those trapped with hunger, bullets and bombs. The Grenfell fire was a reckoning brought about by a broken system being further slashed and worn away by neoliberalism, austerity and unflinchingly uncaring politicians. With zero faith in the State, two years on from the fire, the verse adds: “Youth club shut down / funding cut down / Police cut down, who helps us now?”
