Michael 'Mikey J' Asante: Outliers

Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante, composer and co-founder of Boy Blue, combines hip-hop, dance and video for his piece Outliers, a multimedia meditation on social, public and political consciousness.

Dedicated to the ‘outliers', those that stand up for what they believe in, Outliers is inspired by Mikey’s own life experience. It’s a reflection of how his worldview has changed as he’s grown up, from being a young man concerned more with creativity than success, to someone who has received numerous plaudits and been invited to Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street. It’s a piece that combines music, dance and video, as Mikey is joined by an ensemble of musicians, alongside elements of choreography from his Boy Blue partner Kenrick Sandy MBE.

The piece reflects on major issues that have become a concern of Mikey J’s, with themes of race, class, gender and equality. Outliers is a part of the Barbican’s 2018 Season, The Art of Change, which explores how artists respond to, reflect and affect change in the social and political landscape.

Tagged with: Contemporary music Theatre & dance The Art Of Change

Produced by the Barbican

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