News and Events

Today we kicked off a 4-week songwriting block (an afternoon a week) which brings together a group made up of people on day release from HMP Castle Huntly, people on community payback orders, and people who have at some point been involved with criminal justice or who work in it.

Musicians Chris Duncan (C Duncan), Jill O'Sullivan (Jill Lorean), and Louise McCraw (Goodnight Louisa) are supporting the development of songs over the 4 weeks. Our sub-theme for this songwriting block is "Yesterday, Tomorrow, Today".

We'd love to invite as many people as possible to respond to one of the exercises we used today, which uses time capsules as a jumping off point for thinking about the theme. The exercise is detailed below, and we'd love to hear responses - it can be as small as a one sentence thought, or a full song! You can send any writing, videos, or voice notes to lisa@voxliminis.co.uk.

Exercise: "Time Capsules"

Objective:
To explore the connections between our past, present, and futures

Introduction:
This exercise will help you think about how the past (yesterday), aspirations or fears for the future (tomorrow), and the current reality (today) can come together in a song.

Time Capsule Writing (we suggest 10 minutes if you like a time limit!):
Imagine three "time capsules"—one for yesterday, one for tomorrow, and one for today.

• Yesterday's Time Capsule: Write down a memory or an experience from the past. It could be a joyful moment, a regret, a turning point, or even a seemingly small event that has stayed with them.

• Today's Time Capsule: Write about how you feel today, an experience from this morning, or a reflecting on the last week. It could be a current challenge, a feeling of contentment, or a sense of urgency.

• Tomorrow's Time Capsule: Write down a hope, fear, or dream for the future. What do you imagine or wish for? What do you hope will change or remain the same?

Brainstorming (10 minutes):

• What common themes or emotions came up in your time capsules?

• What images, words, or phrases stood out during conversation that could be powerful in a song?

• Can you think of metaphors or symbols that represent time, memory, or change?

• How might you tell a story that moves between yesterday, today, and tomorrow?

By the end of the exercise, you might (or might not!) have a deeper understanding of how past, present, and future are interconnected, and have a foundation of ideas, emotions, and images to use in your writing.