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Remix first got off the ground in 2002, an offshoot of the Arts Council funded Youth Music project. Youth Music is a scheme that aims to bring communities together and aid the education and social development of young people, all through their involvement in music.

The project has split the country into 22 'action zones' - each one a consortium of community schemes, private enterprise and most importantly, voluntary action. Remix is the Bristol arm of Youth Music's operations.

Positive relations

Arriving at Remix's base, the Bristol Colston Hall (which, for the coming months is doing a passable impression of a demolition site) I was greeted by Laura Pace, head of marketing and publicity for Remix.

"The main aim of Remix is to encourage positive relations with the wider community," she explained to me once we'd made it inside the offices of the project. "We are especially trying to engage with those who are harder to reach."

Remix is achieving this objective by offering a wide range of projects and workshops to young people across the Bristol area.

One such scheme already in operation is the Remix Singing Workshop. This project is open to those aged between 13 and 19 who have an interest in singing, and has proved extremely popular. Local soul star Phil King is on hand to mentor the singers, and the group meet each Monday evening from 6-8pm to explore the art of harmony, and improve their technique.

In addition to the singing workshop, there is also a songwriting project which takes place on a Saturday morning from 10-12, again at the Colston Hall. Here, budding Burt Bacharachs and Linda Perry's can come along and write songs to their heart's content.

"The songwriting sessions are a great form of expression for the kids," Laura told me. "There are a number of local musicians who come along to help out - they bring instruments for the kids to play and give advice on their work."

Meet big names

Remix also offers a number of industry seminars, a chance for those in attendance to meet big names in the music industry, and learn from their experience. Past guests have included international dance label Hope Records, who listened to demos and gave feedback.

Aside from working with those who are already showing a keen interest in music, Remix is also tackling some tougher issues.

Their Alternative Education scheme is directed at those young people who have either already been excluded from school, or are in danger of exclusion in the near future.

"We're helping them to engage in other aspects of their life as well as to engage with music," Laura explained. "For example, we have one guy who has to go to school four days a week in order to come to us on the fifth - we're a treat for him."

As well as dealing with those young people who may be headed for trouble, Remix also offers workshops to those who have already made mistakes and need a bump back onto the right path.

Laura and I visited the basement studio from which the YJB college is run. It is complete with PCs, recording equipment, and even a kitchen - should hunger strike whilst in the middle of a project.

Improved facilities

And, once the redevelopment of the Colston Hall is complete, Remix should be able to lay claim to some improved facilities; better equipped studios and workshops, a spaceÌý I'm sure they'll exploit to its full extent.

In offering such great opportunities to young people, Remix has also discovered some incredible talents. Bristol based band The Naturals made use of the Remix Music Mentoring scheme to produce their debut EP, The Robot. "Those guys are incredible," Laura said. "They could sign with a major label tomorrow if they wanted to."

"I have been going to the Basement Studio for a few years... I really don't think I'd be at the same creative and knowledgeable level I am today if I hadn't," writes Josh in the liner notes of the CD.

From its inception, Remix has been offering young people across Bristol great opportunities to take part in music projects, to meet and learn from influential players in the industry and most importantly, to get involved in something which is great fun.

"The key for Remix is that the young people start to engage with something new," Laura said, summarising. "If they have passion and focus, we have seen a vast change in some of our students. It's all about not expecting anything, just doing it and seeing what happens."

Having been to Remix HQ, and listened to the output of those who have made full use of the project, it's clear that this is a great organisation, and a brilliant thing for young people to get involved with.

If you would like to get involved in any of the workshops I have mentioned, or find out more about Remix and it's project, use the link below.