THE INFLUENCE PROJECT

The Influence Project is an ongoing arts project celebrating the enduring impact that pioneering Black musicians have had on contemporary sound and culture. Through portrait photography, film and music, the project honours pioneers of Jazz, Funk, R&B, Soul,  Afrobeat and Hip Hop, highlighting their influence and showing how they continue to inspire a new generation of musicians who are also pushing boundaries.

The first exhibition of The Influence Project was held at Somerset House, London in 2018 during Summer Series, and featured performances from many of the project artists including, Lalah Hathaway, Jazzie B, DJ Premier, Jorja Smith, Little Simz and The Roots.  This was followed in 2020 by an exhibition at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) Birmingham, with appearances from funk pioneer Pee Wee Ellis (1941-2021) and award-winning alto-saxophonist, Soweto Kinch.

Since its conception in 2014, the 7-year collaboration has continued evolving to include the contributions of like-minded creatives whose work strives to highlight the legacy of these artists, ensuring they remain at the forefront of cultural history.  We are forever in debt to the musicians who have trusted us and freely given their time to The Influence Project, their inspirational music, ongoing support and belief in the project’s cultural importance, continue to drive it forward today.  

The Influence Project Artists  Bill Withers, Kori Withers, Leon Ware, Roy Ayers, Charles Wright, Betty Davis, Ms Lauryn Hill, Kelis, Angie Stone,  Lonnie Liston Smith, Fred Wesley, The Blackbyrds, The Impressions, Fatback Band, Zapp, Amp Fiddler, Martha Reeves, Candi Staton, Evelyn Champagne King, Cheryl Lynn, James Brown, Sister Sledge, Gwen Dickey, Erykah Badu, Shirley Jones, Jean Carne, Deniece Williams, Shalamar, Edwin Birdsong, Steve Arrington, Lisa Stansfield, Alice Russell, Quantic, Nicola Conte, Raul Midon, Maverick Saber, Nick Hakim, Kojey Radical, Laura Mvula, Raphael Saadiq, Mark Ronson, Little Dragon, Meshell Ndegeocello, Michael Kiwanuka, Lalah Hathaway, Booker T. Jones, Ted Jones, Snarky Puppy, Khalid, Moonchild, Jorja Smith, Little Simz, Aloe Blacc, Gary Clark Jr, Eric Bibb, Fantastic Negrito, Amp Fiddler, Kashif, Carleen Anderson, Charles Bradley, Lady Tigra, The New Master sounds, Tower Of Power, Nao, Femi Fem - Young Disciples, James Taylor, Poppy Ajudha,  Tortured Soul, Fat Freddy's Drop, Pee Wee Ellis, New Power Generation, Andre Symone, The Brand New Heavies, Omar Lye-Fook, Barrie K Sharpe, Dj Spinna, Gilles Peterson,  DāM-FunK, The Rebirth, Kindred The Family Soul, Jarrod Lawson, Bilal, Jazzie B, Michael Franti, Carl McIntosh, Mahalia, Siedah Garrett, James Gadson, Steve Ferrone, The Internet, Masego, Anderson .Paak, Hiatus Kaiyote, Robert Glasper, Thundercat, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Dele Sosimi, Mulatu Astatke, Tony Allen, Shabaka Hutchings, DJ A-Ski, Soweto Kinch, Public Enemy, Nubya Garcia, The Soul Jazz Orchestra, Bluey Maunick, Bob James,  KRS-One, EPMD, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Redman, Havoc, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, DJ Premier, Kool G Rap, Pete Rock, Phife Dawg, Cypress Hill, The Jungle Brothers, Lords of The Underground, Illa J, T3, Money-B, Yasiin Bey AKA Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Ursula Rucker, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Dudley Perkins, Dead Prez, Swizz Beats, The Roots, Rapsody, Akala, IAM, Dilated Peoples, Melle Mel & Scorpio, Average White Band, Hamish Stuart,  Daniel Caesar,  Sun Ra Arkestra, Shuggie Otis, Cymande, Larry Graham, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic.