White Lion Studio was opened in a blaze of publicity by award-winning rapper, singer and actress Little Simz just over a year ago. The state-of-the-art professional recording studio, inside Lift youth hub, has since welcomed almost 200 young people through its doors to explore their creativity, develop new skills and passions and kick-off careers. Lead youth worker Nathan Samuel, studio technician Tyrese Julian and studio user Avonni Joseph reflect on its success

What does the studio mean to you?

Tyrese: I’d always wanted to have some sort of studio space to work in and this kind of feels like that dream. I now have a place to do music professionally. I drew inspiration from other studios such as Metropolis to help make this place what it is today. Now the young people coming in get the best of the best and don’t have to spend doing it.

Nathan: I have been coming to Lift since the early 2000s and there had never been a music studio in the local area in all these years. For a lot of young people, to have a studio of our own is really a big luxury – especially one that looks like this. You just see their faces and their eyes light up. And I’m always impressed and amazed with what they do here.

What kind of success have you seen coming out of the studio?

Avonni: It’s been mixed, but people who’ve been here from the start, who have got a taste for it and seen it through, are managing to get booked to perform. For example, as a result of my work in the studio, I had a performance last Saturday, I have another performance coming up on Sunday and a music video coming out that same day. Some people here are even performing at their upcoming prom.

How do young people find juggling this with their studies?

N: It definitely gets quieter when the GCSE or A-Levels season starts, then sort of bounces back a bit afterwards. I think a lot of people find that it helps take their mind off the stress of exams. We also offer support with Study Space, where they can use a free laptop and print off stuff like test papers, to help them work through it.

A: When I was doing my GCSEs, I would just come here and do music as a way to take a break from doing continuous hours of studying. I definitely think it’s beneficial for young people, because there can be so much pressure around finals and exams.

What does the future hold for Lift youth hub?

N: The studio is hoping to build on the successes that the first year has brought. We’ve also opened up a second dance studio here at Lift and have begun discussions about a filming room that can facilitate anything from short films to music videos.

Lift youth hub is free and open to everyone aged 11–21 in Islington. Open every day from 3pm, it offers a gym, games room, dance studios, professional teachers and much more.

Visit the Lift website to see what’s on.