You Ought To Know: Simon Industrial Fellow Karen Gabay releases podcast series about Black British music histories
From January to July 2025 broadcaster and producer Karen Gabay carried out research as part of a Simon Industrial Fellowship with Creative Manchester platform, Music Department, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures at the University of Manchester.
As part of the fellowship Karen Gabay produced a podcast series entitled ‘You Ought To Know’ that will be published across various platforms. Each podcast captures a conversation with musicians that have had and continue to have a significant impact on British popular music. These conversations were recorded at public engagement events as well as in intimate one-on-one settings across Manchester.
The first podcast is a recording of Karen Gabay’s panel event on Reggae and Dub-Poetry in the UK with Lovers Rock legend Sylvia Tella, Dub Poetry great Levi Tafari and Reggae and Hip Hop artist J.Chambers in the Manchester Museum in June 2025.
The other episodes include an exploration of the history of Black British Gospel Music and a conversation with renowned Soul singer-songwriter and former Ikette PP Arnold known for her work with Paul Weller, Peter Gabriel, and Jimmy Cliff. The final episode explores how Manchester singer-songwriter Daley’s alternative soul and R&B sound is influenced by Black British musicians.
You can listen to and watch the podcast episodes on various platforms. To be notified of new episodes subscribe to Karen Gabay’s Substack and the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures’ YouTube channel.