News & Insights

Outside Voice: New playlists from BIPOC creatives in London

Outside Voice is an annotated playlist series from Spotify Advertising celebrating and amplifying BIPOC voices in the global creative community. Each month, rising stars in the industry create original playlists that feature their favorite music alongside spoken-word annotations — sharing personal stories and speaking to important social issues affecting underrepresented communities.

This year’s reckoning on racial inequality and representation wasn’t just limited to the United States. Far from it — the movement has prompted countries around the world to look inward at their own injustices and issues. This month, our Outside Voice series heads across the pond to London, where we hear stories (and favorite songs) from two creatives about their experiences navigating the advertising industry in the U.K.

In episode three, you’ll hear from the passionate and inspiring Seyi Alawode. Alawode is the founder of CHL, a London-based marketing and advertising agency that supports young creatives and helps brands connect with the under-30 market. In her playlist, she discusses how music connects her to her Nigerian culture, the power of diverse perspectives, and why the industry needs more people that look like her.

Episode four features the unique perspective of Aaron Taylor. Originally from the United States, Taylor now works as an art director at Leo Burnett agency in London. He shares how Frank Ocean and Kanye West fuel his creativity, how traveling while black has influenced his world view, and the lack of diverse representation in the U.K. ad industry.

As 2020 comes to a close, we’re looking ahead to amplify the voices of more talented ad industry creatives from underrepresented communities in 2021. Stay tuned for more music and inspiration from our Outside Voice series in the months to come.

Did you catch Episodes 1 + 2, featuring Nike’s Juan Reyes and Vice Media’s Alyza Enriquez? Listen here.

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