A group of artists and producers have come together to release a single supporting Black Minds Matter UK. ‘Birds’ is a poetic collaboration between the Tongue Fu collective and poets Salena Godden, pictured, Vanessa Kisuule, and Hollie McNish.

The single will be released by spoken word record label Nymphs and Thugs, and will be available to stream or download from Friday 13 November, with all profits donated to Black Minds Matter UK, whose mission is to connect Black individuals and families with free mental health services by professional Black therapists.

Olivia Weigel, marketing manager at BMM UK, said: “The poem manages to articulate the many difficult and unfamiliar emotions that we have all experienced in some way this year, giving us a sense of comfort in this shared experience and hope for brighter days ahead.”

Salena Godden said: “2020 has been a time of communal mourning and grief and anxiety. The poem we have written seems to underpin all of that, and it’s an honour to be releasing it in support of BMM UK.”

The single will be released on the Nymphs & Thugs Bandcamp site and will be exclusively available on Bandcamp until the new year. It will be priced at £5, with the option to pay more, and a download of the music video will be included.

PHOTOGRAPH: OLIVIA RUTHERFORD