Spotify creates Carnival Sounds experience for Notting Hill Carnival

Spotify has gone live with its support for Notting Hill Carnival as an official partner for the second successive year.

As part of the collaboration, Spotify has created an all-new Carnival Sounds experience, in collaboration with NHC, with a virtual curation of everything we love about Carnival.

The microsite features a whole host of new content including all-new playlists from legends including Billy Ocean and Ian Wright, and a suite of bespoke podcasts.

New for 2021 will be exclusive essays on the theme of Carnival from some of the UK’s most renowned Black writers and creatives.

The Carnival Sounds microsite for 2021 will once again give fans a chance to explore 42 of the official Notting Hill Carnival sound systems and DJs playing a mixture of dub, reggae, soca, soulful house and everything in between.

Sound systems to explore include King Tubby’s, Carnival’s oldest sound, Rampage Sound, one of Carnival’s most coveted spots, Seduction City Sound, Carnival’s all-female lineup, and Martin Jay, the prince of UK soca.

Spotify has also worked with some iconic creators to curate the soundtrack to Carnival through some of the most popular playlists on the Caribbean hub.

Selectors this year include British soul icon Billy Ocean who makes his selections for The Gold List, football royalty Ian Wright who selects the tunes for Throwback Thursday, Protoje on the Irie playlist, West London’s own WSTRN putting their spin on Afro Bashment, hosts of Who We Be TALKS_’s Harry Pinero and Henrie curating Who We Be, the UK’s biggest hip-hop, Afrobeat, dancehall and R&B playlist.

Leroy Harris, Spotify UK and Ireland, Artist Marketing Lead said: “At Spotify, we are committed to supporting the Black community and elevating Black voices. Notting Hill Carnival is a monumental part of British and Caribbean culture: Spotify’s online platform and curation of Carnival provides an avenue for existing fans and those new to the experience alike, to continue to experience some of the utter joy of the weekend’s celebrations and what makes Carnival so special.”