Speakers Corner Quartet is a testament to the power of collaboration and community. 15 years in the making, they now find themselves at the epicentre of the South London music scene and as one of the most influential groups to come out of the city.

Originally they came together in 2006 as the house band for the legendary, Brixton-based spoken word and hip-hop session, Speakers Corner, and since then they’ve managed to create a family-like bond with one another as well with the artists they’ve joined forces with. Composed of four multi-instrumentalists the quartet is: Biscuit on flute, Kwake Bass on drums, Raven Bush on violin, and Peter Bennie on bass.

Members of the band are regularly collaborating with other world-renowned musicians either folding them into their jazz and electronic sounds seamlessly or adding their own personal flair to projects outside of SCQ. Kwake, for example, is the musical director for Sampha, Lil Silva, Tirzah respective live shows as well as working closely with Kae Tempest and has played with the likes of Lianne La Havas, Mica Levi, Joey Bada$$, MF Doom, Roots Manuva, Shabaka Hutchings and Novelist. Raven Bush has recently worked with Young Fathers, Dave Okumu, The Heliocentrics, Darkstar, as well as composing music for dance films.

Past collaborations of SCQ include Herbie Hancock, Kae Tempest, and Chris Ofili and in 2020 they presented the live project Further Out Than The Edge at the Barbican and featured special appearances from Laraaji, Mica Levi, Kae Tempest, Lafawndah, Sampha, Tirzah, Shabaka Hutchings, Léa Sen, and many more. This expansive line-up is a testament to the bonds created by the quartet and their close-knit ties with the brightest contemporary artists.

Dedicated to their art and to each other, their music is a reflection of the love and trust they share. When playing together they see themselves as a singular entity with a hive-mind mentality, working together to create a unique experience for their audience. With their innovative approach and unbridled creativity, Speakers Corner Quartet is sure to continue making an era-defining impact with more music to come in 2023.

Photo Credit: Fabrice Bourgelle