From December 2023 to February 2024, a group of MaGe (marginalised gender expressions and identities) people got together at Decoratelier in Brussels to design and build a sound system. The idea behind the workshop was to create a space where participants could share knowledge and skills in construction, woodwork, electronic welding, acoustics and sound system culture.
From this collective and political process, the Pssound was born. For the sake of coherence, and to counterbalance the predominance of white men in Belgium's musical scene - particularly sound system culture - we feel it's important that it retains its political and collective vocation. So we want it to be shared within marginalised communities - the communities that built it.
What's more, our approach as an intersectional feminist collective is deeply anti-racist and anti-colonial. Given the historical context in which sound system culture was born and the powerful symbol it has represented in the struggles of Black and Caribbean communities in the UK, we want to prioritise projects featuring people of Caribbean origin and, more broadly, of Afro descent.
We encourage you to consult the RESOURCES page which contains a number of documents on the history of sound system culture.
We have drawn up this manifesto in collaboration with the collectives and artists, in order to express as clearly as possible the values behind this project and what we expect morally, technically or financially from those willing to be a part of it.
We sincerely hope that every person/collective wishing to join the Pssound community will recognise themselves in it.
Any feedback on this document is welcome and can be sent to hello@psst.space
The Pssound is more than just a technical tool; it's a political object, a collective asset and a tool for emancipating our communities.
Love & resistance,
Psst
1. Empowerment
2. Sharing
3. Collective responsibility
1. Adherence to the principles
Users agree to respect the values of inclusion, intersectionality and solidarity embodied in the creation of this sound system.
Each project must be in line with these values, in particular by showcasing marginalised artists and supporting political causes (feminist, queer, decolonial, racial, etc.) from an intersectional perspective.
In practical terms, for example, a request for a feminist event held in a problematic location or one that programmes only white cis women will be questioned and discussed.
2. Responsible use
The sound system is intended to be a tool for many people and many struggles, so it must be handled with care to ensure its long-term functionality by respecting the following points:
3. Feedback
Share feedback on your experience with the sound system in order to continually improve the project and its impact.
4. Archive
Send us photos of the Pssound at your event to create a collective archive.
5. Financial participation
Users are asked to pay an annual fee between 75 and 150 euros. This fee has been calculated on the basis of an estimate of the costs incurred in the event of minor damage and the cost of annual insurance. This fee will be reviewed each year in the light of our experience and the lessons we learn collectively.
Out of transparency, an Excel file showing the financial status of the project is available to the community. This shows the income (membership fees / subsidies / donations) and expenditure (repairs / maintenance / improvements) linked to the sound.
Membership entitles members to borrow the sound system free of charge throughout the year, provided that the event in question meets the inclusion and political criteria mentioned above and in the REQUEST form.
In the case of a loan from an institution, we ask for a fee of 150 euros directly from the institution hosting the event.