Tape Letters

The Tape Letters project shines a light on the practice of recording and sending messages on cassette tapes as a mode of communication by Pakistanis who migrated and settled in the
UK between 1960-1980. In this six-part documentary series, listen to first-hand accounts of these migration stories through original cassette tape recordings, interviews with their Britain-born families and commentary by Tape Letters founder and director, Wajid Yaseen.
Through hearing from the lived experiences of Pakistani migrants when they first settled in the UK, the series also explores key themes associated with these migration stories such as language (primarily Pothwari), communication methods, intergenerational relationships and identities, divided families and more.

A Modus Arts Production. Audio Production and Sound Design by Oliver Sanders, Producer Leona Fensome, Executive Producer Lucia Scazzocchio, Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council of England

Wajid Yaseen – Director of the Tape Letters project, talks about how his family moved from Pakistan to Ashton and how he first discovered his family's Tape Letters hoping to hear his own voice but instead discovering his father's recordings of Naats (the religious songs his father was invited o sing in people's homes) This eventually led to the birth of the Tape Letters project.

A Modus Arts Production. Audio Production and Sound Design by Oliver Sanders, Producer Leona Fensome, Executive Producer Lucia Scazzocchio, Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council of England.

Rosa Schling, director of On the Record a company specialised on oral-history co-production, joined the Tape Letters project early on and was blown away by the richness and depth of personal stories recorded by families who had emigrated to the UK from Pakistan. She talks about the value of oral history recording.

A Modus Arts Production. Audio Production and Sound Design by Oliver Sanders, Producer Leona Fensome, Executive Producer Lucia Scazzocchio, Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council of England.

This episode explores the re-appropriation of cassette technology from music media to communication media. A thin strip of spooled tape was vital in facilitating long-distance messages.

We learn more about the power of the voice and the meaningful, affectionate family memories that were captured through the voice playing on a cassette tape. The recorded messages were often emotional and intimate, and it was common for tearful messages of grievances and condolences to also be included. Interviewees recall further childhood memories such as the mental preparations before recording messages, playing with cassette tape ribbon, and pretending to be TV presenters.
Others remember being able to develop unexpected bonds with family members simply through listening to their voices on cassettes.

A Modus Arts Production. Audio Production and Sound Design by Oliver Sanders, Producer Leona Fensome, Executive Producer Lucia Scazzocchio, Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council of England.

Michael Gallagher is a Social Researcher and Sound Artist who teaches at Manchester Metropolitan University. He became involved with Tape Letters after meeting Modus Arts producer Shazia Kahn. In this episode he talks about the significance of the cassette tape from a media studies perspective.

A Modus Arts Production. Audio Production and Sound Design by Oliver Sanders, Producer Leona Fensome, Executive Producer Lucia Scazzocchio, Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council of England.