With the support of Storyfutures, BBC, BFI
Festivals Storytrails 2022

“Off the Record” is a VR archival exploration celebrating British South Asians and their rich musical heritage, mapping the meteoric rise of Bhangra from the 1970s, to The Asian Underground and Punjabi Garage at the turn of the century. The experience depicts the early migration of South Asians to the UK, contrasting their struggle to integrate with the defiant self-expression of the second generation. Using AI and with the aid of cutting-edge technology, archival footage from the era is transformed into a 3D mesh, immersing the viewer inside the depths of this hidden part of history. Users are able to navigate the archive at free will and explore the range of different musical genres encapsulated in the subculture, all to the rhythm of an original soundtrack produced by London’s contemporary Daytimers collective.