WAYout Arts – Streets of Salone Vol. 1 A Cross-Continental Urban Collaboration Produced by Anthony Pears
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Newcastle, UK / Freetown, Sierra Leone – A powerful new international collaboration is set to make waves with the release of Streets of Salone Vol. 1, an urban music project produced by UK creative Anthony Pears.
Known primarily as a respected tattoo artist from Newcastle, England, Anthony Pears stepped far beyond the studio chair and into the recording booth travelling from the North East of the UK to the vibrant shores of Freetown, Sierra Leone. His mission: to collaborate with emerging artists connected to the charity WAYout Arts and produce an authentic, grassroots urban album that captures the raw spirit of the streets.
Streets of Salone Vol. 1 blends UK production sensibilities with West African rhythms, Krio lyricism, Afro-urban energy and hard hitting street narratives. The project showcases local voices telling real stories of resilience, ambition, struggle, and celebration over dynamic beats crafted by Pears and a host of local producers during his time immersed in the culture of Freetown.
“This wasn’t just about making music,” says Pears. “It was about connection, learning, and creating something honest with incredibly talented young artists who deserve to be heard globally.”
The album reflects the pulse of modern Sierra Leonean youth culture balancing Afrobeat influences, hip-hop flows, dancehall textures, and UK urban grit. Recorded in collaboration with WAYout Arts members, the project stands as both a cultural exchange and a creative empowerment initiative.
WAYout Arts, a charity dedicated to nurturing artistic talent and providing opportunities for young people in Sierra Leone, played a central role in bringing the artists together for the project. Through music, mentorship, and shared vision, Streets of Salone Vol. 1 represents what can happen when creativity crosses borders.
On the bustling streets of Freetown, where opportunity can feel distant and dreams are often tested by hardship, young people are discovering new purpose through music. Growing up in Sierra Leone, many have faced limited access to jobs, quality education, and creative resources, yet their voices carry powerful stories of resilience, survival, and hope. When given the chance to step into a recording booth for the first time they transform lived struggle into rhythm and poetry, blending local sounds with global influences to express who they are and who they aspire to become. For these young artists, music is more than entertainment, it’s a pathway to confidence, community, and possibility, proving that even in places where opportunities seem scarce, talent and determination can rise above circumstance.
This debut volume signals the beginning of an ongoing series spotlighting untapped African talent through international collaboration.
About Anthony Pears
Anthony Pears is a Newcastle based tattoo artist and creative producer with a passion for music and global culture. Streets of Salone Vol. 1 marks his first major international production project.
About WAYout Arts
WAYout Arts is a Sierra Leone based charity focused on empowering young people through artistic expression, performance, and creative education.
Streets of Salone Vol. 1 — Where Newcastle meets Salone. Where art meets impact. Where the streets speak.
Instagram: @anth_pears