Martine Rose Curates The Sounds of Sessions Arts Club

Martine Rose’s latest collection is far from a runway show—it’s a musical journey, a nod to her heritage, and a celebration of resilience through the medium of music. For Sessions Arts Club, Rose has teamed up with engineer Jonnie Berlevy to create a playlist inspired by her grandfather, Clifford Rose. Featuring a selection of ska, rocksteady, and rhythm & blues from his collection of vinyl records, the project, Played to Death, reverberates with stories of migration, culture, and the legacy of British-Caribbean communities.

From intimate performances to creative dining, Sessions Arts Club in Clerkenwell has long been a community hub, offering a retreat from the bustle of city life. With community at the heart of the Martine Rose universe, working with them on this deeply personal project is nothing short of a match made in heaven. ‘When I asked her to create a playlist for spring, I had no idea it would evolve into something so personal,’ Sessions Arts Club founder Johnny Gent explains. ‘She arrived with boxes of her grandfather Clifford’s records, all “played to death” and their grooves worn with love.’

With each song, Martine has created an atmosphere that’s a time capsule, echoing voices from a bygone era—yet one that continues to shape our present cultural landscape. ‘The result is a collaboration not just between Martine and Sessions, but with Clifford as well. It’s a reminder that spaces, like music, are loaded with memory,’ states Gent.

Rose’s collections have long been rooted in music and memory. The tracks sourced from her grandfather’s collection are more than just songs; they’re threads binding her personal journey to a larger narrative of cultural migration and transformation. This collection doesn’t just represent a vision of the future—it holds a mirror to the past and honours the enduring spirit of a community.

An accompanying text archives the LPs from Clifford’s vinyl collection. Together, they offer a deeply personal yet expansive exploration of sound, mapping the cultural and emotional landscapes embedded in each record. Through this visual archive, Clifford’s collection becomes a living document—one that not only preserves but also reanimates the music that has shaped generations

Available to purchase from Sessions Arts Club, Played to Death is more than a collection; it’s an invitation to remember, to connect, and to celebrate the voices that built the British soundscape. So, tune in. Listen to the beats that shape the fabric of a culture that refuses to fade.