Bradford unveils 'Built By Sound', an installation chronicling resistance through rhythm

The immersive installation explores how British South Asian communities found joy in defiance during the 70s and 80s.

Date published: 11th Sep 2025

A new mixed reality installation celebrating British South Asian communities will premiere in Bradford as part of its UK City of Culture programme. ‘Built By Sound’, a co-production from Bradford 2025, artist-led platform Dialled In, and immersive animation studio No Ghost, explores how British South Asian communities in the 1970s and 80s found joy in defiance, community, and music. 

Scripted by author and screenwriter Nikesh Skukla, directed by filmmaker Shehani Fernando, and narrated by presenter Anita Rani, ‘Built By Sound’ fuses personal testimonies and archival footage to transport visitors back in time, capturing every dhol drum thump and pirate radio buzz from decades earlier. 

Dhruva Balram from Dialled In described the project as “excavating memory and transforming it into something alive - an experience that places you inside the rooms, clubs, and streets where a generation found its voice.” Kye Dorricott of No Ghost agreed, adding that “‘Built by Sound’ is bold in scope and spirit … This one’s uniquely Bradford and pulsing with the power of music.”

The experience will run from Friday 21st November to Sunday 14th December at the city’s pop-up cultural hub Loading Bay. Tickets can be found on Bradford 2025's website. 

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