Heather Augustyn Book order

Focusing on the often-overlooked role of women in the ska revival and 2 Tone label, this book explores how female musicians carved out their space in a predominantly male scene. Drawing on exclusive interviews with over 50 women from the UK ska movement of the '70s and '80s, it highlights their struggles and triumphs, showcasing their contributions to music and culture. Through themes of empowerment and sisterhood, it reveals the untold stories of those who challenged the status quo and made significant impacts in the industry.

In Ska: The Rhythm of Liberation, Heather Augustyn examines how ska music first emerged in Jamaica as a fusion of popular, traditional, and even classical musical forms. As a genre, it was a connection to Africa, a means of expression and protest, and a respite from the struggles of colonization and grinding poverty. Ska would later travel with West Indian immigrants to the United Kingdom, where British youth embraced the music, blending it with punk and pop and working its origins as a music of protest and escape into their present lives. The fervor of the music matched the energy of the streets as racism, poverty, and violence ran rampant. But ska called for brotherhood and unity.