Issue 1: Living Relief by Robbie Kitt

702

 

It is an important time for drug law reform in the UK and Ireland. Important times call for important tunes.

In the UK, End Our Pain – a campaign for access to medicinal cannabis – launched, appearing across the British media outlets and drawing in the voices of those [illegally] treating various health conditions with medicinal cannabis. The campaign, which has already received support from well know people including MPs, Richard Branson and Russell Brand, coincided with a Coronation Street storyline about a patient suffering from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, who smokes cannabis for pain relief.

In Ireland they are taking huge steps to reduce the harm that drug users can cause themselves. Although there is still a long way to go, what seems to be changing is the level of compassion being shown to those most in need of it. Medically supervised injection centres look set to arrive in the near future and the minister in charge of drug strategy, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has made the debate around decriminalisation mainstream.

This is the context into which we launch our first print edition of VolteFace.

The 23rd of February marks the official launch of VolteFace Magazine [Issue 1]. To celebrate, we’re throwing a party as well as releasing the first printed edition. To accompany this joyous day we are proud to present a soothing mix by Robbie Kitt, a celebration of life and relief, a moment of calm for all who are suffering: ‘Living Relief’.

Robbie Kitt is an Irish musician based in Dublin. His big smile and even bigger heart made him the perfect man to create the soundtrack for those days that can be hectic – those days that demand the most compassion. The battle to win hearts and minds is a long one, so why not have a soothing audio companion for the journey?

Kitt, a Rádio na Life regular, creates beautiful mixes and original music while also throwing parties with the charming DIP. Hopefully this will be the first of many soundtracks to the first of many issues.

In the meantime you can listen to more of Robbie on Soundcloud or on Mixcloud, and find out more about DIP and what they do here.

 

Words by Alastair Moore.

Cover photo by Caitríona Ní Chathasaigh.