THE VERSIONS SOUNDTRACK PT. 1 OUT NOW!

Darkspark is proud to release the Versions Soundtrack, featuring 27 Anthems for Change from a global collective of emerging artists, supported by established songwriters, celebrities, and A-list producers — an awe-inspiring collaboration that spanned continents. 

THE VERSIONS SOUNDTRACK PT. 1

The soundtrack features songs from 27 unique emerging artists from around the world who all participated in the VERSIONS Fellowship, transforming them from strangers into a tight-knit family through an epic journey of learning and self-discovery.

Inspired by the Jamaican tradition of ‘versioning’ – where many artists create different songs over one beat, VERSIONS Fellows were guided by celebrity artist mentors like Sean Paul, and collaborated with A-list producers (behind hits for  Drake, Shaggy and Koffee), before crafting their own song over shared “riddims”. In doing so, Fellows added their unique voices to a practice that has long empowered communities and laid the foundation for hip-hop. 

United by a shared mission to use their platforms for meaningful change, VERSIONS artists spent a year immersed in a global arts fellowship that provided holistic mentorship, wellness support, and skill-building in arts and leadership – culminating in each artist leading powerful social impact projects within their communities. “The VERSIONS Project brought together so many different people, artists, brands,  educators and youth. Collaborations were happening in ways we couldn’t have imagined, and the end product is something truly unique.” said co-founder D’Ari Lisle. 

Participating artists from Canada and the US joined with peers from across Africa and the Caribbean,  forming a diverse brain-trust that met regularly to share ideas and perspectives. Together, they took a deep dive into the history of systemic challenges facing their communities and emerged motivated to dismantle them. 

From this deep intercultural exchange came their reflection – The Versions  Soundtrack—a dynamic mix of purpose-driven music and cultural storytelling. A powerful conversation in song.