The Calais Sessions is a collective of creatives from the UK who use the universal language of music to empower and entertain Europe's refugees. Our team travel armed with a colourful array of instruments, and on arrival at camp we connect with the local musicians, hear their stories and see where we can collaborate. Meanwhile, a makeshift studio is set up on site in which to capture these tracks by day, as is a venue to host performances by night.  Excited news of our arrival travels fast; just under the surface is a deep and heavy yearning for self-expression. From the raw Syrian folk song to the nectar-sweet Ethiopian gospel lullaby, and the clannish Sudanese drum circle to the most infectious Afghan pop, it is clear that Europe has been bestowed a treasure chest of rich and exotic cultural heritage. Let's embrace it we say.  The project started in a weekend in mid September 2015 when a group of international musicians, based in the UK, went to see if they could find musicians in the camp to collaborate, rehearse, write, perform and record with. Within the hour four Syrian musicians (two from the camp, two from London) had formed a group. 48 hours later they recorded a song written by Moheddin, a tailor and singer from Syria with an extraordinary voice. ‘When are you coming back?’ is always the question on departing from the camp. After nine months of recording and collaborating, ‘The Calais Sessions’ album, featuring the talented musicians of the Calais ‘jungle’ is released on June 17th. Proceeds from the sale go to Citizens UK, a charity fighting for the rights of unaccompanied refugee children, and also as donations to the refugee musicians who recorded the album. Europe’s refugees tend to live desolate lifestyles of unknown futures and dangerous presents. That much is known. What we may not immediately consider is their capacity for friendship, compassion, creativity and tenderness. It’s senseless to define the characteristics of so many individuals – their upbringings, talents, loves, values – by one label, a refugee. The medium of music lets us interact with these people on a mutual plain devoid of patronisation, offering a space where those more intricate characteristics can flourish. ‘Music is an international language and it can cut through all barriers to create joy and bond us in a shared experience. With every single recording on The Calais Sessions, people outside the ‘jungle’ will be beautifully forced to see the humanity in these people, moved by their songs and rhythm’ Natalia Tena