The “What a Palava” Interviews: Sönke Prigge
"There's various lost sounds in the world that you don't hear anymore... sounds that generations of people in the area grew up with, and we really took those sounds for granted." — Sönke Prigge
In this episode of Mapping North Deptford, recorded on July 14, 2026 in the basement of the Pepys Community Hub (aka the Longshore Room), Alice sits down with resident and musician Sönke Prigge.
Sönke has been a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Music Performance & Production at the University of East London (UEL) since 2015. He has lived on the Pepys Estate since 2014 and has been involved with the Pepys Community Hub since 2019. In this interview, he shares how he first established his music studio in the hub's basement, his extensive background in music production—from scoring BAFTA-winning animated documentaries for the BBC (The Wrong Trainers) to working in television translation and dubbing—and his current musical projects.
The conversation also covers his recent contribution to the British Library Sound Archive recording a lost agricultural sound (listen to hear some clattering mills!), organizing classical piano concerts and community events in the Longshore Room, reflections on living on the Pepys Estate, the lack of local restaurants in North Deptford and the baby foxes that used to live in the wild garden beneath his flat!
Links & References Mentioned in the Episode
- The Wrong Trainers: The BAFTA-winning BBC Newsround animated documentary scored by Sönke.
- Music & Studio: Visit Sönke's website at Curfew Music or listen to his electronic project on Strange Addiction's Bandcamp.
- Salamander News: Read Alice’s article on the Convoys Wharf site visit for added context on local riverside access.
“What A Palava” Exhibition Details
Join us at Pepys Community Hub as we celebrate 60 years of the Pepys Estate.
Opening on the 18th of July 2026 with a special event, and running until the 18th of November 2026, as a participatory exhibition including photography, artwork, music and many more contributions from current and former residents. Pepys Community Hub asks what it means to document and remember this place today. Reflecting on the past, present and future, we will examine the changes, struggles, achievements and transformations that have defined the area and its people. For more details click here.
