Muse Lab with The Isle of CC
Photo Credits: Marvin
First and foremost, Muse Lab wasn’t just an event; it was a moment. A bold, beautiful collision of music, art, and fashion curated with soul and sincerity by The Isle of CC, a creative whose vision echoed far beyond the walls of The Box Arts Club in Milton Keynes. This wasn’t just about showcasing talent; it was about creating community, building legacy, and breaking the myth that all things culture must orbit around London.
DJ EbzCellence set the tone with an electrifying set that pulsed between powerful live performances. The crowd was treated to standout acts from simon a., LARWOOD & KOH and one of Glastonbury Festival’s emerging talent winners, Nat Oaks, each bringing their unique energy. Around the venue, the creative spirit continued to flow: fashion labels REVELATION-22, ASKARI and Afriparel showcased their latest collections among a backdrop of stunning artworks from Reude and Oska Zaky. Attendees indulged in sweet offerings from Laurie’s Kitchen and browsed handcrafted candles by For the People, adding a friendly interactive element to an evening that represented diversity of creativity.
In conversation with our Wordplay director CC, the mastermind behind Muse Lab, their upbeat energy was giving like a beat drop before the verse kicks in. “I started having dreams around January,” reflecting on the origin of the event. “I don’t usually dream much… let alone recurring dreams.” That spiritual spark quickly transformed into a purpose-driven plan. With algorithmic fate sliding The Box Arts Club into their Insta feed, CC saw a space, saw potential, and like any true creative, eventually saw their dream become reality within it.
“I’ve always wanted to do a collaborative event, but never knew what that’s going to look like?” The dream materialised in February, after a pivotal convo with Hansel of Revelation 22. “Maybe I was projecting a little bit,” CC laughs, reminiscing about suggesting he use the space for their pop-up. “But then I thought CC, you should do an event in that place.” And so the blueprint for Muse Lab was born.
They hit up the creative group chat, sourcing talent and the genesis of the curation process; connecting with designer Askari through the Adé community. “I tapped back in with early Wordplay collaborators like Simon; it was so full circle.” From reaching out to fashion creatives like Afriparel, to bringing in their talented friends like Laurie for competition vibes, Muse Lab gradually assembled, each artist a key piece in CC’s immersive vision. But don’t get it twisted, putting together Muse Lab wasn’t all smooth rides and chill vibes.
“I was like a horse with blinders,” they admitted. “I genuinely had no doubt it would sell out. But halfway through the promo phase, reality hit- sales weren’t moving the way the vision demanded… I definitely had a mini breakdown and was just like, I’m gonna cancel it.” It was a real moment, the kind creatives know too well, when self-belief battles fear and the only way out is through.
But CC didn’t fold.
With support from their partner, their people, their music manager, and a healthy mix of tough love and heartfelt encouragement, they pushed through. “My partner was like, don’t flake. Wait until next week. If you’re not on 20 tickets, then reschedule.” That lifeline gave CC just enough space to regroup and breathe. “There’s still another payday left… people also buy tickets last minute.” Holding that reserve and opening up paid off in the best imaginable way.
“Being vulnerable and open was what made it a success,” they reflected. “Real talk. It’s that reminder creatives need in the age of self-sufficiency: asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. People actually love you and care about you and want to see you succeed… genuinely see you succeed.”
From panic to purpose, CC reignited the fire, hit the streets with flyers, and kept it grassroots. “I was going to really nice neighborhoods and doing some flyering.” That hunger? That hustle? That’s the energy CC radiates and the encouragement and support they always give so freely, became a moment for reciprocity.
But Muse Lab wasn’t just about CC’s resilience, it was about place. About putting MK on the map, not as a cultural footnote but a creative hub in its own right. CC reflected, “I used to be notorious for complaining about Milton Keynes,” they confessed. “Then I thought how dare you complain when you have all these skills?” CC’s transparency about choosing to build where they live instead of fleeing to London (which they lovingly call “a bit of a creative cop-out”) hits different in an industry that too often overlooks regional artistry. “You’re needed here,” they said, straight up. “When you go to a place like London, it’s littered with so many artists and creatives that you don’t realise it’s very easy to drown there.”
And the vibe at the event? Magic. No crosstalk. Just pure engagement. “I looked around and was like, oh, people are really engaging… they’re actually really attentive.” It’s a rare intimacy, born not of scarcity, but of deep appreciation. “Because they don’t usually see something like this in Milton Keynes… they’re going to pay attention. London is so littered with lots of different things,” they continue, “you can kind of go, oh, this person will come back… but in Milton Keynes, people think, ‘this could be the one and only.’”
That attention is legacy-building. The type that makes artists stay rooted, that inspires others to say, “I could do this too.” And that’s exactly what CC wants. “You could put on a fashion show, or a collection launch… you might be the only one doing that thing here. How wonderful is that?” Even deeper, Muse Lab speaks to the power of nurturing spaces and showing up. CC gave props to local initiatives like The Music Room, whose untimely fade-out serves as a cautionary tale. “These events were always sold out,” they said, “and then one day it just… stopped. It’s a real shame.” The lesson? “You need to nurture and support these things while they’re there.” Now, CC’s on a new mission. “If I see anyone trying to put on a creative event in MK, I’m sharing their poster, I’m putting it in Facebook groups. It’s a way of giving back, a way of ensuring that others don’t face the same uphill battle alone.”
From planning to promotion, from doubt to triumph, CC’s journey with Muse Lab is a masterclass in believing in your local scene and betting on your own vision. “I learned a lot about myself,” they said. “And about my resilience too.” In the end, Muse Lab isn’t just a testament to creative grit or community collaboration, it’s a blueprint. A statement piece for a generation of artists tired of begging for a seat at the table and ready to build their own. So here’s the message, loud and clear: Milton Keynes (CC lovingly called ‘Milk and Beans’) has culture. And if you’re a creative sitting on an idea, wondering if it’s worth the risk, take it from CC: “I had a vision. There’s no way I’m going to dream about this event and it not go well.” They laughed, “How dare you,” remembering the pep talk they gave themselves, “how very dare you sit on your skills and not do something with them.”
Photo Credit: Chris Henley
