Ricky McCalla
Offering ex-offenders and kids at risk a route to a better life
me by youth offending teams and
organisations that deal specially
with ex-offenders and kids at risk
of offending. Once I get the rest of
the building set up I can hopefully
start work with bigger groups of
people. That’s the plan.
And what do you hope you’ll
affect or inspire in these groups?
With some of the groups that I
have worked with before it’s really
about giving them a positive role
model. Not just myself, but the
teams of people I work with also.
We all have a positive outlook on
life so it’s about trying to show
them that there are other ways that
you can take as opposed to gang
life or street life – there are other
things that you can do and be
YOung AnD AmbItIOus
successful. It’s all about changing
their train of thought and installing
R
icky McCalla was a knew that I would be fine – and a seed inside of them that can let
talented young dancer miraculously I was only in hospital them grow into positive people.
and choreographer who for a week and a half. So that is the
had a promising career ahead reason why I have a more positive What challenges did you have in
of him. He was in demand from outlook than many others on life. setting up the studio?
some of the biggest names in the I was given an initial start of
music industry and had starred What motivates you as a person? £8000 from the Prince Trust, but
alongside acts including Ashanti My family. I’ve got like a typical 2.4 since then I’ve had nothing more.
and Mystique. One night while family – and I have always had a Obviously there’s rent that has to
driving home he stopped off at a willingness to succeed and better be paid, there was more equipment
McDonalds Drive Thru and was myself. I want the best for myself that I needed etc. It has been
shot in the neck during a bungled and my family and my friends as myself and my family that have
carjacking. Being left unable to well, so I just try to implement been running and keeping the
dance, Ricky decided to turn his positive things and try to be the studio afloat. I’m really hoping that
experience into something positive best that I can be and hopefully now I can get the relevant backing
and began to mentor young people that will have a knock-on effect and sponsors so I can make the
at risk of getting involved in the with my family as well. most of the space here and work
sort of the crime that affected his with larger groups of young people.
own life. He thus set up Frosted Why did you decided to set up
Ice Inc, which offers 10-week the studio and help young people Do you ever miss dancing?
courses on the ins and outs of the in the way that you did? Most definitely – that’s what I was
music industry and how to make I was into music in general before good at and I was making really
music. On a cold and windy Friday I even started dancing and I was good money from it. One of my
afternoon, Ricky sat down with doing little music things in my colleagues now is still working for
Flavour to talk about his incredible house with my younger peers. some of the people that I used to
outlook on life, the effect church When I got shot, I thought let me work with before. I do definitely
has had on him and the work that try and give something back and miss it, I miss being on stage and
still needs to be done in the studio. try and get the same kids off the the whole performing aspect of it.
street. I hate using the word but But at the same time I know that
First of all, have you always had the people who ‘attacked’ me, I what I’m doing now is going to lead
such a positive outlook on life? wanted to try and do something to that anyway… I also do music
From a young age I have been to help keep them motivated and production and artist development
influenced by the church. My keep them off the streets. and I have been working with some
mum’s a Reverend of a church people in the industry and I hope to
which obviously had a big influence How does the studio work? still have a fruitful and productive
on me, like your ways and your For the longest while it has been career in music.
thoughts on life. The funny thing more like a drop-in centre with
about that is even when I was in referrals from friends of friends For more information or to
hospital my mum spent her time and people that know me or lived support the work of Frosted Ice
praying for my friends instead of in the area. Now I’m just trying to Inc please visit their website
me. When I asked her about this expand it to a capacity whereby I www.frostediceinc.com or
ds by Karla Williams
afterwards she said she already can have groups of people sent to
or
email frost@frostediceinc.com
W
26
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40