Unchained Melodies: Making Music Behind the Wire

Inspired by the 2025 album "Bending the Bars," featuring original hip hop tracks by 15 incarcerated artists, this Edovo course is designed for both new and experienced writers, songwriters, and musicians. Its goal is to inspire, encourage, and equip incarcerated writers to develop their writing and connect with resources to continue their learning beyond the course. With guest teachers including FREER Records' BL Shirelle and featured speakers from "Bending the Bars" and beyond, the course offers insight and guidance for writers making music behind the wire. A parallel course is available online for your loved ones to take as well at www.unchainedmelodies.online.

Bending the Bars is a groundbreaking hip-hop album written and performed by incarcerated artists from Florida’s Broward County Jail that provides a platform for hidden talent and a blueprint for similar projects nationwide.

After taking “Unchained Melodies: Making Music Behind the Wire” students will be able to:

• discuss the history of music produced by incarcerated people
• identify how artists incorporate different themes into their writing
• write an original song and gain new skills in songwriting
• learn about different organizations that support incarcerated writers