OUR TEAM

At Our HeartBeats CIC, lived experience, creativity, and care are at the heart of everything we do.

Our team is made up of artists, facilitators, and organisers who are committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces where young people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds can explore music, build confidence, and grow their creative voices.

Many people involved in Our HeartBeats have lived experience of migration, displacement, or rebuilding life in a new place. This perspective shapes how we work — from how we design our programmes, to how we communicate, safeguard, and represent our community. We believe that those closest to the work should have a meaningful role in shaping it.

Our HeartBeats supports progression and leadership pathways, with participants encouraged to develop into alumni, collaborators, and contributors over time. We value collaboration, mutual respect, and learning together, and we are proud of the collective that continues to grow around Our HeartBeats.

Meet the Team

  • A man with curly hair and glasses stands outdoors on a sunny day with palm trees and buildings in the background.

    Kensaye Russell

    CEO & Lead Director

    A music producer and cultural practitioner, Kensaye leads the organisation’s vision, partnerships, and creative direction, ensuring Our HeartBeats remains rooted in community, care, and artistic excellence. His work focuses on creating inclusive platforms where music, storytelling, and social impact intersect.

  • A young man with blond hair, tattoos on his neck and hands, wearing a striped button-up shirt, standing in front of a dark background with draped fabric, looking at the camera.

    Dmitrii Snegirev

    Co-Director & Operations Lead

    He first joined Our HeartBeats as a participant, before becoming actively involved in shaping the organisation’s digital presence and operations. Dima leads on digital strategy, social media, website development, communications, and organisational systems, ensuring Our HeartBeats’ work is visible, accessible, and ethically represented online.

Participants & Alumni

  • A female DJ with dark wet hair, wearing a pink headband, mixing music on a Pioneer DJ controller in a dimly lit environment.

    Yuna

    DJ Miss Yamete Aah

    Yuna is a DJ and Our HeartBeats alumni whose sound blends Baile rhythms, Bollywood influences, and electronic music. Her sets move fluidly across genres, combining high-energy selections with a playful, experimental approach to DJing.

  • A DJ wearing a Paris-themed baseball cap, patterned shirt, and headphones, mixes music on a Pioneer DJ controller in a dimly lit room.

    Buay

    DJ Buay

    Buay is a DJ and Our HeartBeats alumni from South Sudan whose sound combines Afrobeats with electronic music. His sets reflect a deep appreciation for rhythm, movement, and club culture, blending Afro-influenced grooves with modern electronic textures.

  • A woman DJ wearing a red cap, headphones, and a white jacket, operating a DJ mixer with colorful lights.

    Rehab

    DJ Ruby Heart

    Rehab is a DJ and Our HeartBeats alumni from South Sudan, drawing inspiration from pop and global music sounds. Her approach to DJing centres joy, accessibility, and connection, bringing together world influences with contemporary pop energy.

  • A DJ wearing a cap, sunglasses, headphones, and a white shirt with red trim, is operating a professional DJ mixer and turntables in a dimly lit setting.

    Wan

    DJ and musician

    Wan is a rapper and DJ from South Sudan and an Our HeartBeats alumni who brings together lyricism and DJ culture. Blending rap with DJing, his work explores storytelling, rhythm, and live performance, creating a hybrid approach that reflects both personal expression and club-oriented sound.

  • Shaden

    DJ SHAHROORAH

    DJ SHAHROORAH is a DJ and Our HeartBeats alumni with a growing interest in electronic and experimental sounds. As part of Our HeartBeats, Shaden engaged in DJ training and collaborative sessions, using music as a space for exploration, learning, and creative growth