Why we created PLYBACK
Building the next generation of sound system culture
There’s something special about sound system culture, rooted in Jamaican sound system heritage and brought to the UK in the 1950s, where it became a foundational force in shaping much of the music and genres we listen to today.
It has never just been about the speakers themselves; it’s about the people behind them, the skills passed down, and the feeling of hearing something you built with your own hands come alive for the first time.
PLYNYL co-founder Kev Original is proud to be part of that tradition. As a leading member of Manchester’s Dub Smugglers Sound System, he has spent years keeping the culture alive by building earth-shaking sound systems, DJing around the world, producing music, and helping shape unforgettable sessions and events (he also takes great pride in knowing that every speaker stack he has built or helped to build has received an official local authority noise complaint).
For decades, sound system culture has been built on sharing music, knowledge, ideas and craft. But somewhere along the way, access to that experience has started to become limited by cost, equipment and simply knowing where to start.
That’s why we created PLYBACK.
A speaker bought, a skill unlocked.
PLYBACK is our way of keeping our Speaker Building Workshops accessible to the people who could benefit from them most.
Through PLYNYL, 15% of profits from every product sold and every event we run goes back into supporting organisations working with young people and disadvantaged communities, helping fund workshop places that might otherwise never happen.
The idea is simple: someone buying a Tiny Dub speaker, or joining us at a PLYNYL event, could be helping someone else experience the feeling of designing, building and creating something from scratch - turning an idea into something real, and discovering the confidence that comes from making something with your own hands.
More than a workshop
At the centre of PLYBACK is ourTiny Dub speaker-building workshop. Over four hours, participants take an idea and turn it into something real. They design and decorate their own plywood speaker, learn practical woodworking skills, wire up the electronics and finish by exploring the basics of audio engineering as their speaker comes to life.
The result isn’t just a finished product, it’s the feeling of understanding how something works, taking ownership of the process and leaving with something that carries a bit of your own story.
Our PLYNYL team can deliver sessions for up to 20 people, or smaller groups of 10 for more intensive cohorts, with everything needed provided - from the materials and tools to the knowledge and guidance to bring the speakers to life.
Accessible from age 11 upwards, everyone leaves with a genuinely high-quality Bluetooth speaker they built themselves, alongside new skills in carpentry, electronics, design and problem solving.
The bigger picture
Hands-on creative experiences are powerful because they combine practical skills, creativity and confidence in a way that few other activities can. But they are also exactly the kind of opportunities that can become difficult for schools, youth organisations and community groups to access.
Materials cost money, skilled guidance costs money, and time and preparation are essential.
PLYBACK exists to help remove some of those barriers, and we’ve already seen what’s possible.
Working with organisations like MAP Charity in Leeds, we’ve watched young people design, build and walk away with a Bluetooth speaker they’re genuinely proud of.
For some participants, particularly those who find traditional learning environments challenging, the hands-on nature of the build created a completely different kind of experience. The focus, problem solving and process of making something tangible gave them a space to explore creativity in their own way, and for some, it was the first time they had been given the opportunity to create something like this.
Keeping the culture alive
Sound system culture has always been built around community, the passing down of knowledge, the sharing of ideas, and the belief that making something together is more powerful than experiencing something alone.
PLYBACK is our way of continuing that tradition, giving the next generation the chance to discover the joy of building, creating and being part of something bigger. Because the future of sound doesn’t just belong to the people who already know how to build it - it belongs to the people who are waiting for the chance to try.
If you’d like to directly support more young people getting access to these workshops, you can donate here: plynyl.co.uk/donate
If you’re a sound system insider who’d like the opportunity to share your knowledge and skills with young people, we’re always open to offers of ideas and support, so please do get in touch.
'Download our Speaker Building Workshop information pack (PDF)
