Skate Sounds is the crew bringing the noise to London’s roller skate scene

There are few better reminders of our free will than seeing a group of people on roller skates, whizzing through the city with a bluetooth speaker and a sense of unbridled joy. That might be why roller skating has become one of the most popular answers to the desperate lack of third spaces over the past few years. In London, one collective in particular is prioritising community… but the story goes way beyond just bringing people together.  

Founded by Australian music producer Adam Friedman, Skate Sounds is purposefully hard to categorise. The group – part collective, part label and part “movement” – brings music and skating together in a way that is different to all the rest. “I’ve had years of experience producing records. Once skating took over my life I couldn’t help but be heavily influenced by music,” Friedman tells Dazed. “It was inevitable that these two worlds would collide.”

While music and skating have always gone hand in hand, Skate Sounds creates a space to really celebrate what makes the city so special. “What I felt was missing was original songs made for the London scene, the soundtrack to the lifestyle,” he explains, although he expects its local stars to explode into a broader cultural consciousness sooner rather than later. “The next 12 months is going to be a big year of lifting the voices of the London skate scene to a much wider audience.”

Needless to say, these kinds of cultural scenes can take years or even decades to germinate and grow into something special. But the Skate Sounds philosophy is slightly different: why not just skip all the awkward beginning stages and get stuck right into it? Admittedly, this requires a lot of trust and faith in one another, but the collective has plenty of each. “Community is family,” Friendman says. “One of the reasons the skate scene is so close is that we’re outside non-stop.” Hours spent skating together every day turn familiar faces into a proper crew, with friendships built on shared spots, sessions and the inevitable chaos in between.

At the end of last year, that energy came to life as the NBK skate team asked Skate Sounds to soundtrack a party in a secret supermarket car park. “The music, the energy… it was the most interesting subculture,” they recall. “Not just to observe, but to be a core contributor to such an amazing community was a big pinch-me moment.”

For Friedman, it’s simple. “I’m trying to lead with integrity, gratitude, belief, empathy, and bring those qualities into Skate Sounds,” he explains. For those who want to embody that same approach, here he shares his five ways to keep that energy moving.

1. EACH ONE TEACH ONE 

“So many people were patient with me during my skating journey, showing me new skills and providing tips to improve. The ‘each one teach one’ mentality runs through skating, and it’s important to pass on the same patience and mentorship to newcomers in the scene, whether it be advice on skating, music or life.”

2. ENTHUSIASM > SKILL

“Years ago I asked my Italian teacher what his favourite level of Italian was to teach. He said it doesn’t matter if someone has just started or has been learning for years; what’s most important is their passion. I think that ethos applies to everything, especially Skate Sounds. I don’t care about a jaded expert, just give me good energy and enthusiasm, even if it’s day one on skates.”

3. DON’T LOOK BACK

“There’s this pervasive mentality that things used to be better, not just in skating but culture in general. Admittedly there are many problems in this world and of course cultural movements come and go, but those in the golden age of something often don’t appreciate it while they are there. It may not be the biggest it’s been, but in the long history of the world, you’re here now. There’s no time like the present.”

“It’s easy to look at masters of their craft and be intimidated by what you think is their innate ability. But […] everyone started as a shaky beginner” – Adam Friedman, founder of Skate Sounds

4. LONDONERS, YOUR CITY IS ICONIC 

“As an Australian, I still feel starry-eyed about this city. Going to an underground skate party is such a peak London experience; something like that truly couldn’t exist in many other places. There’s a lot of pride in London’s cultural output, but for the younger generation, I think they need to take some time to appreciate they’re in [a] mecca. They’re born into and have grown up around one of the most interesting and culturally rich places in the world.”

5. (TIME + INTEREST) DIVIDED BY FEAR = RESULTS 

“It’s easy to look at masters of their craft and be intimidated by what you think is their innate ability. But like many other disciplines, there’s no talent gene in skating, everyone started as a shaky beginner. What separates newcomers from the best is the hours they’ve put in, their interest in the skill and their fearlessness, their willingness to make mistakes and fall over. That’s what leads to progress.”

Skate Sounds is part of Under Armour’s Rest Less story, spotlighting the communities and collectives putting their restless energy into action. For Friedman and his community, that spirit isn’t about being the best or shining the brightest, but staying open to new ideas, new people and new ways of expressing yourself – whether that’s through skating, music or simply forging your own way through the city.