Tape Letters

“You go back and listen. People that have passed now, you can hear their voices… it just brings back memories.”

Unlike a letter or telegram, or even a video on a screen, a cassette recording can feel like the person is right there in the room.

This episode reflects on the deep emotional impact of Tape Letters. It also explores questions of identity, nationality, and culture.

“I take pride in being Scottish, I’m Scottish-Pakistani… [but] I'm torn between two cultures, two languages, two countries.” 

Episode credits
Contributors: Izaz Ur Rahman, Naila Waseem, Mohammed Farooq, Dean Mohammed, Jamila Bibi, Mirza Muhammad Saeed, Nadira Saddiq, Shenaz Ahmad, Faria Khan, Kausar Ilyas, Nasim Hussain, Akeel Ahmad, Khalida Hussain
Cassette tape donors: Khadijah Khurram, Mohammed Ishaq, Kauser Riaz, Rehana Ahmad
Project director: Wajid Yaseen
Podcast presenter: Tabassum Niamat
Podcast production & sound design: Steve Urquhart

Tape Letters Scotland is a Modus Arts project, made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

What is Tape Letters?

Tape Letters shines light on the practice of recording and sending messages on cassette tape as an unorthodox method of communication by Pakistanis who migrated and settled in the UK between 1960-1980. Season 1: Tape Letters England. Season 2: Tape Letters Scotland. This series features original tapes collected from families in Pothwari, Punjabi, Urdu, and English, as well as oral history recordings and behind-the-project interviews with the people involved in collecting this body of work.