Heavy Sound founder says his 'dad joke' to Duke and Duchess of Cambridge bombed during their visit

Jordan Butler met the royal couple at its premises in Cockenzie Business Hub as they learned about Heavy Sound’s work and its partnership with the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU).

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit. All images: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire

Arriving at 3.20pm, the couple, known as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn when in Scotland, squeezed a lot into their hour-and-10-minute visit.

Heavy Sound, which moved from Tranent to Cockenzie last July, was the only place the couple visited in the hub in what is thought to be their first official visit to East Lothian.

The Duchess tried mixing a dance music track alongside Jordan and music services manager Thilo Pfander but received a scathing review from her husband.

READ MORE: Picture gallery of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visiting Heavy Sound in Cockenzie

Despite her insisting the track be deleted, Jordan said it had been saved and was waiting to hear what he could do with it, joking of a pending release.

He added that the track was not as bad as the Duke made out and he enjoyed listening to it.

But his “dad joke” to the duo of getting royalties from the song should it be released did not go down as well as he thought it would, he recalled.

William and Catherine also visited Heavy Sound’s community reach and inclusion bus (CRIB), which is kitted out with recording equipment, IT and office equipment, a kitchen and hairdressing space.

Jordan said the royals took a great interest in the project, discussed how it came about and the work it does.

He added: “On board the bus they had a big interest in mental health.

“They also had in-depth knowledge of childhood trauma and work with early years; it is obviously something they know about and have a lot of knowledge in.”

Heavy Sound partners with vulnerable, disadvantaged and disengaged young people using music and sport.

About 90 per cent of the young people have care experience and/or complex childhood trauma. It works with 42 young people and 14 adults.

Heavy Sound is in partnership with the SVRU, which helped make the CRIB possible alongside support from the Scottish Prison Service and STV Children’s Appeal.

During the pandemic, the CRIB became an ‘alternative classroom’, offering a safe place for the children of key workers and vulnerable children. It also distributed 85,000 lunches during the first lockdown and 9,000 in the second.

The royal couple also watched the Thai boxing group and mixed martial arts programme ‘Fight Like A Girl’.

"We tried our best to get them [the royal couple] involved in Thai boxing and hitting some of the pads but they were more interested in speaking to the young people,” said Jordan.

“Kate did go on the mat with her high heels on, which is a big no-no, but you can make exceptions for certain people!”

William declined the invitation, saying he did not have the right equipment but that he used to box during his time in the army.

Heavy Sound also works on mentoring and building skills and development, with William and Catherine also visiting Heavy Sound’s bike maintenance facility.

The visit meant a lot to Jordan, who was homeless himself from the age of 13 to 26 and suffered with substance misuse as a result. Music was how he expressed himself, which is one reason why Heavy Sound has such a focus on it and “building relationships and more alternative and positive forms of expression”.

He added: “We are able to offer our young people as many opportunities for positive engagement as possible and show them that through building relationships and engaging, they can get opportunities.”

Jordan told the story of one girl who suffers from social anxiety – she not only made it through the door on the day of the visit but spoke to the royal couple and showed off her artwork in an experience that Jordan said “will stay with her for the rest of her life”.

On the Duke and Duchess, he said: “They are lovely and really down to earth. I felt incredibly relaxed.

"But it was so surreal at the same time. It did become normal pretty quickly, though.”