Soundcamp is a 12 week programme that gives up and coming artists the opportunity to develop their performance and music business skills, delivered in partnership with Youth Music. The Soundcamp Spotlight series is a new feature that aims to shine the light on Soundcamp artists and share their story with our audience.
To kick off this series, we sat down with DJ, Producer, Label Owner and Project Facilitator Joe Roche.
Could you please introduce yourself.
Hi, I’m Joe Roche and I’m your new favourite DJ. Only messing (not really), I live in Salford and I make and play tunes for a living, which is unreal. I run an online record store, record label and event/music brand called Do As You Please.
When did your musical journey start?
My parents co-owned a nightclub that booked DJs like Utah Saints, Sasha & Nightmares on Wax in the early acid house days. I was brought up around these people and that scene so I suppose it was from about 1994.
In terms of DJ’ing and making music though coming up to the 10 year mark now, mad.
How would you describe your production and mixing style?
I like groovy party gear to be honest. Love the old Chicago/Detroit styles, French house, chunky Glasgow/Scottish style house and techno. Early 00s breakbeat as well if the crowd is up for it. Also, more recent bouncy deep and tech house, like Gene on Earth and Huerta have changed the game for me.
My style is kind of a culmination of all these influences. I like to be eclectic and versatile with my DJing, and I feel this shows in my production as well. I’d love to have a track of my own to play at any time of day or night, in any type of venue.
At the end of last year you participated in Reform’s Soundcamp bootcamp, a project to cultivate 16 of Manchester’s promising artists. Why did you decide to apply for this programme?
I finished my DJ & production degree last Summer, and I was looking for my next step into the industry following that. The programme just seemed perfect, for real life, guided mentoring and learning. I’ve worked with Reform since 2016 as a participant and I know the quality of the courses is always high, but this seemed like a bit of a right of passage as an artist and I was incredibly keen to be amongst the local talent who were going for the positions.
What were your Soundcamp highlights?
You know what, the whole thing was absolutely class. As cliche as it is, every session and every little success for not only me, but for everyone else I was lucky enough to be on the programme with, was incredible. Having different mentors from different disciplines teaching you all their industry tips was definitely a highlight. The initial bootcamp process was unreal as well. Having like 30 creatives in a room with all the tools they’d need to create tunes and just setting them off is easily the best idea ever made.
The final showcase of everyone sharing their work is something I’ll never forget, too. Unbelievable talent, and all on our doorstep.
Soundcamp Showcase at We Out Here Online & On Air 2021
Since the Soundcamp Showcase, you performed a mega one hour live set at Manchester International Festival. How was that experience?
Well it was mega, obviously! The whole experience was amazing and it was nice to do it in the place I live. All my other larger event experiences have been elsewhere, so having a lot of familiar people and places around me was ace.
I actually managed to produce the whole set in about 4 weeks, which is something I’m really proud of. This set was following the previous live set I did for We Out Here Festival a few weeks before, which meant everything was really fresh and I had the drive to up the level of my performance.
The stage and crowd were class and to be honest it was a really proud moment for me all round.
I even made the visuals!
You’ve frequently been involved in Reform’s projects, both asa participant and as a facilitator. DJ sessions has been your most recent facilitation project, where you’ve been teaching participants DJ skills and helping them connect with potential promoters. What do you think draws you to facilitation?
Well, I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to pursue music and production as a career, and now I’m lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with an amazing company, teaching people everything I’ve learnt to better their lives and careers. The industry isn’t a level playing field, but there’s plenty of work there, people just need a leg up and some confidence with what they’re doing. I love sharing my eureka moments from over the years and to be honest, I learn as much as I teach a lot of the time. Plus it’s a right laugh and you meet about 8 million people every time you do a project.
What are you hoping your next steps will be?
I’d like to get some serious production work done now I’ve settled after uni and Soundcamp. Everything was too up in the air over the past 12-18 months to get my head down and find a flow with making music. I’d love to get some more label signings under my belt, new club residencies and hopefully expand into having a team representing/helping me as an artist in terms of a manager and agent.
Anything upcoming that you would like to shout out?
Yeah, we’ve got an event at Eastern Bloc on December 11th which I’m well buzzing about.Vinyl only, loads of mint up and coming DJs, come through its gonna be well good. Any Leeds heads reading this we’ve also got Distrikt booked on Tuesday 21st for the Do As You Please Christmas do. Next year loads of events gonna be happening so keep an eye on the socials and www.doasyouplease.uk.
Also we have another vinyl release scheduled for next year on the label. Massive release in my mind, can’t wait to share that with the world.
What was the last event you went to?
Back to Basics last weekend, prohibition theme and incredible line up. Also have to note, went to fabric for Craig Richards, Francesco Del Garda, Bradley Zero and loads of other heads at the start of the month and that was INCREDIBLE. fabric is one of the best clubs I’ve been to hands down, only £15 a ticket as well, buzzing.
Are there any local artists/musicians/collectives that you would like to shout out?
Yeah, I’ve been playing at Joshua Brooks quite regularly recently in the club and bar, massive shout to Sharples and the guys down there for having me and for what they’ve done with the venue. Absolutely love the space and the whole team are wicked and an absolute pleasure to work with.
Big shout to my friends at Surco, who invited me to play and celebrate their 6th birthday in October, unbelievable achievement from them and buzzing to see where they go.
Finally a huge thanks to all the Reform, Rhythm Lab and Soundcamp staff and artists that have made this chapter of my journey so class and memorable. You’re all ace, long live Reform.
And finally…What has made you chuckle recently?
Back to Basics 30th birthday at the Warehouse in Leeds. Loads of wicked characters and the whole night was absolutely class, but just bonkers and well funny. Also watched Jason Manford taking a scam call and having them on today, which was hilarious.
Every month we are promoting events hosted by our very own residents. Scroll down to find out what events are taking place this December.
ACTUP + Get Down: The Official Post-Show Afterparty
You can catch Reform Radio residents SupernatureDisco and Mix-Stress playing at the afterparty for the end of a national run for the acclaimed play – “First Time” (By Dibby Theatre/Nathaniel Hall) about people’s first time having sex. Nathaniel Hall who is a theatre maker and HIV activist took part in the Tough Talks podcast series, that were produced by Reform Radio for Hits Radio Pride. You can check out all the episodes by clicking here.
The event will also celebrate 36 yrs of HIV Activism in Manchester and will take place at Contact Theatre on the 4th December from 10pm.
Get more information about the event here and get your tickets here.
GYMNASTICS
You are all welcome on Thursday 16th December to join some regular night of proper club music in the dark and loud surroundings of AATMA, with artists like Miley, Esmé or very own Reform Radio’s Infant Hercules. Get ready to get lost in sound.
Fun time party crews Regal Disco & OneFiveEight join forces for a good old Christmas knee’s up, on the 17th of December from 11pm to 4am at YES. Strictly fun and vibes heavy on the dancefloor. Expect some global rhythms, disco, funk, bass and everything on between.
Refuge NYE
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Reform residents DJ Paulette and Supernature Disco at ‘Come As You Are’ that will take place in the usual place – Refuge. From7pm till 2am, move to the rhythm of soul, disco and funk and count down the bongs in style with a whole host of familiar faces and fantastic folk.
The next Online Work Club session is on Thursday 16th December from 3:30PM – 5:30PM.
Work Club takes place on a Thursday of every month, and is based on opportunities for the future. It includes a number of speakers who discuss various opportunities available, as well as 1-1s and pastoral sessions.
Since Thursday 12th August, we have been releasing episodes from the High Rise series on a weekly basis. We are excited to announce that all 11 episodes are out on Podfollow and Spotify.
High Rise is a European Social Fund 12 week creative writing radio drama project.
During these 12 weeks, MBE appointed Louise Wallwein guided each participant to create their own episode. All 11 episodes explored Greater Manchester’s gentrification.
Listen to all episodes below.
EP1: Hong Kong to Manchester
Written and produced by Farwa Naseer.
Hong Kong to Manchester explores themes of race, class and cultural differences. It showcases how humans connect regardless of this and celebrates Manchester’s diversity and evolving skyline.
EP2: Rain, Thunder and Fire
Written by Connor Forsyth.
An argument over the changing city, brought about by an artwork depicting it aflame. The High Rise buildings divide the past and future of the city. A story of sorrow, conflict, and passion.
EP3: Pushed Out Again
Written and produced by Jonathan Williams.
As the echoes of a compulsory order from the past linger, a teenager struggles with the uncertainty looming over his family with history threatening to repeat itself.
EP4: Nothing & Everything
Written & produced by Tom Braithwaite.
Guy, abandoned by the world, searching for the man responsible, runs into the arms of fate and a whirlwind romance with his rival’s daughter.
EP5: Same City. Total Opposites
by Joe Johnstone.
‘Same City. Total Opposites’ follows one boy, who is torn from his mother and is introduced to the tower blocks of Manchester.
EP6: No Power Great Responsibility
Written and directed by Alapelode Oluwatobi.
In ‘No Power Great Responsibility’, a builder fights for the freedoms of his family as a big Construction firm kicks local builders out of business.
EP7: Block 2 Block
Written and directed by Jozef Bryer.
‘Block 2 Block’ is a story of one young adult adapting back to normal life. He encounters many obstacles in his way, as he navigates two different environments.
EP8: A Day In the Life
Written by Alanis Leah MacDonald.
“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination”. In this episode, Gregory and Samantha are in a relationship and need a new home. Then the Manchester high rises are built. What will happen next?
EP9: Floor 129
Written and produced by Alex Ingham-Brophy.
This episode asks the question, what happens when you want more from life ? Everything’s tested. Relationships, moralities and sense of self-worth are all at risk, and it all starts on Floor 129.
EP10: A Tale from Two Sides
Written & directed by Maddie Zygmunt
Two Men, One Address, this is the story of the class divide.
EP11: Mourning Manchester, Mourning Malik
by Zhahava Waseem
“A drama rooted in grime, simplified in rhyme, inspired by the experience of both yours and mine, is it really one of crime? I mean, some of you may think it’s fine. Malik and Myles, Posh and Poor, one gets wasted and one goes to the floor. A story of friendship, a story of fraud. So sit back and relax, you won’t get bored.”
TRIGGER WARNING This article contains information about suicide, sexual assault and violence which may be triggering.
Amplifying the voices and stories of those close to us is at the core of what Reform Radio is all about.
During this year’s Black History Month we announced our new – and first ever – Artist In Residence, Melissa Dean. Through this programme the artist will receive a small bursary and free space, while we support them to secure new paid work, both within and outside our organisation. In celebration of this exciting new residency we have invited Melissa to share her story. Featuring topics of race, trauma and the arts, in this piece Melissa guides us through her life from childhood to now, presenting the environments, cultures and events that have shaped the person she is today.
Introducing Melissa…
When Reform asked me to write an autobiography to introduce me as their first Artist In Residence, it was no easy task. It’s taken me several weeks to unravel the right stories that shed some light onto who I am, how I got here and to highlight how poignant this residency is for me, at this moment in my career, as I discover my voice through writing.
This is the first time I have publicly shared a piece of writing and it feels essential to shed some light onto some of my journey, in the hope of empowering others.It is also a celebration that perseverance and hard work pays off.
Up until the age of 13, I was a very shy child, who cried every day when I was dropped off at infant and junior school. Everyday. I was a very sensitive child and am still the same sensitive, but strong woman. I believe sensitivity is a super power.
I grew up in a loving home in Leyton, East London. A melting pot of cultures. My dad is Black and was born in Guyana. He arrived in Britain in the Windrush generation, searching for bigger opportunities. My mum is white, Northern Irish and came here with her family when she was 11, after the death of her mother. My dad worked hard in factories until he retired. My mum was an office worker throughout her career with bigger dreams, but lacked confidence. The 60s was hardly a time when women or black people were encouraged to dream.
My parents threw me into the swimming pool at age 4, and as I grew – karate, Irish dancing, piano and much more. I was lucky enough to have such privileges, although we were far from wealthy. I spent most school holidays at my dad’s zip factory and every weekend at cricket: my dad, a West Indies cricket fanatic. Yearly visits to Ireland and Spain to see my mum’s family were our holidays, and I only met my dad’s family in the Caribbean once, when I was 20.
I went to junior school in the 90s; the years of The Spice Girls, Tamagotchis, mega drives, Yoyo’s, cats cradle and The Goonies. The days before high tech camera phones and social media, thank God!
When I was growing up, our house was full of my parents’ friends, my mum’s two sisters and the sense of laughter, 60s music, Caribbean food and dancing lived within our walls.
I was really into football, which I played each lunchtime with my class. My mum took me to a football club at our local green one Saturday. I stood there, feeling a bit… Stuck. At 10 years old, the voice in my head said, “Go, run, get the ball, do something”. But I just couldn’t move which was embarrassing and impossible to explain. Shyness often felt paralytic and controlled so much of what I wanted to do, but just… couldn’t. This same shyness stopped me defending myself against some of the worst bullying at secondary school.
Going from a mixed sex primary school where Black and mixed race was a minority, into an all-girls secondary school, full of predominantly Black and Asian women was a real shock to my system. I saw a multitude of mixed race teenagers for the first time. Everyone had curly hair except me and I noticed I was much lighter skinned than others.
My 13th birthday came around and my parents let me have a big party. 100 wonderful people squeezed into our home, my brother Wayne (17 years my senior) DJ’d and was on ‘grinding too close patrol’. Literally. Lol. The party was a hit and I felt popular and cool. But this joyous Princess feeling didn’t last long, as in the following weeks, I was raped.
they intentionally penetrate the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis –
or B does not consent to the penetration, and
A does not reasonably believe that B consents.
As a society, I believe that we are afraid of the word rape, as we imagine the worst but there are different levels to it, it’s not always as black and white as our imaginations.…
“A does not reasonably believe that B consents”.
Many people think rape is being held down, whilst you scream no, which is not always the case. So often, people don’t say no. And until we begin having these essential conversations as a society, the cycle will just continue.
We often make excuses for the predators and think about the pain it would bring to our loved ones. It could be a friend, a stranger, a family friend. “We were drunk, I wasn’t clear enough, I chose to go there, I didn’t leave, I went back again. They’re my partner”. We allow ourselves so many excuses, as to why it was our own fault and why we shouldn’t tell anyone.
You may wonder why I chose to talk about this in my biography, but it has affected my entire life and is part of what makes me the strong and empathetic woman I am today.
Trauma and pain create walls in our minds that affect us in every way and I believe therapy is a great way of breaking down those walls. It’s hugely affected my understanding of boundaries. It was only coming to Manchester at the age of 32, a city where I didn’t know anyone and in having to meet new people that I have really learnt about boundaries. Other peoples and my own.
Rape being my first sexual experience, I sadly went on to think that these behaviours were normal and hiding this from my family gave them no chance to teach me otherwise. Over the years I have shared my story with others, and unexpectedly others have shared their own experiences in return, asking me if their stories are also rape – which they each were.
An experienced therapist of 30 years apologised to me last year for denying in her mind I had in fact been raped until she read the sex act, which to me was mind blowing.
It was only going through a bad break up last year, triggering some sessions with said therapist that she thought I had PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) due to flashbacks I mentioned having sometimes during sex. I was actually thrilled by the discovery as there was now a potential solution. I was offered a therapy called EMDR, which worked wonders for me.
It was during one of these beginning sessions that another rape, around the same time as the first, a much more traumatic one, came to mind. I had pushed it deep down in the hope to forget. I was so distraught after a particular session that I decided to call the police. The idea had been put to me over the years and I always thought, “I’ll do it one day, when the time’s right.” But there’s never a right or easy time. And going to the police isn’t for everyone.
I could go on about attempting suicide, of bunking off school and turning into a horrible teenager, but I’ll park that for another biog. I will be clear about one thing. My parents tried everything to reach me, but I was inaccessible due to fear.
Around the time this happened, by chance I watched the film, ‘Meet Joe Black’ and I felt an emotional connection to the beauty of the classical soundtrack. I went on to research other classical soundtracks and was introduced to Thomas Newman, Hans Zimmer, City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
Listening to this music alone in my room in the evenings, out poured a river of tears that wouldn’t stop. It was a cathartic release of sadness, of pain and anger.
Between that and my love of GCSE drama, and my incredible drama teacher Ms Owen, I knew I wanted to be an actress, at 13. GCSE drama was one of the things that saved my life and GCSE drama has now been cut from my secondary school and others due to government funding cuts.
A year after these events things began to look up. The older girls left school and I joined a church youth group. We’d come together once a week and play games, dance and have discussions. We became a team of volunteers that would work in the community. We went to Lourdes, in the South of France yearly and assisted older, less mobile members of the community, in this place of pilgrimage. I went every year for 7 years.
This group really changed my life and so much healing came for me during these trips, where I began to form my own relationship with God. I didn’t know it then, but this introduced me and my core to community engagement, something that would come back around when I started my own theatre company, 11 years later. This shy young girl having trauma shoved in her face at 13, I became a loud, crossing boundary madness of a personality.
Between that and my parents paying for me to go away with the school choir each year, to places like South Africa, Barcelona, Austria, a love for travel and escapism was born, which I have carried into my adult life. My parents and I spent my two years of Sixth Form fundraising for a trip to teach drama and English in Zambia, in my gap year.
I auditioned for drama schools before I left for Zambia and I was lucky enough to get a place and a full DADA (dance and drama award) to pay for my £36,000 drama school fees. Drama school was hard work. It was not what I was expecting. You’re in lessons all day, everyday and you rarely get a night off. You get out what you put in. I was one of the very few actors from a diverse background (being in Oxfordshire), which was another uneasy shock to the system.
You can never really be prepared for the reality of not getting work as an actor, of the unspoken rejection that comes with the industry. Around a full time job, audition tapes for big shows can take you a week to do and you mostly don’t get a response. You learn to accept that it must be a no after two weeks of hearing nothing.
The reason I am still in the game after 11 years is because I have the full support of my family and I am proactive in my approach.
At 26, I was fed up with not having control of my career and started my own theatre company. I wanted to use theatre as a way of encouraging discussion around human rights issues.
As you can see with this biog, I am still trying to do the same, in another art form.
Over the years, I began to book small roles on TV including; Line of Duty, EastEnders and Doctors. I set up my own voice over studio in our spare room, which after years of hard work is proving fruitful as I am now a voice over for the Guardian Newspaper. I’m producing much more of my own work these days, which 11 years on has become more important to me than just booking an acting job.
I’m trying to stay connected to my creativity and things like Universal Credit have become a support for me in the last year, as I put all of my efforts into my own work and into looking after myself and my mental health. I have gotten by through waitressing, bar work and teaching assisting which have all helped shape who I am today and planted within me a love for working with children.
I moved to Manchester in late 2020 during the second lockdown to take some space for myself and to have a mental break from acting. So many people had told me I’d love Manchester and they weren’t wrong.
I took the lockdown opportunity to stay in my room and write. Moving to a place where I knew nobody, I was reintroduced to that shy Melissa and I realised she is still a part of me and has a voice. I was soon offered the chance to have my own show on Reform Radio and this new opportunity here as their Artist In Residence seems the perfect timing to tap into that voice.
I also discovered hiking, new great friendships and wild swimming which alongside writing gave me a chance at 33 to heal from my traumas. In these past few months, I have also produced a filmed piece of theatre, ME YOU US THEM, that looks into stories of race in Northern Ireland, with the support of Arts Council England and Terra Nova Productions. Between that and starting my own collection of creatives (Melting Pan Productions) I have been keeping busy.
The Black Lives Matter movement helped me question some of my own ignorances and how I occasionally projected my rapists onto other men that spoke or dressed a certain type of way. The movement also encouraged me to start doing my own research and after reading books such as ‘Why I’m No longer Talking To White People About Race’ by Reni Eddo-Lodge, ‘Natives’ by Akala and watching programmes such as ‘Uprising’ by Steve McQueen, I have really had my eyes opened to the systematic racism in the UK, which I had been blind to before. I am so sorry for that.
I have come to understand and accept, over the past year, that people are always going to put their labels on us. Whether we ask them to or not. Sometimes the people we love the most, and that’s ok, it’s just part of life. It’s how we respond and reject the world’s labelling or projections onto us that matters. We have to set boundaries and hold onto what we identify as.
It’s taken me 20 years to reconnect to self.It’s good to finally be here, finding peace, at 33, wearing my crown with pride.
I hope that this autobiography empowers others to realise you are not on your own. We all have trauma which has its own domino effect, on each of our lives.
I must celebrate that this residency comes at a time where my hard work is beginning to pay off and take this new journey with writing. Of my 11 years in the Arts, Reform Radio is the first company to offer me artistic support. Thank you so much for that. I am excited for this new chapter of life.
If you have been affected by any of the above, here are links I hope are of use –
We are currently hiring for 8 Kickstart roles. As these roles are part of the government’s Kickstart Scheme, you are eligible to apply for these positions if you are on Universal Credit and aged 16-24 years old. We have positions open from all across our departments, so act fast, as these will fill up quickly.
Scroll down to see what roles we have open.
For full descriptions of these roles, how to apply & closing dates head to the Kickstart page on our new opportunities website. You can also contact kickstart@reformradio.co.uk for any enquiries.
Last month we had our first BLM discussion back in Reform’s space with our staff and some special guests to help guide the conversation.
For anyone who is not familiar, we hold a monthly BLM discussion in which we focus on a different piece of media or writing that tackles this topic. The discussion aims to create a space to learn, reflect and discuss the future actions that we can take as individuals and as an organisation.
To celebrate this year’s Black History Month we invited Actress, Writer and Producer Melissa Dean to perform a live piece of spoken word in which she covered the topics of race, trauma and her personal experiences. Melissa has also recently joined our team as Reform’s first ever Artist In Residence. This new year-long programme provides the artist with a small bursary, free space and support to secure new paid work both within our organisation and with our networks.
Following Melissa’s performance and our reflective discussion on the piece, we welcomed the amazing Jay Chambers and Parise from Black in MCR to deliver anti-racism training. The session explored and questioned the roots of British Culture, looked at racial injustice in the music industry, and made us think of what else we can do to improve our relationships and actions within our own organisation.
We’ll be hoping back onto Zoom for this month’s BLM discussion taking place on Monday 15th November from 4PM-5PM. The focal piece will be ‘Dark Matter: A History of the Afrofuture’, a documentary available to watch on BBC Iplayer. From Jean-Michel Basquiat to Grace Jones, ‘Dark Matter’ explores how black artists use the sci-fi genre of Afrofuturism to examine black history and imagine new alternative futures.
This session is open for anyone, so please contact lewys@reformradio.co.uk to register your interest!
We have another Online Work Club session packed full of opportunities coming up this November. The session will take place on Thursday 25th November from 3:30PM – 5:30PM.
Work Club runs on the last Thursday of every month with a full session based on opportunities for the future. It includes a number of speakers who discuss various opportunities available, as well as 1-1s and pastoral sessions, are also available.
The High Rise series releases one episode every Thursday on Podfollow and Spotify.
The series was born out of a 12 week creative writing radio drama project funded by European Social Fund.
During these 12 weeks, MBE appointed Louise Wallwein guided each participant to create their own episode. All 11 episodes explored Greater Manchester’s gentrification.
Since the last blog post, 4 more episodes have been released. Read on to listen and learn more about each episode.
EP8: A Day In the Life
Written by Alanis Leah MacDonald.
“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination”. In this episode, Gregory and Samantha are in a relationship and need a new home. Then the Manchester high rises are built. What will happen next?
EP9: Floor 129
Written and produced by Alex Ingham-Brophy.
This episode asks the question, what happens when you want more from life ? Everything’s tested. Relationships, moralities and sense of self-worth are all at risk, and it all starts on Floor 129.
EP10: A Tale from Two Sides
written & directed by Maddie Zygmunt
Two Men, One Address, this is the story of the class divide.
EP11: Mourning Manchester, Mourning Malik (Final episode)
by Zhahava Waseem
“A drama rooted in grime, simplified in rhyme, inspired by the experience of both yours and mine, is it really one of crime? I mean, some of you may think it’s fine. Malik and Myles, Posh and Poor, one gets wasted and one goes to the floor. A story of friendship, a story of fraud. So sit back and relax, you won’t get bored.”
Welcome to Raise the Bar, a video series that showcases artists delivering freestyles or live performances on our resident’s shows.
This week’s Raise the Bar is brought to you by Daisy Adams. She invited two rising stars of the scene, Piri and Tommy Villiers, to perform an acoustic rendition of the liquid DnB influenced track ‘Soft Spot’.
Watch the full performance below.
Tommy Villiers’ production that glides along the pop dance music spectrum, combined with Piri’s effortlessly smooth vocals and lyricism makes them an exciting unstoppable duo.
Catch the full show below, where Daisy Adams sits down with the dynamic duo to talk about how their musical journey started and their collaborative partnership grew.
If you are up for a daytime dance, head to the Klondyke on the 20th November for an amazing fundraising event. Every penny raised will be going to the Manchester Refugee Support Network (MRSN).
Tickets will be priced at £5 and £10 depending on how much people can give. Additionally, everyone who attends is encouraged to bring food donations for the charity.
Mic Check Live is an event showcasing up and coming Rap & RnB artists from in and around Manchester. Taking place at Aatma on Thursday 18th November, every ticket purchased comes with a free download of a song from each artist featured on the event.
With artists like Feeemo, ChikoStokes and many others, the artists will surely take you on a journey, from trap to grime to drill. Check the video below to see the rest of the line-up and purchase tickets here.
BuddyLine is a series of intergenerational telephone conversations between people from the Sonder Radio Community of over 60s and the Reform Radio Community of under 30s.
Taking advantage of the technology available to us, the conversations will be remotely recorded from each of their homes. Through these honest conversations, our listeners enter into an intimate and genuine meeting between two people who would not otherwise interact in everyday society.
Participants will be committed to a week long training learning transferable communication skills such as storytelling, active listening, interview techniques, radio presenting and also the technology side of radio with the responsibility of recording, producing and editing these calls into a show.
See the flyer below for more information & details to get involved.
HERchester is an 8 week long MCing and lyrical writing series of workshops for women, non-binary people, transgender women and those that identify as women. This year’s project took place in 4 different northern cities: Manchester, Blackpool, Morecambe and Sheffield.
The project was led by Mancunian rapper and vocalist OneDa who helped the group create their own original verses. On top of that the participants learnt how to deliver and perform these creations, as the pinnacle of the HERchester project is a cypher, filmed and recorded by Reform Radio. The cypher was more than a success and we couldn’t have asked for more. The energy, artistry and support brought by every single participant was incredible.
Watch the full cypher below.
The origins of HERchester lie in 2019. Funded by Arts Council England, the first edition of this project focused on bringing female MCs from Manchester together to work alongside OneDa. In this process the all female collective HERchester was formed. The collective have gone to perform both individually and collaboratively, including Manchester International Festival and We Out Here.
It has been amazing to see the project come back on a greater scale. We couldn’t have delivered HERchester without the support from the project’s funder Arts Council England, and RiteTrax, House of Wingz and More Music who accommodated and guided participants in their respective cities.
Keep your eyes peeled for a HERchester documentary featuring exclusive interviews and behind the scene content.
This 4 week intensive facilitation course will see you develop the skills needed to deliver exciting sessions and projects. You will work individually and collaboratively, with training, mentoring and hands-on experience training.
The project will kick off on 10th November, taking place on Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays from 10AM to 4PM.
Each week will see participants establishing new skills from a variety of creative mediums, such as general audio production, music, djing, podcasting and creative writing. Each week will follow a similar format in that the first day will be experiencing the workshop as a participant and learning the skills of each medium. The second and third day will be spent planning sessions based on new skills learned and delivering to the group for peer feedback.
Reform will also provide a session dedicated to completing arts funding bids, a session on how to set up as self-employed with HMRC as well as ongoing bespoke, intensive pastoral and employment support packages, including dedicated Mental Health worker and CV/Portfolio/interview support.
See the flyer below for more information & details to get involved.
Last week we had the pleasure of hosting an interview between Liam MacGregor from ADHOC Records and Ergon, an exciting theatre company that is contributing to the climate conversation through their new play Ergon: The Wicked Problem.
Set in 2061, Egon: The Wicked Problem explores themes around climate change and sustainability, offering audiences a uniquely interactive experience as they investigate the future of Greater Manchester. They are given an active role as jury members to question their own morals, debate on climate change, consider geographical privilege and decide on the outcome of the show.
The show is running from Wednesday 3rd November – Saturday 6th November, in Contact’s main space.
Listen to the full show below to get an exclusive insight into the theatre company and play.
Reform are proud to be prioritising sustainability and the environment, with the goal to become a Net Carbon Zero organisation. For this year’s Earth day, we connected with 24 international artists for a 24-Hour broadcast to raise awareness for climate action. Each artist not only provided a 1 hour show, but also created a short video to encourage each individual to consider and share their climate thoughts & actions.
Additionally, one of our most recent climate conscious projects is C-change. The roundtable discussion explored what part art & culture plays in influencing people to take action, as well as the role of young people in the debate and eco-anxiety. Alongside the talks were spoken word & music performances from Kimwei McCarthy and Tito Von May in collaboration with Brighter Sound. We are excited for the rich discussion to be played at this year’s COP26, a climate change national conference.
You can catch the two part show on Reform’s airwaves, part one on 2nd November from 4PM-5PM and part 2 on 9th November airing at the same time.
Reform’s climate focused work has been recognised at the 2021 People’s Culture Awards, where we were nominated for the Promotion of Environmental Sustainability Award.
If you are interested in doing a show with a focus on climate action and sustainability, please give us a shout.
