To celebrate the launch of Dreaming In Yellow: The Story of The DiY Sound System, we’ve teamed up with the author of the book Harry Harrison and Velocity Press to host the book launch at Reform Radio. Joined by Drew Hemment for a live Q&A and friends Barbara Lyons (DiY Collective)and Steve Leech (DJ Vertigo)with a special guest appearance.
Set your reminders andtune into the live Q&A by clicking on our live stream down below.
Friday 29th April – 7.30PM
The book was published on Velocity Press – an underground music publishing house – written by one of the founding members of the DiY Collective, Harry Harrison. Back in the free party days, DiY was notoriously known for its sound systems and the parties they threw. Now, he narrates the tales of the infamous Summer of Love, the socio-political movement the free parties encouraged and more.
DiY became more than just a movement, but more so a way of life. These photographs perfectly capture the essence of the people involved and the communities that surfaced, whilst the book describes the clubs, parties, festivals and records that forged these groups.
China Lilly stepped up to the mic for this instalment of Raise The Bar, joining Jorgy and Cheechontheir show.
China used her time during lockdown to create music, coming up with the smoothest fusions of contemporary R&B, Soul and Rap. As the co-owner of record label Sindysplace and the main attraction of the Channel 4 Documentary – “You Do You” – China is taking the MCR scene by storm.
Here she makes her Reform debut, showing off her beautiful voice and smooth lyricism in the studio.
Starting off with a two-week Bootcamp, at the end of this duration, 12 artists will be selected to progress onto the 12-month mentorship programme. Take a look at our Bootcamp video from 2020 to get an idea of what it’s all about.
With opportunities to collaborate with artists, receive mentoring from professional artists such as Jenna G, Werkaand Anna Mcluckie – and work on your sound engineering skills – come and show us what you’re made of.
Jenna G has been with us from the very beginning. An incredible talent in the Manchester music scene, who in more recent years hosted our International Women’s Day panel. DJ and producer Werka has been on the likes of BBC Radio 6’s The People’s Party, hosted by Afrodeutsche, produced by our team at Reform Radio. As for Anna Mcluckie, she’s a singer and Harpist from Manchester who has facilitated Soundcamp since it started.
Take a look at our event that was held at Night & Day Cafe back in 2019, showcasing all the amazing work from the Soundcamp programme.
Last year, we hosted a virtual stage for the We Out Here Festival, inviting the 12 Soundcamp finalists into the space to perform. With artists ranging from Joe Roche, Inka, Lashimbaand more! Catch Inka’s Soundcamp showcase down below or click here to see all of the artist’s performances.
With Soundcamp comes endless opportunities and possibilities for your future as an artist. Don’t hesitate and apply now.
See the flyer below for more details or email projects@reformradio.co.uk to get involved.
We are so excited to be returning to the Sounds From The Other Cityfestival this May Bank Holiday! The return to Chapel Street is going to be bigger and better than ever before, so we have cooked up an astronomical lineup of artists for this Spring extravaganza.
Inviting ten artists to perform at the Reform Radio stage on Sunday, varying from live performances and DJ sets, it’s going to be a big one.
Let us get you guys hooked up with the lineup…
Léna C – 15:00 – 16:00
Jumping up first is the French-born DJ and producer Léna C. You might recognise her from her monthly shown called ‘Jet Lag‘, or from her features on Tsugi Radio, Radio Al Hara, Melodic Distraction and more! With a distinct interest in digging and sharing the soundscapes she finds from around the world, the music she plays has become an amalgamation of mixing modern with electronic sounds, showing off her eclectic style. Whether you catch her on the radio or in a nightclub, Léna’s holding the fort down.
Lashimba (LIVE) – 16:00 – 16:30
Lashimba is an artist and producer from Manchester, combining a multitude of genres to create an Indie, R&B infused sound. With smooth vocals alongside the occasional Rap and Spoken Word verse, Lashimba leads the way for the new generation using their art to champion feminism. Most recently, she has joined the Reform Team, hosting our first-ever morning show The Get Up.
PERiiSU, hosted by Zari – 16:30 – 17:30
Joining Manchester-based artist and producer PERiiSU on the stage is Zari(HERchester), a rapper and music addict from Chorley, Lancashire. PERiiSU took part in our very firstSoundcamp project and then moved onto creating an absolute banger with the legends Swing Ting as part of the Co-Lab Theory. Her sound is best described as gritty electronic music, punctuated with smooth and soulful urban rhythms. When she’s not creating music, she is mixing delicious sounds together. Expect to hear a mix you simply won’t be able to stand still for.
Obeka (LIVE) – 17:30 – 18:15
Bermuda-born producer and visual designer Obeka will also be joining us at SFTOC. Over the past nine years, he has been exploring his native sound and rhythm as he transitions into the Manchester Club scene. He is also the co-founder of the Me Gusta Collective – a multicultural collective of DJs in Manchester – who collaborate in monthly sessions of the cultural diaspora in music and art, which stem from places such as Lisbon, Angola and Uganda. Through polyrhythm drums, infectious Kuduro tempos and the nostalgic Reggae Dembow that endlessly played in his father’s car, Obeka creates an experience unique and individual in its own way.
Renee Stormz (LIVE) – 18:15 – 18:45
Back in 2021, MC, singer and producer Renee Stormz blessed the We Out Here Virtual Stagewith an incredible live performance. With performances at venues across Manchester such as Band on the Wall and YES, her SFTOC debut is going to be cosmic. Renee’s music is refreshing, capturing soulful and intricate observations of our reality.
Szajna B2B Murder He Wrote – 18:45 – 19:45
Manchester-based DJ and producer, Szajna(Shy-Na) joins club destroyer Murder He Wrote for an iconic back-to-back mix. Influenced by UK dance music that he experienced during the free party movement, Szajna’s style is Bruk to its core. These Broken-Beat productions lead him to gain recognition in London and receive an invitation into the Selectors Assemble. As well as this, he’s released on labels such as CoOp Presents, Dance Regular, Phuture Shock Music and Boogie Cafe.
Murder He Wrote dabbles in playful production, blending elements of UK Garage, Dancehall, Soca and Bruk. Working across 3 decks, his eclectic, low-end focused DJ sets have seen him land guest mixes on BBC Radio 1, Boiler Room, NTS, Rinse FM and BBC 6Music – alongside playing in prolific clubs such as Fabric, Ministry Of Sound and Outlook. Some of his other achievements include his feature on ‘Juice Flow’, released on Swing Ting, which was voted as one of the albums of the year by none other than the music legends, Mixmag. We hope you are just as excited as we are to see these two tear up the decks.
Ayy Den – 19:45 – 20:45
Canadian-born Ayy Den began her musical journey surrounded by Hip Hop, Reggae, Dancehall and Soul music. After moving across the ocean to the UK, it was the sounds of Funk, Garage and Dubstep that initiated the transformation from an avid listener to a successful radio host, DJ and Producer. Ayy Den’s played sets for the infamous underground events label, Keep Hush, and had a feature in the legendary The Face Magazine. Expect to hear a mix of Jersey Club, Funky, Garage, 140bpm, Footwork and beyond this bank holiday weekend.
Juke Joint – 20:45 – 22:00
Manchester promoters and DJ duo Juke Joint will be closing it down this Sunday. These two have been spreading and celebrating Footwork, Juke and Jungle music through their parties and radio shows. They’ve been warming things up for their party at YES, bringing Teklife’s very own DJ Taye – recognised for his debut at DJ Manny’s Footwork Therapy, hosted by Boileroom in Chicago, as well as NYC’s Bell Curve. Now, they bring their energy to the stage, complementing each other with dancefloor weight from the full span of the 160 scene – guaranteed to get your feet workin and body jukin!
Welcome back to On Our Radar, a music feature where the team at Reform select their hottest tracks of the week. We can’t wait to share with you guys what we have been listening to…
ARMA
Released last week, GET 2 KNOW U, by London based producer and DJ that goes by the alias Arma, is a bouncy 160bpm Footwork track with an air of cheeriness. The psychedelic artwork sets the scene for the beats that follow, serving up energetic and bubbly vibes.
CLEO SOL
Neo-soul is hot right now and this UK artist is bringing effortless acoustics to the table. Released on the album, Mother, this song by Cleo Sol is silky and delicious – we can’t get enough!
YAZMIN LACEY
Spotlighting one Neo-Soul artist just isn’t enough. Yazmin Lacey is a super talented Nottingham based singer, creating the smoothest vocal compilations. Morning Matters is a summer tune if ever we have heard one, we can’t wait to whack this one on at upcoming parties sitting in the sunshine.
LOBSTER THEREMIN
London based label Lobster Theremin has just released a digital 20 track album, with 100% of the profits made going to the United Help Ukraine charity. Featuring a host of some of the best underground DJs on the UK scene, it’s worth a listen and showing your support.
OTIS MENSAH
Set to release in early May, Otis Mensah’s upcoming self-produced EP, things I should have said a year ago, is a seven-track “minimalist jazz-inspired exploration of grief and loss drenched in sonic and conceptual juxtaposition with bubble-gum melodies, dreamlike depictions of melancholy and surrealist imagery”.
To celebrate this year’s Record Store Day, we’ve teamed up with two female-owned record stores in Germany and America to bring two exclusive mixes to the airwaves. Let us introduce you to the women making their mark in the record industry.
Our first show that aired on Saturday the 23rd (April) at 3 PM was withWhite Rabbit Record Storebased in Lemgo, Germany. One of the three owners, thirty-three-year-old Diana, joined us with a mix “supposed to reflect the mood you get into when the first signs of spring arrive”. With a set purely mixed on vinyl, Diana is setting the bar high for Record Store Day 2022.
Next up was a show with Brittany “Red-I” Benton (5 PM), owner ofBrittany’s Record Shop in Cleveland, Ohio. Her vinyl collection is very diverse, much like the music she plays, ranging from Funk, Jazz, Reggae, Hip Hop and Soul Wax.
In celebration of Earth Day 2022, we have teamed up with Ergon Theatre, The Other Radio (Cape Town), Rose Bonicaand ANG from SheSaidSo South Africa, for the ultimate takeover.
Last year, we hosted a 24-hour takeover, showcasing 24 different artists from across the world to raise awareness for climate action. This year, we focus on platforms that are working actively to make a difference.
Focus on sustainability has been at the core of Reform since the very beginning. In 2021, we won the Promotion of Environmental Sustainability Award at Manchester Culture Awards.We continue to work towards on being more sustainable and finding means of collaboration with people from all around the world in ways that do not disturb the planet.
ERGON THEATRE
Ergon Theatre is one of the UK’s leading companies making performance-based work about the climate crisis and the future. They make climate science accessible to people in educational, entertaining and empowering ways.
You can catch Ergon on the airwaves of Reform today at 12PM (BST) showcasing their recent project GET HEARD.
“The project was born out of a desire to platform young, climate voices in an age where the older generation has a habit of claiming to be “more educated” on the issue – here’s looking at you Richard Madeley and that shameful interview with Just Stop Oil on GMB. Our GET HEARD radio show presents our 5 winning pieces of writing alongside some climate contemplation and music curated by the artists”.
GET HEARD is a compilation of written words and poetry from the young voices of climate change in Manchester. Consisting of five different spoken word artists, including The Emissions of Babymaking (Carson Wolfe), Batty (Liz Gibson), Soya Milk (Lucy Simpson), Wet Bulb (Darcy May Gilliam), Of Obsidian (Harley Quill) and Hope (Jamie Styman). Curated and Sound Designed by Ergon Theatres Robin Lyons and Noé Sérbert, with Danyal Hassan as Sound Engineer and Ned Cooper and Harley Quill facilitating.
The project was created in association with Manchester Fashion Institute and Manchester Metropolitan University, funded by Natural Environment Research Council and supported by Contact Theatre and ourselves.
ROSE BONICA X SHESAIDSO SOUTH AFRICA X INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION GRANT PROGRAMME
We recently teamed up withRose Bonica – DJ, Producer & owner of Roses Are Red Records – as well as SheSaidSo South Africa as part of the #InternationalCollaborationGrants supported by the British Council for a 6 month Music Production and Online Radio Training Course. The hope is to uplift women, LGBTQIA+ producers and musicians from underserved communities in the Western Cape of South Africa.
Today, Rose’s show will air from 3PM- 5PM (BST), giving you a taste of what she’s all about, with the debut live performance of her lockdown EP. Learn more about the Collaborative Grant Programme, meet the trainees and explore the women in South African music who shaped the landscape of how music is made today.
As well as Rose Bonica’s live show, we had a chat with her to find out why she joined the programme and her personal goals for it.
ANG (South Of The Boredom)
ANG is a DJ and Talent Agent from Johannesburg, South Africa. As well as a Co-Director at SheSaidSo South Africa, her show, South of the Boredom, has been running on Reform Radio since 2016. It explores the ever changing and burgeoning landscape of South African music across the genre spectrum.
We had a chat with ANG to find out more about her goals for the project and what sustainability means to her.
THE OTHER RADIO (CAPE TOWN)
The Otheris an independent radio station based in Cape Town, South Africa. As a community led platform, they aim to showcase diverse sounds of the world that could be described as ‘other’. Today, we teamed up with them for the ultimate radio swap taking place all day. Two DJs from South Africa join our airwaves, Tzara and Zara Julius, and joining them on The Other are two of our very own residents Inka and Zeyla.
You might recognise Zeyla from her performance at the virtual stage at We Out Here festival(2021) or HERchester(2021), a collective of female MCs culminating in a documentary and collaborative performance. Today she takes over the airwaves from 1PM- 2 PM (BST) with a blend of conscious Rap, moving Soul classics and more.
Inka is a beat-maker, DJ & producer from Manchester. Doing big things in the North West, he too has previously performed for the at our virtual stage at We Out Here Festival in 2021 for Soundcamp Showcase. Now you can catch him shelling some bops and bangers for today’s Earth Day special from 2PM- 3 PM (BST).
Joining Reform and coming at us all the way from South Africa is Charter Flights with Zara Julius and Tzarawith Lucky Packet show.
Zara Julius is an artist, researcher, vinyl collector and selector based mostly in Johannesburg. Charter Flights is her selection of flights and feelings through different geographies and temporal realities throughout the global south and beyond.
Tzara is a multidisciplinary composer & producer from Cape Town, South Africa. Lucky Packet is literally a mixed bag of treats spanning epochs, genres, and moods that inspire her own music. You never quite know what you’re going to get!
If you have any questions or ideas about Reform and our work around sustainability, please give us a shout.
Joining Daisy Adams for Raise The Bar this time running is the Italian Drill rapper B SHO.
Making music since 2019, he now has a strong following on Youtube, with views reaching as large as 6.5K over the past year. Here he steps up to the mic for a freestyle that effortlessly switches between Italian and English.
Welcome back to On Our Radar, a brand-new music feature where the team at Reform select their hottest tracks of the week. We can’t wait to share with you guys what we have been listening to…
NERVOUS HORIZON
Nervous Horizon, the East London based label, is renowned for its forward-thinking compounds. NH V/A VOL. 4 features core members DJ Plead, Ehua, DJ JM, SIM & Seven Orbits for a sonic compilation. What makes this album so forward-thinking you ask? The album begins at 90 BMP, slowly ascending to reach 160 BPM by the very end. We can only imagine how this one will sound in the club.
YOUTH
If you’re into experimental music, then this one’s for you. Released on YOUTH, a local Mancunian label, this track featuring Emma DJ & Toma Kami is both whacky and wild. A very powerful track, comprised of glitchy vocals, looming melodies and punchy beats.
AKEMI FOX
Slowing things down with some sweet and soothing vocals, it’s Manchester’s favourite R&B singer Akemi Fox. See You Soon alludes to the singer’s effortless style, with warm tonalities and instrumental charm. Landing a place on BBC Introducing Radio Manchester, you can next catch her at Sounds Of The City Festival in Salford on May 1st.
ELIZA ROSE & M4A4
Celebrating the 100th release on record store Lobster Theremin, Eliza Rose and M4A4 come together to produce the most incredible laidback House-Garage ensemble.
FOX
A huge one from Manchester-based Fox, following the success of Juice Flow Remixes (2019). Back in 2019, the first edition of Juice Flow was voted as one of the best albums of the year by none other than the legendary Mixmag. Released on Manchester label Swing Ting for round two, they team up with a host of prolific artists to bring the very beast in percussion and bass to create the ultimate vibes.
For those of you that are not familiar with the DJ Sessions, it is a three-week programme focusing on how to DJ and self promote, funded by MAES.
This time running the group came with nothing, but determination in their bags. Rocking up with personalised pioneer notebooks, scribbled in notes of ambition and confidence, setting the scene for the week ahead.
Orchestrated byJoe Roche, a Manchester-based DJ, Producer and Record label owner, alongside the legendary DJ Maule, the power-duo set out to teach the young people of Manchester how to spin some tunes.
Beginning with a week-long bootcamp, jam-packed full of group activities and music exercises, the group put their DJ hats on and got to business. With only one week to go until the workshop culminated in a live performance to promoters and employers across Manchester, the pressure was on to get a playlist ready that would blow the promoters socks off.
We had a chat with some of the young people taking part, to see how they were feeling about the week ahead, their goals for the workshop, dream venues and collaborations.
HAVE YOU SET YOURSELF ANY GOALS FOR THE WEEK?
Cameron: I wanted to learn the workings of the decks and produce a mix that wasn’t going to make anyone’s ears bleed. I think I’ve achieved that.
Nathaniel: To learn everything on the decks.
Athar: To be able to familiarise myself with DJ decks and be able to utilise them in my own environment.
WHAT IS YOUR DJ NAME AND WHY?
Cameron: My DJ name is Transientfluff. I’ve been playing a lot of experimental Jazzy stuff and that needs an experimental Jazzy name. Transient fluff is what we all are really, isn’t it.
Athar: DJ LC Twerk, because LC is a name given to me by a friend, which means lucky charm and twerk is just because I’m a dancer and I like to twerk.
Nathaniel: My DJ name is Escapism and that’s because it’s my artist name in my private work.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VENUE TO PLAY AT?
Cameron: It’s probably the Royal Albert Hall because of the acoustics.
Athar: The O2 Arena.
Nathaniel: Anywhere in Tenerife, in the sunshine.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE ARTIST TO PLAY B2B WITH, WHO WOULD IT BE?
Cameron: Anyone doing anything groundbreaking and experimental, I couldn’t give you one name.
Athar: Nicki Minaj because she’s one of my favourite rappers.
Nathaniel: Pendulum.
As said by Athar, ‘if you want to do something, go for it’: after putting themselves out there and acquiring the skills of working the decks, the new alias’ of Manchester took to the stage to W-O-W the faces behind the clubs and bars of the city. The studio was not short of vibes on Friday the 8th of April, with sets ranging from House, to R&B and more!
If you are keen to get your hands on decks or have any questions about this or our other projects, drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk
Celebrating the launch of his new book on Velocity Press – Dreaming In Yellow: The Story of The DiY Sound System – founding member of the DiY Collective and author, Harry Harrison, joins Drew Hemment for a live Q&A on April the 29TH.
Dreaming In Yellow looks into the heyday of the DiY Collective in the 1990s, the socio-political movement that arose from the free-party movement and more.
Joined by friends Barbara Lyons – also part of DiY – and Steve Leech, otherwise known as DJ Vertigo, with a very special guest. You don’t want to miss this one!
Our last Book Launch popped off. To catch a glimpse of what to expect, watch the Livestream video down below.
If you can’t make it down in person, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Just like last time, the event will be live-streamed on our website for your viewing pleasure!
After the event at Reform, the celebrations will continue at Stage & Radio. Join Pezz, DJ Vertigo, DJ Whitey, Andrew Brooks and Rick Donohue for the after-party open to all from 10 PM – 4 AM.
ShortaFORM is a 10-week industry training programme funded by DCMS(The Department For Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) and the GMCA(Greater Manchester Combined Authority), created to up-skill local creatives and develop diverse digital content. Over the 10 weeks, our participants learnt how to create short form video content, working with Manchester Studiosand ShortaTV. During which, they learnt fundamental production and editing techniques, as well as gaining knowledge of social media and digital marketing.
Local creatives and storytellers alike came together and shared their stories of love, life and legacy. Dispersing beautiful and heartfelt tales about the city, the interviews below allude to the LGBTQIA+ community of the North West. Whether you are looking for your new favourite cafe or thinking of taking up charity work, these interviews have the answers for you.
THE SUNDAY BOYS – CREATED BY ALEX PASCALIDIS
Meet Alex Pascalidis, a multi-disciplinary artist, practising within music, poetry, video & photography. Alex is interested in the cross-section of all of these mediums, how they exist within each other as well as on their own, along with how they can be used best for the purpose of storytelling.
For the ShortaFORM 2021, Alex interviewed Michael Betteridge, a composer and conductor based in Manchester. Michael works as a Musical & Artistic Director for a low-voice LGBTQIA+ choir called the Sunday Boys.
To find out more about Michael & the Sunday Boys, watch the video down below.
THE PROUD TRUST – CREATED BY ALEX TAYLOR
Introducing Alex Taylor, a fellow aspiring creative in Manchester that joined the ShortaFORM project to improve their digital storytelling skills and develop a career in the creative space.
In 2021, Alex interviewed Gordon Smith. A proud Mancunian at heart and youth worker for The Proud Trust, an LGBTQ+ organisation helping to support and empower their young community by providing them with the resources to do so.
After growing up in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain as a black man in the 1980s, Gordon sheds some light on the Section 28 law permitting homosexuality, his experiences with the police and his favourite anecdote for why he chose to stay in Manchester.
It’s evident that the world around us has changed since the 1980s, but the same issues within the media, government, police force and community still exist.
Watch the full video below to hear more about Gordon Smith’s story.
INVISIBLE MANCHESTER – CREATED BY ALICE REID
Alice Reid is a DJ, radio presenter, film-maker and aspiring documentary videographer based in Manchester. As one of the first cohort’s participants, Alice found that working creatively (despite it being on zoom) helped them stay motivated and creative during the pandemic.
Alice chose to focus on Laura Ashcroft, a tour guide from the social enterprise that is Invisible Manchester, which is part of the wider organisation Invisible Cities. This charity helps those that have been previously homeless by training them to be tour guides around the city. As a transgender woman, Laura discloses how the history of inspirational Mancunian women tour influenced her journey of transition, as well as sharing her secrets for happiness and what Manchester means to her.
Watch the full interview down below.
FEEL GOOD CLUB – CREATED BY CAL FREEMAN
Meet Cal Freeman, a photographer, videographer & all round creative. After graduating from Film Practise in Newcastle, Cal moved to Manchester in hope of finding more film & TV opportunities. He now works as a full-time Content Creator after years of film orientated freelancing, securing his career goal as a full-time creative.
Cal chose to explore Feel Good Club, a well-being cafe in the Northern Quarter that is run by wifey-duo Kiera & Aimee. In this space they provide workshops and events, as well as the obvious food and coffee you would expect to find at a coffee shop. All staff are fully trained if you just need a chat or a safe space to feel good.
A great spot for a quick coffee catch-up, a bowl of ramen, or simply to sit and have an afternoon read, be sure to check it out when you’re next having a wonder about NQ.
Watch the full video down below to hear all about Kiera & Aimee’s journey with Feel Good Club.
Taïga AKA DJ SOYBOI – CREATED BY RACHEL STRUTHERS
Rachael Struthers is a longstanding music enthusiast, radio DJ and host for Panic FM which is an online radio collective set up up in response to the pandemic. For this story, Rachael interviewed Taïga, a DJ and producer from Manchester. As a DJ, they go by the name DJ Soyboi, well known in the Manchester clubbing scene if you’re a fan of Footwork, Jungle or Drum & Bass.
Since this project, Taïga has been doing some amazing work. Alongside artist Hardcore Harry they curated a database resource for trans and non-binary DJs and artists alike for Non-Binary Awareness Week. Available on Google Docs, this database includes producers, bands, singers, artists, dancers and lighting technicians.
Be sure to check out their new club night called Tough Act, a night of music you don’t expect to hear at queer nights such as Jungle, Hardcore, Gabber, Breakcore, Break Beats & Dubstep.
Watch the full interview down below to hear about the music scene in Manchester, STEAM Radio, the Headroom project & more.
SIREN ASYLUM– CREATED BY SHANNON WOOTTON
Shannon Wootton is a DJ, Graphic Design graduate and multidisciplinary creator, with skills in Illustration other visual realms of content. She is also the Creative Director for The Beatriarchy, a platform for underrepresented artists, and a resident at Steam Radio.
Shannon’s ShortaFORM journey took her to Alice Ashurt, an Ariel Arts Instructor and Pole performer for Polefire at Siren Asylum.
What is Siren Asylum you ask? Let us introduce you. It is an alternative Rock and Metal gym, body positive and fitness studio based in Manchester. Siren Asylum is a space for anybody who identifies as a woman, creating a a community hub and family of people who embrace one another’s individuality.
Alice talks about Burlesque, the stigma behind Pole dancing and what Manchester means to her.
Come and feel heard and understood at the Life Lounge, a well-being workshop guided by Reform’s very own well-being manager Dan Owens-Cooper.
Taking place every fortnight on a Tuesday, the two hour slot from 6PM – 8PM is designed to help support you, helping you navigate the many thoughts, feelings and experiences that life throws at us.
Catch a glimpse of Dan Owens-Cooper on our Instagram down below, offering advice on how to approach trying something new, as part of his new monthly show Bewell-being in collaboration with #BeWell.
It’s been one whole month since we launched our new blog series, On Our Radar, celebrating the finest tunes carefully selected by the Reform team. Here’s what we have been listening too this week…
AMYDABBS
Featured on the digital 27 track album by the infamous HÖR Music in Berlin. All proceeds will go towards a charity helping BIPoC, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalised individuals in Ukraine. Written specifically for this compilation, a sense of raw emotion shins throughout the track, alluding to the sensitivity of the collaboration.
GIO DOSSE FT WAVES
Co-produced by one of Reforms very own studio assistants that goes by the name of Waves, Dinner With Andre, is full of grooves. With instrumental layering that ascends throughout – creating a somewhat ominous tone – and flawlessly rhyming vocals, this one’s a production masterpiece! Gio will be releasing a new song every fortnight, so keep your eyes peeled…
SIPHO
We are loving this track by SIPHO; the Goat of R&B and Soul from Birmingham. With mentions on NME magazine and a feature on the iconic Youtube account A Colour Show in February, their striking vocals speak for themselves.
HALA RANDA
We’re sensing a running theme here. R&B and Neo-soul are what’s hot right now! Singer and songwriter Hala Randa from London is another name to look out for this year. With her latest track released two years ago, we can’t help but think she might have some magic up her sleeve for 2022. Hercules is giving off the mostest, with silky vocal tones and a beat that hooks you from the get-go.
HOPE BELLO
Another old skool beat we can’t get enough of this week. Emanating UK Frank Ocean vibes and we are here for it! Admittedly, this tune was written when Hope Bello was sitting on the toilet… A place of deep creativity for some it would seem.
LEAN LOW
The dreamiest of Soul tracks by Sheffield based artist. We are loving the Hip Hop punch in this one against the overall electronic feel of the track; a common denominator in most of their music that makes their sound so wonderful to listen too.
THE SCIENCE
Changing the vibe up, Om Unit’s sinister yet rhythmically beautiful remix of Come By The River has got us in our feels. The song is a love story, about ‘two people who stumble upon each other by the river and spend the afternoon diving into one another, just to separate and never meet again’. The memory of their meeting is so powerful, that is defies the laws of time and space, resulting in this remix to tell their story.
BERT
What a lovely intro! Smile (Overthinking) is Bert’s newest tune and part of his latest EP. Releasing some really interesting song arrangements, his sound is best described as calming, with Lo-Fi influence. Their lyrics are often very relatable, with an air of sarcasm, for example in this track he says ‘the world knows, we’ll die before we look stupid’, touching on the UK’s ever so proud, keep calm and carry on mentality.
HAVELOCK
Havelock is blowing up and it’s obvious as to why. It’s rare that any UK artist is able to get across their ‘englishness’ in such an effortlessly cool manner. Jamie T did it perfectly, and now Havelock is making their mark on the UK music scene with catchy rhythmic flows and lyricism that’s self-explanatory of the young stars talent.
FOUR TET AND BURIAL
You can’t go wrong with Four Tet and Burial’s latest collaboration, Nova/Moth. Complimenting each other’s style perfectly, as like in most of their music, the melodic flow drives the narrative of the track, taking you on a wonderful audio journey.
The twenty-first century has seen the revival of many peculiar trends in popular music. With K-Pop dominating the Pop scene and Rap, Hip Hop and R&B maintaining second place as the most popular genres in the world, it’s rare that Soul music gets any attention. Fortunately, we are here to tell you that the narrative has changed.
Ever since its popularity during the 1960s, the wonderful soundscapes of Soul are back, with bands such as the six-piece group Lovescene leading the forefront of this genre-bending change. Led by the UK vocalist and producer Poppy Roberts, their sound speaks for itself. A mixture of contemporary R&B, Neo-soul and romantic grooves, they encapsulate the city’s love appeal through songs of love and heartbreak.
In a recent article Summer of Soul by Kate Hutchinson, featured in both The Guardian and the Observer New Review, Lovescene were recognised as being amongst ‘the stars of the UK soul renaissance’, alluding to the shift in Soul music’s popularity in the UK.
Their self-titled debut album, lovescene, came out back in February and is now available on all platforms. To celebrate this release, they left romantic postcards scattered in the venues of Manchester, wishing love to the city. With classic & contemporary twists scattered throughout, mesmerising tonalities of vocals, guitar riffs and funky basslines, this nine piece LP is a spine-tingling listening experience.
2022 has been a big one for Lovescene, with the announcement of their UK tour dates, features on radio stations such as BBC Radio 6’s The People’s Party and All Hours Radio; recently launched by Manchester-born DJ, Anz, who has played at a host of established clubs such as Fabric, Soup and The White Hotel, headlining the Boiler Room Festival in 2021.
In 2020, Lovescene took to the Jäger x Reform stage at We Out Here Virtual Festival and brought their incredible romantic sounds. Watch their full performance down below.
Taking things back to the current day, we sat down with their lead singer, Poppy Roberts, to find out who they really are and what this album means to them.
Tell us about the romantic postcards!
We are always looking out for the lovers! The pre-sales for the album purposefully went out near Valentine’s Day because of the sheer romanticism of the album – we wanted to give a little something to the people, and I always think that the art of postcards is disappearing a little these days – I used to look out for them all the time in venues and still have old ones, close to my heart from when I used to go into greenroom in about 2006! It’s also just a good feeling to provide something that means people are spreading the love by sending it…
What does this album mean to you as a band?
The album has ended up meaning a LOT – partly because we made it against a LOT of odds during lockdowns and restrictions. The songs themselves are inspired by a lot of different subjects – unrequited love, the music industry, not settling for less than you deserve, the music scene as a whole… I think albums can serve as a bit of diary in that aspect, but thankfully, once the songs are released and have lives of their own on other people’s speakers and in other people’s own contexts: they lose the pain that might have been attached to them originally.
You mention on your Spotify description that the album is a homage to heartbreak, heart-fix and the love scenes of our life and youth. Could you elaborate on this please.
I think Now You Wanna and its gorgeous string introduction sums up the vibe of this album – there’s melancholy and maybe some sad realisations, but suddenly it switches and that vulnerability becomes strength – the moment you pick yourself back up and the lesson you’ve learned actually makes you stronger and ready for more nonsense! It’s a really cinematic moment musically, and I think there’s an underlying sense of cinema in love and relationships – it’s why couples have ‘their songs’, why you can’t listen to certain music after a breakup, and why often you can remember the exact ‘scene’ of big moments of falling in love throughout your life. I think they go hand in hand and this album is a homage to that!
Do you have a particular favourite track on the album and why?
We all have our favourites – mine changes every week, so impossible to say, but top 3 are always “Now You Wanna” particularly for when that intro switches from strings to band (I cried the first time Alex played that piano line in the studio and had to style it out); The absolutely amazing rhythm section on “Tired of Waiting”; and the massiveness of singing with that choir on “Silver”.
Loving Silver. The lyrics ‘don’t settle for silver, when you know you suit gold’ are bringing us back to our sassy teenage years. What inspired these lyrics?
Im glad you harked back to some sassiness! The song actually has two narratives to it. The beginning is urging someone to see that I was the ‘gold’ and to stop settling for the easier option than being with me. But actually, the song started to tell me that I was the one settling for silver by pursuing someone who didn’t value me and was playing with my heart a bit. So, it really U-turned and by the time the group vocals raise the roof, it’s about telling myself and anyone listening to not put yourself in this situation anymore.
The additional vocals were comprised of some absolute legends of the Manchester gospel scene- Yvonne Shelton, Gloria Bharda-Singh and Tricia Ramarozafy – all with ridiculously established back catalogues of their work, but also important figures in their communities – this made the track even more special because their energy and what special people they are just elevated the meaning of the song itself. I do feel there’s a disconnect when it comes to released music and the community work and groups that exist – I hope that changes over time, the one cannot exist without the other. People like these women have brought up, inspired and given opportunities to so much talent that often gets overlooked. I’ll always want to honour people like them whenever I can.
Can you talk a little bit about some of the artists you worked with and how these collaborations came about?
The collaborations on the album were wonderful – Blind Mic absolutely killed it on the first single – always been a fan of his lyricism: they have this great mixture of heart, and humour which was perfect for the more tongue-in-cheek aspect to that song. Gary Washington was another amazing addition to the instrumental section – I’d never had the chance to see him in a studio environment as he’s such a live, avant-garde performer – so to hear and show another side to him was really something. Harry Fausing-Smith on the string sections was the absolute icing on the cake – an incredible performer and writer who is currently touring with Tom Misch and smashing it! We also had some lovely bonus parts by Biff Roxby who recorded and co-produced the album – he is responsible for those mighty horns in the albums outro and also that magic baritone in the Intermission – he’s like the Barry White of North Manchester!
If you could pick three artists to work with in the future, who would they be?
We’ve all got wildly different answers to this. Wilma Archer, Thundercat and of course D’Angelo is a democratic overview of a few of our answers!
Who are your biggest musical influences as a band?
Undoubtedly we get referenced to Sade a lot, but also the Jill Scott ‘Experience’ album is a HUGE influence on what we all love about the kind of Neo-soul/RnB we love. I would also say more recent artists like K15 and Dego and kaidi are big influences on our dancier, more electronic material.
What’s next for Lovescene? Do you have any exciting things coming up that you want to shout about?
We’ve got some remixes coming, the 7inch vinyl out on Band On The Wall records, a mini-tour plus the festival run: X The Tracks, Gottwood, Bigfoot and much more to come! Watch this space.
We’ve had a great start to 2022 and we couldn’t be prouder of the incredible people we work with. We wanted to share with you guys what one of our residents has been up too this year. If you don’t already know PERiiSU, let us introduce you!
Letitia, otherwise known by her alias PERiiSU, is an Artist and Producer from Manchester. Currently, she is working on her first album set to release later this year. Producing music with the likes of the dance-floor duo Swing Ting, her sound is best described as gritty and electronic. As our current Soundcamp Spotlight Artist, we couldn’t be happier to share her latest gig that took place at the world-famous Houses of Parliament.
Earlier this year, she was invited to perform for Women In Westminster, an annual event hosted by the Houses of Parliament that has been supported by the Lloyds Banking Group since it began in 2020. Back for the third year in a row, it celebrates the 100 most influential women working in and around Westminster in the fields of Politics, Journalism and the Civil Service.
With more women going into these industries than ever before, Women in Westminster, taking place around International Women’s Day each year, showcases the achievements and career ventures of those named. Not only does it name those already in figurehead positions, but it spotlights women to look out for in the near future.
Guests who attended this year included the Speaker of the House, Lindsay Hoyle MP, Caroline Nokes, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Laura Kuenssberg, BBC Political Editor and Bridget Phillipson MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education.
Setting the tone for her set, she begun with the ever so iconic Startin’ Something by Michael Jackson, continuing to play a set of 70-80s Disco and Pop.
We spoke to PERiiSU to find out more about the event that took place…
What was your involvement with Women in Westminster?
I was given the opportunity to DJ at the House Of Parliament for ‘Women In Westminster’. This is an event catered towards celebrating the achievements of various women.
What did it mean to you to play at such an establishment?
Being able to DJ at this establishment meant a lot, as I come from humble beginnings being a black female from Moss Side. At times it felt a bit awkward as the majority of the people there where the complete opposite of me (white older Conservative women), however this made me feel even more special and made me appreciate it even more, as it made me feel like I’m part of changing the narrative among these spaces.
What was the highlight of the experience?
The highlight of the experience was getting approached by a few women saying that they really enjoyed the music I was playing. As long as they like it, I love it!
With more and more women taking the music industry by storm, it’s both a humbling and inspiring entity to see artists such as Letitia, being part of the change in narrative associated with being a female DJ.
Every month we promote events hosted by our very own residents. Scroll down to find out what events are taking place this April.
THE TREES ARE CALLING
The Trees are Calling and a new Jazz-funk, Alt Disco band lead by bass player Stuart Whitehead, featuring the incredible Helena Summerfield on saxophone. Recognised on Jazz FM for their latest debut single ‘Disco 20’ that came out earlier this year, the instrumental ensemble are making their mark in the city and beyond.
This April you can catch them playing at Band on The wall, supporting the Manchester legends De-Tronic who are a fourteen piece collective reinventing classic Garage and House hits. And the best part is? It’s good Friday the following day, so there is no excuse not to go!
QUEER LATIFAH
Taking over the Hip Hop Chip Shop this month is Queer Latifah, a collective of female DJs, made up of Deb Jump and Mix-Stress. After their event back in 2021, Manchester’s queer scene was set alight. Now, they are back to continue spreading their old school bops and bring the sunshine. With tickets as cheap as five quid, it would be rude of you not to make an appearance. See you there!
ROB O’DISCO
Robodisco, the legendary club night run by Paper Recordings’ back in 90-00s Manchester is back for ‘one night only’ in tribute to fallen friend and Robo hero, Rob ‘O Shea. Back in the day, Robodisco earned its status as one of the UK’s best club nights for underground House music, hosting some of the worlds finest DJs, including Derrick Carter, Josh Wink, Lil Louis, Jaques Lu Cont, Romanthony, Ashley Beedle, Kenny Hawkes. Curated by some of Rob’s DJ friends, all profits from the event will go to Rob’s family and St Luke’s Hospice. See you on the D-floor!
NOT BAD FOR A GIRL
To celebrate their third anniversary, bass collectives Trax Haven and Not Bad For A Girl are joining forces to create the mother of all parties. With a stellar line up of nine DJ’s and a host of B2B’s from each crew, the night is set to blow your socks off!
STEAM Radio Presents: bootsncats
The Old Abbey Taphouse never fails to disapoint, so STEAM Radio have teamed up with them to host their brand new event, bootsncats, coordinated by some of Manchester and Leeds finest selectors. With sets of Hannah O’Gorman, Padawan Sound, Levi Love, Keltoi, Missle To The Moon, Cona Seur and Amateur Hour, it’s gonna be a big one.
JUKE JOINT
Your favourite footwork-duo are back to bring the heat in the YES basement. This time, they invite DJ Taye to spin the decks all the way from Chicago for a Footwork frenzy that will conquer all. But this isn’t the only DJ travelling from afar. Joining them on this legendary line-up is Bell Curve, coming from NYC to make her Manchester debut.
Welcome back to the third edition of On Our Radar, a brand-new music feature where the team at Reform select their hottest tracks of the week. We can’t wait to share with you guys what we have been listening to…
ALFA MIST
Well, this is quite simply some absolutely delicious Jazz. The self-taught, London born Artist Alfa Mist is absolutely smashing it. His most renown song, Keep On, is providing us with all the vibes and more. It’s sexy. It’s soulful. It’s modern Jazz.
ROSE BONICA
We’re excited to share this banger from the South African artist Rose Bonica. We are currently running an International Collaboration project with her and SheSaidSo South Africa, so watch this space as Rose is working with some exciting new musicians out on the Western Cape. Some lovely floaty electronic business from her here in the track Weightless.
REDVEIL
If you’re looking for a jazzy feel-good tune, Redveil’s got you covered. The immensely talented seventeen year old singer and songwriter has already got a prolific amount of releases under his belt. Touring with the one and only Freddie Gibbs in America this year, we expect to see big things from him to follow.
NAYANA IZ
Glitch-hop might just be one of the most exciting new genres to embark on the Hip Hop scene, and Nayana Iz is doing it effortlessly. Fusing the more industrial, heavier sounds of Electronic music with Rap and Hip Hop, her sound has been described as ‘boundary-breaking’ by none other than the infamous i-D Magazine. Be sure to check out the accompanying music video which was shot in Oaxaca, Mexico for some stunning visuals.
SONNY BLISS
Take Lounge music and merge it with the entrancing sounds of Dub and what do you get? Dubby Lounge Music! This Manchester based band are creating luscious bodies of instrumental. Somewhat ominous in essence, this cinematic soundscapes would be best heard on full volume. Whack it on, we dare you!
XL REGULAR
If Drum and Bass and Broken Beat had a beautiful little baby, this would be it. Our minds are slightly blown by the sheer mutation of genres, adjacently complimenting vocals samples and notes of off-key nature. The full release will be out on April the 9th, don’t miss it.
CRATE CLASSICS FT. JORDIAN NATTY
We think we may have just what’s missing from our lives… and it’s mellowed-out Drum & Bass. Crate Classics, featuring Jodian Natty, produce a wonderful compilation here, fusing elements of Reggae, Jazz and Jungle with iconic spoken samples and beautifully sung vocals.
BLAZERS
It’s in the lyrics, ‘let’s go’. Parisian multi-instrumentalist, DJ and Producer going by the name Blazers, presents the most elegant of Disco and Funk. Live At The Fitness Room really makes you want to get up for a boogie and we are most certainly here for it.
TOM JARMEY
Tom Jarmey is an artist based in Manchester, combining heavier elements of Break Beat, Dub and Jungle against the more tranquil sounds of Ambience. Using euphoric vocals and heavily reverberated melodies, he adds an emotive twist to his music. Definitely one to hear live!
NICKON FAITH
A super catchy tune here by up-and-coming Manchester based artist Nickon Faith. With great choppy vocals and 80’s inspired synths, this one’s set to be played on repeat. Be sure to check out the whole album when it’s released in May, with artwork by local Graphic Design graduate from MMU, Cecily Howarth.