Welcome back to On Our Radar, a music feature where the team at Reform select their hottest tracks of the week. This week we’re delving into the realms of Hardcore Post-Punk, Soundcloud Rappers and Jazz guitar to bring you the crème de la crème of music.
STELLA TALPO
Italian singer and songwriter Stella Taplo just released a new EP on DeepMatter Records, dissecting topics such as self-destructive behaviour and self-acceptance. Her unique take on R&B and Soul has seen her land on playlists such as ‘Fresh Finds UK & EU’ on Spotify, as she continues to embark on her musical journey to stardom.
PETROL GIRLS
Post-Hardcore Punk band the Petrol Girls latest album ‘Baby’ just dropped and it’s a cut-throat, feminist masterpiece. Rooted in DIY music culture which has a strong relationship with politics, their music challenges the political and social norms. Confronting capitalism, nationalism, gender binary and advocating for freedom of movement through yelled vocals and piercing guitar riffs, one step at a time.
MEEKZ
Manchester rapper Meekz has blown up on Soundcloud after the release of his latest track ‘Airmax’s’, with 13.7K likes to date, scoring him a place on the Soundcloud charts.
If you don’t know VTSS, she’s the queen of hard-hitting Techno, impeccable production and getting the crowd going. She’s played at just about every festival and venue under the sun and now, she brings yet another side of herself to the table, reinforcing just how eclectic she is as an artist. Unlike her previous tracks, ‘Make You Scream’ is electro-pop, driven by a vocal hook and synth chords that are undeniably catchy.
JAMIE LEEMING
Guitarist Jamie Leeming explores the human experience of memories in ‘Resynthesis’, carving his place as one of the most sought after musicians in the field of Jazz . Leeming was said to have set himself a timescale to write this album, posing himself with questions about how we process memories, such as “How do memories relate to our sense of identity and who are we as people?”.
The first Music Course of 2022 just wrapped up. For those unfamiliar, it’s a two-week radio and music production course, with opportunities to make your own radio show or delve into songwriting and creative writing. This workshop is kindly made possible by the lovely people at Manchester Adult EducationService.
Encouraging creativity and a safe space to do so is at the heart of what our workshops are all about. With the realms of radio and music being explored, we set out to find out what creative ventures the group had set for post-music-course life.
Manchester-born Andy came to the project with a distinctive area of interest and expertise: the Vikings. During the project, he worked on a soundscape inspired by the Vikings, recording his own vocals and a speech from Ragnar Lodbrok, a King and hero amongst the Vikings to create a piece of music. In the future, Andy hopes to make his own Viking-based talk show called ‘Ask Ragnar’ where he could act as “an agony aunt to people phoning in, covering mental health and the struggles of living in the modern world”.
This highly innovative idea is just one of the many brilliant things to surface over the weeks. Similarly, Ukrainian Solomiia who had worked as a “music producer in Kyiv in 2019”, says she would love to start her own show exploring the area of “mental health of musicians”. Other participants such as Okubay Haile, a music maker, would love to create their own show covering the “gospel community”. We would love to see this one in action!
The workshop saw spirits run high and those involved such as Andy, Solomiia and Okubay, take the front seat and immerse themselves in singing, writing and producing.
Listen back to the radio show they scripted, edited and produced during the workshop down below to find out more about Music Course and what they accomplished.
Our workshops run all year long and are open to all. To find out about our next one, please drop an email to projects@reformradio.co.uk – see you at the next one!
Lunar C dropped by the studio to join Jorgy and Cheech on their show, discussing his latest EP ‘MOST HIGH’, available now on vinyl from Blah Records.
Hailing from Bradford, the UK rapper blew up in 2011 after performing at ‘Don’t Flop’, one of the biggest rap battles in England. Since then, he’s been on SB.TV, featured on Labyrinth’s EP ‘Atomic’, as well as supporting acts like The Game, an American rapper who was discovered by Dr. Dre. Now he hits up the Reform studio to perform an original rap, for your entertainment.
Every year we celebrate Windrush Day, honouring the migration of people from the West Indies to the UK during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. After a call-out from the British government in need of workers to help re-build the ‘Mother Country’, thousands fled from the Caribbean in hope of a better life for themselves and their families.
Today, we recognise the legacy of the Windrush generation, which is those who uprooted to the UK, their children, grandchildren and so on. These generations have had an astronomical impact and contribution to British culture and society, shaping the country we live in today through music, food and art.
However, the UK has not always stood in solidarity and gratitude to the Windrush generations. In 2017 the Windrush Scandal arose after it was discovered that many commonwealth citizens from the Windrush generations were wrongly being denied legal rights, or far worse, deported.
In light of this, the government announced a grant scheme for charities, community groups and other organisations looking to ‘commemorate, celebrate and educate’ others on Windrush. For Windrush Day 2022, Create London and Hackney Council came together and commissioned the third series of a very topical podcast: Windrush Stories.
Founded by DJ Flight, the co-founder of the women’s collective EQ50 and the forefront of Drum & Bass music. The podcast sees Flight sit down with members of the Windrush generation and chat about their lives and legacies. Each episode features a unique story, with individuals ranging from the spheres of art, music, sport, poetry, politics and food. Wholeheartedly relaxed, the podcast gives “people space to speak” and asks “open-ended questions” as described by Natalie Wright, otherwise known as DJ Flight.
We invited Natalie to have a chat with us about the Windrush Stories, how it came about, the production process, how she scouts guests for the show and so forth, in commemoration of this year’s Windrush Day. As a topic still so widespread in society, it’s important to hear the stories and ventures of the people that made our country what it is today. The UK would be a very different place if not for Windrush, and this podcast really pays homage to that.
Throughout the series, Flight asks a number of her guests what the Windrush legacy means to them. When asked what the Windrush legacy means to her, she laughs, pausing to say ‘it’s funny because I ask everybody this”. After a brief moment of reflection, she continues: ‘the legacy is everything and I owe my life to the Windrush gen”. She talks about the families that uprooted, her own family, music and sound system culture, encapsulating the influence that the Windrush generation has had on her life, and that the legacy, to her is “being grateful for life and everything that they went through to make life better for themselves, their families and other people”. A beautiful synopsis for life, if ever we have heard one. This narrative of appreciation and respect shines throughout the series, hinting toward how the podcast has, in fact, turned out to be one of “ the best things [she’s] ever been involved in ”.
Flight grew up in South East London, spending time in areas such as Norbury, Streatham, Croydon, Wimbledon and Brixton. She spent her youth visiting her paternal grandmother in Croydon, or going to the Samuel Coleridge Taylor Centre in South Norwood with her dad. The centre was named after a famous violinist who was of mixed heritage and known for playing classical music around the 1970s and 80s: “It was great going there and playing snooker and pool, there was an art teacher called Pablo who was a Rasta and he really inspired me”.
Exposed to music of all cultures and sounds from a young age, it’s no wonder Flight went down the path of music and broadcasting. But, how she got into it, may not be what you expect. Nine years ago, she applied for a job offering at the Prison Radio Association, a station working to rehabilitate prisoners through radio. Nine years on and Flight’s still going strong, helping others and spreading her knowledge through the power of radio and her easy-going persona.
Each year the commissioning rounds would come around, opening up the room to independent platforms, companies and producers to pitch ideas worthy of funding.
“I’d applied for a couple before and then on one of our training days, I had an idea and I called it ‘Granny Ackee and Me’. The idea was to have people in the kitchen, cooking with an older relative and having a chat. Whether it’s a grandmother, an auntie or an older cousin, while they are preparing the older person’s favourite meal from home, they learn about the older person’s history and backstory”. ‘Granny Ackee and Me’ soon developed into the Windrush Stories, after applying for some funding in 2020 and receiving the go-ahead. And, so it began!
Windrush Stories started during the pandemic and due to this was recorded remotely, using software such as IPTDL and later, Zoom. Although Flight comments that she would have loved to have conducted the interviews in person, “Sometimes it can be a bit tricky carrying a load of equipment across London or wherever you’re going”. All but one of the episodes was recorded in person, and that was the episode with her dad, ‘Mr Wright’, available on series one. Flight speaks honestly, saying she felt “nervous” about this recording because it was the “the first one recorded”, but at the same time she knew it would “kind of be the easiest”, that she would be able to “work out any tech problems” if needed. Using equipment at home, she set up a recording station with a “Rhode mic set up on a stand in front of him sitting on my armchair” and recorded herself on a handheld microphone.
During the episode, Mr Wright shares tales from his youth that he had never told his daughter before, including an incident when the police came looking for him one day when he was getting ready for work: “They took him down the police station and tried to fit him for a murder when he was nowhere in the vicinity”. Shockingly, “he told me he remembers being in the office and there being all these folders behind him and the officer blatantly says to him ‘see all these, your name’s going to end up on one of them’… But this was a regular occurrence, this was happening all the time and I guess still does up to a point”. Sadly, Mr Wright passed away in November, but his legacy lives on forevermore and is captured in this very episode. Flight comments with a smile that “it feels quite special to have that as part of all of the other stories recorded”.
Originally, she “was a little apprehensive about it being released and just wondering what the reception would be for the public”, but now that it’s out there and has received rave reviews from the public, she feels very heart-warmed that it has “resonated with the people it has”. With the Windrush scandal still ongoing, deportation still happening, and Caribbean countries “slowly but surely saying they are going to get rid of the Queen as their head of state”, regaining their independence, it’s always in the public eye and “Caribbean people’s consciousness”. As a prevalent topic in our society, Flight comments on the experience of asking the guests to come on the show: “I think people have felt really grateful to be asked to share their stories and really enjoyed and relished the opportunity, which I was really grateful for as well”.
In the third series, some of which are out now, you can expect to hear long-form interviews with Cleveland Watkins MBE, Mr Gee, Michelle Dornelly and Doctor Arthur McMillian. Cleveland Watkins MBE was a Jazz sensation, famous for hosting the Metalheadz Sunday Sessions which took place at the iconic Blue Note club in Hoxton Square, owned by none other than Goldie. During the episode, they chat about this seminal club night, his Jazz background and co-founding Jazz warriors, an all-Black African-Caribbean heritage band. At the age of seventeen, Flight started going to this club so “the influence that this particular club at the time had on me as an artist and DJ in my own right, was everything, and I still try and carry that through as well as my influences from Kemistry, Storm and Fabio”.
Her guests are an amalgamation of all kinds of people across all ventures of life, particularly from the arts as “a lot of the main visible influence on the UK [from Windrush] comes from the arts, media, music and also sport”, Flight highlights. Her process for finding guests involved the crafting of a big list, nice and simple. “I would just write a list of names of people from different backgrounds and industries”, ticking them off as she goes along: “Thanks to everyone who said yes!” she adds politely.
The responses to the podcast have been tremendously positive, with many commenting on how the podcast has been insightful for them: “I had a lot of responses from people saying that they really learnt what the experience of West Indies coming to the UK is really like”. After resonating with the public, it was nominated for the British Podcast Awards (2021) and a few days ago, it was announced that Windrush Stories is up for nomination for the second year in a row.
The UK is a wonderfully vibrant place, rich in culture and community thanks to all the incredible people who migrated from countries like Jamaica, Trinidad, St. Kitts, British Guiana, Barbados, Antigua and other countries owned by the British Empire.
You brought delicious cooking, food rich in flavour and comfort, filling our bellies with joy. As well as music of good spirit, for the mind, body and soul. But most of all, kindness, virtue and community.
To hear more from DJ Flight, listen back to the show here.
If you haven’t already checked out Windrush Stories, you can stream all episodes here.
Welcome back to On Our Radar, a music feature where the team at Reform select their hottest tracks of the week. This week we’re bringing you the best club bangers to get you prepped for the summer extravaganzas.
YAZZUS
Since her Best of British nomination for Breakthrough Producer in 2020 by DJ Mag, Yazzus has been making high-speed, Ghetto Tech, Rave-inspired compounds of all textures and tempos. Her latest track, ‘U Tik 2 Much’ is a wonderful mixture of noise, with alarm-like razor sounds and a Berlin club appeal radiating through.
SISTER ZO
An amalgamation of Techno and Breakbeat from New Yorker Sister Zo. Released on the label 3024, this four-track EP is made for the mayhem of the dancefloor. ‘Afraid 2 Make A Move’ is an incredible curation of beats and choppy samples, fading in and out with distinct underwater reverberations to get you two-stepping along.
LYNKS
Lynks‘ rise to fame has been prodigious, to say the least. Chaotic and queer, ‘Silly Boy’ is giving off the utmost energy. If you’ve ever listened to LSDXOXO before, then you will know the charm of the catchy and crude Pop vocals placed with a club instrumental. The queer revolutionary is coming, with artists like Lynks leading the way.
BABY ROLLÉN
Mixmag just premiered a remix of the track ‘mpeg’ by DJ Baby Rollén on the London label Slump Recordings. Acid meets the cyber dogs in this frisky rendition, treating us with seven minutes of minimal craftmanship. It comes out this week so get your orders in now!
PERMUTATION
A cheeky little melodic moment here from the Spanish duo of producers, Permutation. Fusing together elements of Ambience, Electro and 90s Tech, ‘Epicycles’ is formed. Scattered with tingly synth twirls and fuzzy vocal samples, perfect for laying on the beach with a mojito and watching the sunset.
Morgo steps up to the mic for this instalment of Raise The Bar, joining Daisy Adamson her show.
One of the nine members of Motto Estate – a collective formed in Manchester – alongside this, Morgo has a career as a solo artist. His latest track ‘Henny Flows Pt. 1’ just came out and is available on all streaming platforms now.
Back in March, his track ‘Back Home’ featuring rapper Degie, hit 23,665 views on the Youtube channel GRM Daily. If you don’t already know GRM, it’s a freestyle channel spotlighting emerging artists. Oh, and they have 5.29M subscribers. No biggie.
Listen back to the show to find out more about who Morgo really is.
Our two-week podcasting course Tameside Futures just came to an end, a workshop which is kindly made possible by Prince’s Trust and Tameside Council.
Based at 4C Community Centre in Ashton, kicking off with a two-week Podcasting Bootcamp, followed by additional weeks dedicated to CV/Interview skills, Well-being and extra creative sessions that help young people in Tameside connect with employers in the local area.
Over the two weeks we had a visit from Mozzington Digital Design company and Splinter Scenery, a theatrical set building company that has worked with the likes of “The Play That Goes Wrong’ and RuPaul’s Drag Race Werk the World tour. The participants interviewed and made podcasts on these businesses that they planned, scripted, recorded and edited themselves. Alongside this, the individuals debated the topics of music, horror films and even ghost stories, having a go at soundscaping ghost stories.
Find out what went down during the project down below.
To get involved with the next one please contact projects@reformradio.co.uk
Welcome back to On Our Radar, a music feature where the team at Reform select their hottest tracks of the week. This week we’re showing off some dancey anthems, complex Jazz fusions and abstract madness – we hope you enjoy!
QUINN OULTON
Abstract multi-instrumentalist, Quinn Oulton, just released a debut album on DeepMatter Records, and it’s worth checking out. The narrative of the album is intrinsically emotive, telling the tale of Quinn’s experience with friends, family and relationships as a young male, disecting emotions such as “obsession, frustration, passion, false hope, grief, self-pity, helplessness, and acceptance are all part of this story”. Expressing himself through music, Alexithymia is a journey of emotional acceptance. In describing his sound, Quinn comments that he thinks “men, struggle to recognise and process their own emotions”, so in composing, he finds a way to bridge this emotive gap.
BLACK RAVE CULTURE
Hailing from East Coast America, BRC Vol 2 is a celebration of genres like House, Techno, Jungle, Baile Funk, Jersey club, Dancehall – the ones you hear booming in a club, with choppy beats and stabbing chords. This album celebrates the legacy of black electronic artistry, as alluded too in the album title, put together collectively by D.C supergroup consisting of Amal, DJ Nativesun and James Bangura.
SHANTI CELESTE
Celebrating twenty-eight years on from Orbital’s track Are We Here?, from the EP ‘Snivilisation’, Shanti Celeste pulls through with a club-heavy remix. It’s quite the challenge remixing a song, or artist, of such excellence, and doing it well. Here, Peach Discs’ co-founder re-invents the tune with effortlessly catchy rhythm. Soon after its release in January it was recognised by music media platforms such as DJ Mag, commenting on the songs energetic appeal.
LF SYSTEM
Disco masterpiece Afraid To Feel brings a funky melody, saxophone and vocals to the table just in time for festival season. We hit up Parklife Festival this weekend and of course this tune made it’s first appearances on the D floor. An epic blend to come off Warner Records. We’ll be playing this on repeat for the foreseeable future…
BILLY MOHLER
The californian Jazz musician that is Billy Mohler has just collaborated with three other instrumentalists, forming a quartet for Anatomy. Infused with moody, ominous tones and menacing bassline’s, the four piece collaboration consisting of the bass, drums, tenor sax and trumpet is receiving rave reviews from fans and new-listeners alike, setting themselves in a league of their own.
In 2020 we launched our monthly Black Lives Matter (BLM) discussion. Two years on, we continue to hold them once a month, discussing documentaries, podcasts, books and spoken word to name a few. These discussions aim to create an environment to learn, reflect and discuss what we can do as an organisation and as individuals, as well as to provide a space to acknowledge and celebrate Black culture and heritage.
Director, Sam Oliveira, comments on why Reform decided to start the monthly discussion: “In the wake of the murder of George Floyd we felt it was important to put a mirror up and look at our own organisation, to not only see how we could do better but recognise that it’s simply not good enough to be non-racist, we need to be actively and unapologetically anti-racist. We wanted to do this by making space within working hours for staff and our wider community via the monthly BLM meetings to explore these issues as well as celebrate the richness and influence of Black culture”.
In 2013, the #BlackLivesMatter movement arose following the death of a seventeen-year-old boy, Trayvon Martin, at the hands of a white police officer, George Zimmerman. After his acquittal, national outrage sparked as Mr Zimmerman received second-degree murder charges. Following this tragedy, three Black radicals – Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi – came together to create the political and ideological movement that we know as BLM.
In 2020 following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, hundreds of protestors took to the streets of Battersea, gathering outside the US embassy and demanding justice. Similarly, in Manchester, thousands crowded Piccadilly Gardens with signs reading lines such as “All Lives Can’t Matter Until Black Lives Matter”.
BLM Protest, Picadilly Gardens, 2020 – Photography by Jody Hartley
Following this, a statue of Edward Colston in Bristol was removed by protestors and thrown into the harbour. Similarly, a statue of Robert Milligan in London was removed by authorities for its connections to colonialism. The removal of these statues sparked a mixed response from the public, as even though both individuals were publicly known for their connections to slavery, some felt that removing them was an act of removing history. Since 2017, there have been multiple inquiries into race inequality, led by political figures, such as the Windrush Lessons Learned Review (2020), the Lammy Review (2017) and the Race Disparity Audit (2017) to mention a few.
But, that’s just a brief account of what’s been happening with the BLM movement over the past few years. Sadly, brutal attacks of racism have been happening for centuries on end. In our meetings, we have looked at a number of different media resources that observe the history of colonialism, racism and slavery.
Most recently, we watched the 1978 documentary ‘Blacks’ Britannica’ which was produced by David Koff and Musindo Mwinyipmende. The film was banned in the US for being ‘dangerous’ viewing material, and a censored edit was distributed around by Public Broadcasting (PBS). Subsequently, the film was banned in the UK soon after. It was only in 1989 that the raw version was published by an independent platform that went by the name of Alternate News. You can now view this documentary for free on youtube.
Discussions that arose from this included themes of integration, racism and awareness. Reform’s Artist in Residence, Melissa Dean, shared her thoughts adding that “As a mixed-race woman, there is still so much Black history I have to learn about, and Reform has provided that space. From free books to audio listening, we have always been offered valuable pieces to take away and discuss”.
Another visual piece of media we looked at was the BBC anthology series by Steve McQueen, ‘Small Axes’, named after a lyric that originated from a Bob Marley song “If you are the big tree, we are the small axe”. Consisting of five short films, within each a different set of characters narrates a tale of the West Indian settlement in London during the 1960s to 1980s. One of the discussion attendees talks about their experience of watching this series, commenting that it was “eye-opening” and “the whole series opens up a space to celebrate London’s West Indian community, based on real-life events, it’s both moving and educational”. They also add that they are “grateful” for the BLM meetings, as if it was not for them, they might never have come across this series.
Other resources we have looked at include a number of books such as ‘Brit(ish)’ by Afua Hirsch – a discussion of identity, Black culture and politics in the context of the UK, Ghana and Senegal – as well as ‘Feminism Interrupted’ by Lola Olufemi, a book which well and truly reclaimed feminism. Another title we read was ‘Natives’ by British rapper Akala; autobiographical in essence, the book explores themes of race and class, historically and in modern culture in the UK. Last but not least is the ‘Barbican Stories’, a collection of real-life accounts of racism or discrimination employees of the Barbican centre faced during their time working there.
One individual who has been attending the discussions since the beginning of 2022, speaks on how the meetings have impacted their life: “It’s no one else’s job to educate you on the history and foundations of the country we live in and call our home. In today’s society, we have the resources and facilities to do so, but I admit that finding the time can be challenging. However, these monthly meetings have helped me find the time for things that are important”.
The Podcasting Manager at Reform previously suggested we look at ‘Black Lives Matter And The Climate’ from the ‘How To Save The Planet’ podcast series. She comments how as an organisation “We speak a lot about our passion for environmentalism and racial equality, but we hadn’t spoken about how the two are so intrinsically connected” adding that “It was really eye-opening and led to a great discussion about how we can approach these topics”.
Last year for Black History Month we held an in-person discussion, inviting our very own Artist In Residence to perform a spoken-word piece on “sexual abuse from a mixed-race perspective”, as explained by Melissa Dean. Following the performance, Melissa touched on how the meeting provided a “safe space”, which in turn helped her decipher how this experience had affected her “own Black identity”. During the rest of the meeting, the organisation Black in MCR came down to deliver an anti-racism training course for those attending.
However, this is just a small selection of the vital and valuable material we have discussed over the years. If you would like to find out what other resources are available, please click here to view our resources spreadsheet.
In Manchester, many organisations and charities are fighting for systematic change, justice and freedom for the Black community. Check them out, or feel free to get in touch if you know of others.
If you want to get involved in our monthly discussions, please email lewys@reformradio.co.uk. Discussions are held online every month and are open to anyone interested. It’s a safe space and we welcome people to join whether they want to discuss, share or just listen.
Welcome back to On Our Radar, a music feature where the team at Reform select their hottest tracks of the week. This week we’re visiting the revival of Electroclash, Psychadellic Jazz and Dub to name a few.
MISS KITTIN
The forefront of the genre Electroclash – a smorgasbord of New Wave and Electro – French DJ Miss Kittin is back with another joint album with The Hacker. It’s been over a decade since the pair released any music together, but it was worth the wait. Track ’19’ is effortlessly cool, filtered with electro-pop to get you moving throughout. As for the rest of the album, go listen and find out for yourselves!
TOMMY THE CAT
We’re bringing this tune back just in time for summer. This fast-paced Jungle Dub compound was released on the back of the Netherlands label, Cat In The Bag Records, back in 2021. Intoxicated with ominous Dub echoes and catchy chords, we can only imagine how this one would bang on a Sinai Sound System. If you’re a fan of having your morning cuppa with a splash of energy, these two tracks won’t disappoint.
SHAWN LEE & MISHA PANFILOV
Attention all. Shawn Lee and Misha Panfilov have just released a whopper of an album on the Estonian label Misha Panfilov Sound Combo. What could be better than 18 tracks of pure Psychedelic Jazz you say? The track names, of course! Ranging from ‘Hams Zimmerframe’ to ‘The Shawn Shank Redemption’, it’s hinted that the pair don’t take themselves too seriously which is truly refreshing. Jumping between heavy grooves one minute, infectious percussion and simmering atmospheric tones the next, you’ll be hooked from the first track.
ARTISTS FOR HUMANITARIAN AID IN UKRAINE
Washington based underground label Dubfire has released a tech-heavy album in an effort to support Ukraine. With over 44 contributing artists ranging from the UK, India, Dominican Republic, Japan, Turkey and Russia to name a few. All sale profits will be donated to the International Rescue Committee which is working to support displaced families.
ELLES
Portuguese songstress ELLES releases her debut album ‘A Celebration Of The Euphoria Of Life’, a story of leaving your mundanities at the office on Friday, to entering the more extreme land of clubbing and its ramifications over the weekend. Written at a time when clubs were shut, ELLES describes the album as a ‘love-letter’ to these community spaces, shown through beautiful displays of synesthetic lyrics and melodic incantations.
Wondering how to spend your four-day weekend? We’ve got you covered! Every month we promote events hosted by our very own residents. Scroll down to find out what events are taking place this June.
TELETECH
Teletech returns to Hidden for twelve hours of relentless hardcore. Kicking off at 4 PM on June 2nd and continuing into the early hours of Bank Holiday Friday, this one’s sure to make you sweat. Joining the astronomical line-up is Izzy Bolt, playing back to back with the Glaswegian DJ AISHA.
DUSK PRESENTS TERRY FRANCIS
Events company Dusk brings the legendary British DJ and producer Terry Francis to Blackpool for a cook up of House and Techno. Joining Terry on the DJ booth during the evening will beMica, Rich James and Ryan Croft to name a few.
BLACK TRIANGLE AND MIC CHECK MEDIA PRESENT GOOD VIBES ONLY
Bringing together quality live acts to The Lions Den in Deansgate mews, Mic Check Mediaheadline their first event alongside one6wave, Pique Roscoe, Kallico and Ace Cxbain. Coming at you live and direct with the hottest urban talent and live Drum N’ Bass. You’re going to need your dancing shoes for this one!
YOUR DISCO NEEDS YOU
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Disco, you are needed on the D floor on June 17th. The Carlton Club is being taken over with good vibes and groovy shenanigans, so get your best threads at the ready and prepare to boogie on down. Joey T will be making his debut appearance at this month’s YDNY. You might recognise him as the resident DJ at wOnk events in Staffordshire, or for his involvement with the Manchester scene. Dishing out every record with untethered love & enthusiasm, Joey also has a few releases in the pipeline this year, which he probably won’t mention if you don’t press him! Catch Rob Jonesfrom Supernature and Neil Craven from Progress On spinning House, Disco and everything in between.
DJ Sessions project just came to an end, bringing together the budding stars and DJs of Manchester. If you’re not familiar with DJ Sessions, it’s a week-long practical workshop followed by two weeks of employment and well-being support, kindly funded by MAES.
Orchestrated by Joe Roche, a Manchester-based DJ, Producer and Record label owner, alongside the legendary Maule , the duo set out to teach the young people of Manchester how to tackle the decks.
Meet Mia, a Ukrainian musician and aspiring DJ who joined the project in the hope of gaining new skills: “my father was a musician, so I’ve loved music since my childhood. I wanted to join DJ sessions as it’s a great opportunity and I’m interested in music, I like to be able to do everything, so I think DJing is cool in that retrospect”.
Mia’s style is pretty eclectic and she likes playing genres such as Old School Hip Hop and R&B, as well as modern R&B, Hip Hop and Disco, commenting that she likes “a lot of kinds of music”. When asked what her goals for the week were, she said: “I would like to continue DJing after the course finishes and really improve on myself, and maybe get a job where I can DJ”.
Luckily for Mia and the rest of the group, our facilitators had invited a host of promoters to watch the showcase at the end of the week and offer them opportunities to play out in Manchester. The participants carefully selected a tracklist to WOW the audience of promoters and Reform turned into a club for the day, with beats echoing through the studio and beyond. We can’t wait for the next instalment of DJ Sessions in June!
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
Soundcamp 2022 started this month, kicking off with a two week Bootcamp which just wrapped up. Filling the space with the best up and coming musical talents across Manchester. For those of you that are not familiar with Soundcamp, it’s a 12-week training and artist development programme that we started back in 2018, funded by the lovely Youth Music and in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman.
Joining Soundcamp once again, facilitators and artists Jenna G, Werkha and Anna Mcluckie kicked off the project and got the ball rolling, offering their industry knowledge and mentorship to those involved. At the end of the Bootcamp, twelve artists were selected to progress onto the 12-month mentorship programme, granting the opportunity to take their craft to the next level.
If you don’t know our fabulous facilitators, let’s get you acquainted. Jenna Gis a vocalist and MC who has worked with the likes of Danni Minogue, Aleesha Dixon and Chase & Status. Werkhais a DJ and producer, who has recently dropped an album, ‘All Werk Is Play’. Last but not least, Anna McLuckie is a singer, songwriter and harpist based in Manchester, who you can catch playing at the Deaf Institute at the end of the month.
Participants such as Manchester-based Atha, who is an aspiring events host and musician, touched on how it has been working with industry professionals, commenting that the facilitators have been “caring, giving us the space to ask them questions which is comforting and beneficial”. Freelance actor, open mic organiser and poet Boshra adds that the environment created by the facilitators was “welcoming, which is important and they genuinely want to help”, whilst guitarist Fabio explains how each artist seemed to be “well-rooted in the industry”.
As always, we strive to maintain an aura of inclusivity, encouraging those involved to be their authentic selves. Beatrix Dexter a self-proclaimed ‘authentic, innovative and daring’ artist and participant says how the experience of working with the likes of Jenna, Werkha and Anna was insightful and ‘every day was enlightening and very focus driven’.
As a music course and artist development programme, collaboration is thoroughly encouraged throughout. One of the collaborative tasks during the Bootcamp was to create a piece on either nature or identity, spurring creations of beautiful spoken word pieces, whilst other activities included musical creations. During the second week, one group wrote a dreamy three-part harmony on one side of the room and on the other side of the room, there was some high energy rapping going on, proving just how eclectic each person’s style is.
It was great to see those involved appearing comfortable, honest, supporting one another, and having a bit of a laugh. People shared their work, from poetry to lyricism, creating blends of genres. One group, including Fabio, created a track fusing Folk, EDM and gritty Rap, surprising themselves with an original song that worked incredibly well. This narrative led the rest of Soundcamp’s journey, with Atha commenting that she’s ‘met at least five different musicians, five different instrumentalists and five producers, so it’s like a network of people with different skills and it’s amazing’.
With creative energy flourishing within the group, we set out to find out who was inspiring the group.
WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION?
BOSHRA, ACTOR & POET. ‘Myself. As humans, we go through so much in our lives and I feel like our stories, our past, our struggles and our successes are inspirational in themselves. We as humans inspire ourselves constantly and being creative in this industry is difficult. You have to fail, learn, fail, learn and be okay with rejections, whilst keeping on going and finding alternative ways to bloom, expand and develop.’
FABIO, GUITARIST. ‘I try not to have idols because I don’t believe in having them, but I do have people I look up to who trigger parts of my brain and make me feel inspired. Casey Edwards and Mic Gordon, who are more on the gaming side of things with soundtracks, are incredibly inspirational to me. The experimental side of their gaming works is great, especially as someone who likes electronic and distorted sounds.’
JOY, MODEL & SINGER. ‘My Mother. She gave me life but she also taught me life. My mother came to the UK from Africa and made a life for us, she worked so hard for me and my siblings and that’s something I admire so much.’
IF YOU COULD COLLABORATE WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE?
SOPHIE, JAZZ MUSICIAN. ‘If I could collaborate with anyone living, it would be the legend, Beverly Knight. She is an incredible vocalist and hands down an amazing person. I take lots of my writing inspiration from her. And of course, Ella Fitzgerald. A Jazz legend who means so much to so many people and her legacy lives on. I like to think I take a leaf out of her book every single day.’
FABIO, GUITARIST. ‘While they were alive, Prince or Jimi Hendrix. That would have been pretty cool.’
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM SOUNDCAMP? DID YOU SET YOURSELF ANY PERSONAL GOALS FOR THE BOOTCAMP?
BEATRIX DEXTER, MUSICIAN. ‘To make more connections, network with people and improve my confidence. I wanted to learn more about the industry and what next steps I should take as an artist. ‘
JOY, MODEL & SINGER. ‘A voice for myself. I wanted to get a bit more confident in the talent that I have. Now I feel I’m in the right headspace, I just needed to meet the right people and be in the right space.’
SOPHIE, JAZZ MUSICIAN & MINDFULNESS TEACHER. ‘I joined Soundcamp to collaborate with local people and make connections.’
There was a great variety of performances at the showcase and an incredibly supportive environment was encouraged throughout. What began with nervous energy, soon transformed into laughter and self-confidence. First up was Toby with a very pure and heartfelt spoken-word piece, resulting in a crowd of applause and wooing. Toby fist-pumped the air and faces of joy populated the room, setting the scene for the performances to follow. Soundcamp 2018 alumni IORA played a number of tunes. Their music is electronic-based, so it was great to hear it played differently live. Flavours of Drum N’ Bass with vocals on top, acoustic Indie with spoken word and swing influenced pieces with a jazzy soulful feel.
As the Bootcamp came to an end, friendships had been made and wonderful artistry created, with those involved leaving on a high.
To find out more about our upcoming projects, please drop us a line at projects@reformradio.co.uk – come get involved, meet people and get creative!
Welcome back to On Our Radar, a music feature where the team at Reform select their hottest tracks of the week. This week we slow things down and explore the sounds of some local beat-makers and songwriters, with a special focus on Trap, Electronic Funk and epic Break remixes.
GIO FT JAYAHADADREAM
Co-produced by one of Reform’s very own, Sharkin’ featuring Jayahadadream is a wonderfully catchy tune. The atmospheric piano chords had us hooked from the get-go. And, you can never go wrong with a simple Trap beat. What a bop!
LIPPHEAD
This one’s a feel-good tune to prepare you for the bank holiday weekend ahead (we hope you all have some fun things planned). Featuring a blissful beat with what sounds like plenty of milk bottle tinkling, mesmerising strings and silky vocals riffs. If you don’t know Lipphead already, it’s time to check them out.
YENDRY
A new one from songwriter Yendry here. It’s impossible to not get up and dance to this Latin inspired electronic fusion. The rhythm is utterly infectious and would be perfect for bringing the vibes to any summer bash.
W4V£$
Manchester-based songwriter and producer steps up with another excellent tune. We love the vocal layering on this one, it’s getting us in our feels and we are here for it. Written at the end of 2021 to welcome the New Year, Comfort In The Sirens alludes to the artist’s experience of 2021.
VAN WILKINS
To round things up, here’s a legendary remix of a Jamiroquai classic, re-invented with a blend of Breaks and beautiful instrumental swing. We can’t wait to hear more from the Brighton based DJ and producer Van Wilkins!
Welcome back to On Our Radar, a music feature where the team at Reform select their hottest tracks of the week. This week we explore the sounds of Industrial, Rave, Ambient, Rap and Jazz.
MOBBS
If industrial and noir were to have a baby, it would undoubtedly be MOBBS. Electric counter-force, brutalist sound mechanic and cyber magician (you name it) has just come out with a fourteen track album. If you’re into sound design, you don’t want to sleep on this one.
MURG
Fresh face of BBC Music Introducing West Yorkshire, Bradford-based Murg has just come out with a whopper of an EP, available on SoundCloud. Dark, dingey and dizzyingly addictive, Cosmic Dreams has us hooked from monotonous chord build-ups and punchy drum loops.
MELCHIOR PRODUCTIONS LTD
Bringing back this euphoric masterpiece from 2021. Thomas Melchior, the owner of the German label My King Is Light and alias to Melchoir Productions, serves up a ten-minute blend of brilliance. Emotive and minimal, perfect for the last song of a set.
CABALLERO
If you’re not familiar with European Rap, then get to know. Brussels-born rapper Caballero has just come out with his latest album, available on platforms such as Spotify.
SKYGAZE
The Broken Beat influence of London shines through songs like Night Heat, besides dreamlike synths and melodic bass melodies which reconstruct that grungy broken beat pattern we know and love. Here Skygaze merges the hard-hitting genres of electro with ethereal notations to produce an atmospheric phenomenon.
ALEX FIGUEIRA
Psychedelic Caribbean Jazz. It’s the genre we never knew was missing from our lives. Alex Figueira’s latest two-track EP is ridiculously catchy, groovy and enchanting. If music intoxication’s a thing, then we are drunk on steel drums, acoustic piano and staggered congo solos.
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week in The UK. In recognition of this week, we chatted to our team to find out what some of their personal struggles have been and how they went about overcoming them. Those who felt comfortable sharing opened up about moving internationally, the path to self-acceptance and queer identity, the difficulties of being an aspiring creative and the challenges of post-graduate life.
Supporting our community is at the heart of what we stand for. Our well-being manager Dan Owens-Cooper’s brand new show #BEEWELL-BEING is a great way to connect with other young people in Manchester and hear their stories surrounding mental health.
Looking to try something new but not sure how to go about it? Our very own well-being manager Dan Owens-Cooper is here to offer advice! 💭In collaboration with BeeWell, every month on a Tuesday from 5-6PM Dan will be serving his monthly mental health mix of voices, experiences, and creative talents from young adults in Greater Manchester 🐝Stay tuned for the next episode… ⏭️
Well-being manager Dan Owens-Cooper dishes out his advice on how to go about trying something new.
Keep reading to find out how our staff members have overcome situations affecting their mental health.
NICOLAS, SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT – CULTURE SHOCK
‘As a French national I had a lot of assumptions about coming from a different country. Fortunately for me, the language was not a difficulty and helped me fit in, but the fact that this barrier could prevent foreigners to travel is understandable. You feel anxious, disturbed and lost to leave your habits to jump on a new journey.
Being away from your family is the first difficulty, though my experience is quite special as I came during Covid. Skype, phone calls and getting surprise visits, are many ways to feel less displaced.
The second thing is getting your bearings in your new place. Friends, school, work, make sure you take your time to adapt. The third thing is socialising. One of the errors I did first was being distant and only socialising with other French speakers. Be open-minded and curious about your new culture.
If leaving home seems scary at first sight, consider it as an opportunity to learn about others as well as yourself. And always remember, it is okay not to be ok. Seek help if needed and be patient.’
INDIGO, SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT & COPYWRITER – POST-GRADUATE LIFE
‘I grew up in the South of the UK. Whilst others craved the sweet smell of nature and freshly cut grass, I craved industrial landscapes, busy pubs and the tube. Addicted to the city that never sleeps, always having something to do or someone to see, London became to feel more like my home than ever before during University.
Then the pandemic hit. My London dreamworld hit the breaks and a rather empty one took its place. The city’s narrative changed and became lonely and hollow to its core. I lost touch with what it meant to exist as a young creative, nor how to go about meeting other people like me or where I even fit into this huge city that felt like it didn’t want me there. No one prepares you for how challenging post-graduate life can be.
I took the plunge and moved up North in October and was welcomed with open arms, soon finding a job in my dream industry. One piece of advice I would give anybody in a similar position is that you can make something of yourself anywhere. There are plenty of opportunities outside of the capital, if not more. Don’t be scared to move to new places, you might surprise yourself and love it.’
ALICE, CONTENT CREATOR – SELF ACCEPTANCE
‘As someone that identifies as non-binary and pansexual, it’s been a bit of a rocky road to get to this point where I can confidently talk about and explore my identity. Being Japanese and British, I was no stranger to battling the push and pulls between your own authentic identity and societal expectations. But coming to terms with my sexuality and gender identity brought on a whole new wave of anxieties, confusion, guilt and imposter syndrome.
I kept this quiet for 2 years. I was scared to talk about something that I didn’t fully understand myself, and the fear of being perceived differently by friends and family paralysed me completely. But I finally reached my limits and reached out for help. Talking about it honestly relieved so much stress and sadness that had been straining myself and my relationships for so long. It sounds so simple but knowing that there are people who will listen and support me was such a powerful relief.
Now, I identify as non-binary but I may identify differently in the future and that’s so natural. It’s a journey; what makes the journey less challenging is talking to people, therapy, immersing myself within supportive communities, being kind to myself and not rushing. It’s important to know that there will always be people that understand, support and love you!’
CAL, CONTENT CREATOR – CARE FOR THE CREATIVE
‘Being creative is amazing and challenging – the payoff and satisfaction can be fulfilling but getting there can test your being.
Being working-class or independent usually means working a job on top of side-hustling your creative endeavours. Finding time and energy for this can be tricky – review your schedule and see what is realistic. Even 30 mins at the end of your shift, three times a week equals 90 mins – 90 mins more than the week before.
Creative blocks: these can feel suffocating, and most, if not all creatives have or will have them so buckle in. Firstly, accept its happening. Next, set yourself achievable goals such as using the technique above.
Take a breath and remember you’re in control. Think of previous times you felt overwhelmed. You found a solution, the divine creative inspiration surged through your veins and you did it. Thinking of these past triumphs can help reinvigorate your energy in moving forward.
Breaks. An overworked brain is no good to anyone and can be detrimental to your aspirations for the project if you continue without resets. Close your laptop, set down your phone and switch off. Tomorrow is a new day and you will get there. ‘
Are you somebody who puts high pressure on yourself? Our well-being manager Dan Owens-Cooper is here to help! In collaboration with BeeWell, on a Tuesday from 5-6 PM Dan is serving his monthly mental health mix of voices, experiences and creative talents from young adults in Greater Manchester 🐝Stay tuned for more ⏭️
Well-being manager Dan Owens-Cooper offers advice ahead of his new show in collaboration with #BeeWell.
Everybody has insecurities and you are not alone in feeling them. Sharing them can be a positive way to tackle these feelings of inadequacy and learn how to deal with them.
Our team have opened up about some of their insecurities, in hope that it will help others. Common insecurities that popped up were the feeling of ‘imposter syndrome’, with multiple staff membersagreeing that it is something they all have experienced.One staff member, who would prefer to remain anonymous, adds that he’s very overly critical of himself and his performance and often suffers from ‘imposter syndrome in both my personal and professional projects.’
Whilst insecurities like this can spring from professional environments, such as school, university or work, more commonly they occur in social situations. Social anxieties can make it difficult to meet new people and overcoming these feelings can seem both daunting and impossible. Alice (Content Team) comments that ‘despite loving it, I also get anxious and insecure before and during meeting new people’.
Other staff members such as Jade (Pastoral Lead) feels insecure about ‘not being good enough at anything’ they do, and another person stated that they fear people ‘not being able to understand [them] on the phone’.
It’s important to remember that you are never alone in whatever you are going through. If you are struggling mentally and would like to talk to someone, please visit our Emergency Contacts page. Multiple amazing organisations offer their services 24/7.
Another Manchester Futures course just came to an end. For the past two week participants were invited into the space for a two-week podcasting Bootcamp, culminating in a live show on our airwaves.
If you’re not familiar with Manchester Futures, it’s a 6-week course that provides bespoke support to young people 16-25 who are looking for work that is delivered in partnership with The Prince’s Trust.
The digital creatives of Manchester came together to learn about scripting, producing, recording and editing, as well as immersing themselves in a working radio environment.
This time around we were joined by three very exciting employers: Escape to Freight Island, NQ Legacy and SharpFutures. Let’s tell you a little bit about them.
NQ Legacy is a non-profit global talent management and full-service entertainment organisation that helps to support young people in the creative industries such as music, film and TV. Some of their current talents include artists such as Aitch and Akemi Fox, brands such as Warner Music and Universal, and more.
SharpFutures are a social enterprise, supporting the young people of Manchester into full-time employment in the creative and digital sectors. They offer a variety of courses, apprenticeships and work placements that help advance your digital skills and get those opportunities you deserve. Some of the clients they have worked with include the BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4.
If you’re based in Manchester, you probably recognise the name Escape to Freight Island. It is an industrial food, drink and entertainment venue, constructed out of an old freight depot, described as the “beating heart” of Manchester. As both an indoor and outdoor venue, much of the entertainment they do is designed around the seasons. With festivals, DJ sets, comedy shows, firework displays and more, there’s always something going on.
Having had the opportunity to interview many acclaimed businesses, the young people involved felt that this experience had evolved their personal and creative skills, with those involved adding that the live show had been the highlight of the project.
On Friday the 6th of May, CreativiTea With Sugar went live on the airwaves, an amalgamation of all their hard work and talents. If you didn’t get a chance to tune in, you can listen back down below.
If you would like to find out more about upcoming projects or get involved with the next Manchester Futures, please drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk and join the community.
Interested in podcasting? Why not take a deeper dive into the world of podcasting and join Tameside Futures this May.
Tameside Futures is a 6-week programme providing bespoke support to young people 16-25 who are looking for work. Kindly funded by the Prince’s Trustand Tameside Council.
The programme includes an exciting 2-week Podcasting Bootcamp – You will learn how to develop and script a podcast, create relevant and interesting content and learn the ins and outs of audio production, social media and creative writing. You will also get the experience of producing and presenting in a live radio show, airing on Reform Radio at the end of Bootcamp.
The next four weeks to follow offer 1-1 support with wellbeing, CV writing, applications, interview prep, work placements and other flexible support to fit around you.
See the flyer below for more details.
If you are an employer and currently looking for new talent…
We are looking for organisations who are seeking to recruit new talent or who frequently work with freelancers/contractors, and those that can offer placements and interviews for our young people.
Employers must commit to between 1-5 days for young people to get hands-on experience in their organisation and meet their teams.
The ambition of the Sustainable Futures Fund is not only to support young people at a time of great need but to enable Greater Manchester to come out of the pandemic looking confidently into the future – aligning with a clear plan for growing industries providing sustainable, good quality, ‘future-focused’ jobs in the region – The Prince’s Trust
Please contact mike@reformradio.co.uk if you are interested or would like more information.
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…
DR MYSTERY
Far From Home is an eight-track album that glides across the dreamscape of another world. That world is DR MYSTERY’s, a futuristic one that explores the sounds that excite the mind and body. Sweeping through dreams and reality she reconstructs what we know as Leftfield Techno, showcasing how eclectic they are as a producer. Get your hands on a copy of Far From Home LP, pressed on black vinyl. Comes in a recycled, one of a kind sleeves with hand screen-printed artwork.
FYI CHRIS
New one from FYI Chris on Black Acre Records coming out at the end of the month. Made during lockdown for a club that didn’t exist, Unreal Nausea is minimal in essence with some really gripping tribal sounds and vocal glitches. Are we gonna hear this at an after-party or at a club? We don’t know but that’s the whole fun of it.
TC & THE GROOVE FAMILY
Ten piece band TC & The Groove Family bring yet another upbeat Jazz ensemble to the table. A powerfully hitting track with a fast-paced drum beat, catchy trumpet loop and ever so addictive electric guitar. We can’t get enough!
PIRI & TOMMY VILLIERS
Off the back of their latest gig that took place at the White Hotel in April, Piri and Tommy Villiers have released their latest song words. Already a Tiktok sensation, the two young stars are dominating the socials and creating the modern Pop inspired anthems of the decade.
VAN WILKINS
Brighton-based DJ and Producer Van Wilkins comes through with a Jamiroquai revamp released on UK label Over and Out. Getting you hooked from the get go, this fabulously catchy Breaks beat with a brass twist does not disappoint.
