TheJorgy & Cheech’s Show is back and this time round the duo were joined by the unbeaten Alex Mighten behind the mic. Spitting a hot and effortless freestyle, we were all left wanting more after welcoming the Nottingham legend into the studio.
Alex Mighten initially gained notoriety as being part of the acclaimed Notts crew, Out Da Ville. However, from his initial rap days, he’s gained appreciation for his soulful vocal hooks, edgy production and more.
Watch the full freestyle below or catch up with the whole show.
Z-arts are looking for people who can commit a small amount of time each week to join a team of volunteers to help in their Children’s Library and provide a safe, fun and friendly welcome! The library is a community library and part of Manchester Libraries network.
Download the brand new job pack here – This includes the job description and lots of exciting details about our organisation.
What a couple weeks we’ve had! Over the past two weeks, Reform Radio has been home to our ever-growing DJ sessions programme, funded by MAES, with over twenty participants. Throughout the course, our participants have had hands-on experience behind the decks, learning how to beatmatch and blend, alongside sessions focused on self-promotion and sourcing gigs. We had DJ collective Do As You Please helping to facilitate the course, alongside some visits from GigPig and Genre Music throughout the week. To close the project, all of our incredible participants played a live set at Manchester venue The New Cross to an in-person and live-streamed audience.
We chatted to participants Jess and Jonathan to find out more about their journeys on the course and their wider plans on the DJ scene from here.
What are your names, pronouns, and current interests?
Jonathan: My name is Jonathan, I go by any pronouns, and outside the course I’m working on my career as a visual producer.
Jess: I’m Jess, my pronouns are she/her. I currently help run a comedy club in Northern Quarter. Apart from that, I love meditating and painting.
How would your friends describe you in 3 words?
Jonathan: Smiley, committed and passionate
Jess: Ambitious, laid-back and motivated
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Jonathan: ‘Love In Your Meditation’ by Dezarie
Jess: It would have to be ‘Back Out of Hell’ by Meatloaf – it was the first album I knew all the words to when I was a kid and I probably still know all the words now! Every song is such huge tune so you can solidly rely on it.
Did you have much experience in DJing before and what’s your favourite thing about it?
Jonathan: I had no experience at all. But my favourite thing about being on the course has been getting behind the decks and just doing it – you learn more and more by the minute.
Jess: I have a controller at home but it has literally never seen the light of day so I didn’t really have much experience at all. However, my favourite thing about DJing has been finally getting to grips with the decks and learning different techniques, like blending songs and figuring out which tracks work alongside one another.
What prompted you to get involved with the DJ Sessions?
Jonathan: Personally, I feel like I have a vast knowledge on music of different genres and more generally I have a massive passion for music. I play the keyboard, I love singing and dancing, so I felt like I had the potential to be a sick DJ! I also felt that by learning to DJ I would have the opportunity to promote underrepresented artists from my hometown and community.
Jess: I have wanted to DJ for a while and I’d tried to learn by watching videos online but I think I’m better learning by doing. When I saw Reform were holding an in-person DJ Course, it was the perfect opportunity to get practising in the space. I had also done a Podcasting Course here before so I knew it was a great place with great people.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
Jonathan: I definitely feel more confident overall and I’ve made great progress with learning about BPM and queuing tracks. Now, I’m focusing on blending and what effects I can use in my practice.
Jess: I know how much I love DJing now – it’s so much fun! I’m still not 100% confident but I have definitely got to grips with what I’m doing in terms of blending tracks, and I feel like I have an ear for when it’s right for tracks to come in now.
Do you have any role models on the DJ or general music scene that inspire your practice?
Jonathan: An obvious one has to be KAYTRANADA, but also Kabza De Small, who is an amazing amapiano DJ.
Jess: A general big inspiration in my life is Annie Mac – I would listen to her radios shows all the time. She’s the person that got me into dance music. But, all round, I just love seeing female representation on the DJ scene, it’s inspiring.
What’s your go-to genre to DJ?
Jonathan: Amapiano. I’ve been listening to it since 2019 and the genre has expanded so much over that time so there’s so much range within it now.
Jess: Definitely dance music.
Who would your dream B2B be?
Jonathan: KAYTRANADA, of course.
Jess: I have to go big and say Chemical Brothers.
What will you take from the DJ course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
Jonathan: So next I want to start organising playlists of different genres, and I want to apply for some opportunities with the guests we had in to start playing live.
Jess: I just want to have fun with it really – I’m hoping to keep practising at home and see where it goes. I’m not really a planner so we’ll see what happens.
If you’d like to find out about our future courses at Reform, get in touch with our lovely Projects Team on projects@reformradio.co.uk.
In case you missed it, last month we ran our very first Radio Drama course. Taking participants on a journey through soundscaping, voice acting, drama and radio, this two week project was a blast – kindly funded by MAES.
Throughout the course the group worked on creating their very own audio drama pieces that were put together into a radio show that was broadcast on the Reform Radio airwaves. Below you can take a look at the bios each of our participants created and find out more about the inspirations for the work behind this incredibly vast project.
Listen back to the full show below, or click on the segment titles to hear the specific pieces on Soundcloud.
999 – created by Zack
“Hi. My name’s Zack. I’m the writer, director & co-star of the following audio drama, ‘999’. The production process was more stressful than I’d hoped it would have been, running into multiple creative blocks & creating multiple concepts/stories before settling on using a script I’d written a few years ago.”
The content of this drama piece contains scenes that some may find disturbing & covers themes of death, family trauma, loss, traumatic experiences at work & therapy.
‘I Am Averill’ follows a person who is struggling in life. You are put into Averill’s shoes and thrusted into some of the experiences Averill faces on a day to day basis.
Secrets of a Teenage Trainwreck – created by Tyrone
Set in 1991, ‘Secrets of a Teenage Trainwreck’ is a short story about a young man named Ben Wheeler and the frustrating dynamic he has with his family. The piece is a large satirical take on late 80’s/early 90’s family sitcoms which stays faithful to the music, lingo and media of the era.
This piece asks provoking questions; should we tell our closest friends the honest truth? What is sincerity and how can we balance this important quality with tact and sensitivity?
Lost in a world of vice and chance, Vic is a gentleman taken in by the wicked wiles of the alluring Miss Habit. Looking to fill the void in his heart with the rush of gambling, he’s soon found that he might not be able to keep up with Habit’s harsh demands. His friends tell him to leave her and find another way to live his life, but will he be able to hold his nerve and drop Habit for good?
To find out more about our future projects, you can get in touch with our lovely Projects team at projects@reformradio.co.uk who can give you a hand with getting onboard.
To celebrate this year’s World Music Day in true Reform style, we’re holding a day-long free to attend session for music-lovers to come together, meet like minded creatives, and get a taste of different musical activities.
Featuring live performances from the female-identifying/non-binary HERchester collective and our Soundcamp alumni, alongside an industry discussion with Rhythm Lab Records. There will also be a wider range of taster workshops in the likes of DJing, audio recording, editing and mixing.
Our Music Industry Day, funded by Youth Music & Arts Council England, is set to take place on the 21st of June, 11-4pm. It is open to anyone aged 16+, with an interest in music.
For more info and how to get involved, check out the flyer below.
It’s been a busy month at Reform this May, from us celebrating our tenth birthday, to kickstarting the likes of our Podcasting, Audio Drama, and DJ courses. However, have no fear our hosts still managed to invite some exciting new talent into the studio…
High Focus’ very own Verbz brought the energy to the Drop The Mic Show – a monthly show dedicated to praising poetry in all forms, whether it be rap, spoken word, or singing. Verbz got behind the mic and served a flow like no one else, expressing his unparalleled lyrical mastery whilst he was at it.
Check out the live session below, or listen to the full show to hear Verbz chat about his inspirations, tracks of nostalgia, and how he he perfected his practice.
It wasn’t only Verbz that graced us with his presence in the studio , Manchester-based alt-hip hop artist FREEQUENCY3 joined kaoti on their debut resident show HYPE THEM. Not a beat was missed on these effortless renditions of the rapper’s tracks, ‘LIFE’ and ‘Reflection’.
Don’t miss out, check out the session below, and listen to the pair chat all things regarding identity in the music industry, and running through FREEQUENCY3’s new EP, 517 Days.
After two weeks of brainstorming, team work, and bringing their creative audio visions to life, our Podcasting Course (kindly funded by MAES) has drawn to a close. From the chatting about the French Revolution, to getting their children behind the mic, this project’s participants have covered a whole lot of ground through their audio journeys to put together their final collective experiential podcast, Push The Button.
Listen to the full show below.
We chatted to one of the course’s participants, Martha, about their time on the course and where they’re heading next.
Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your hobbies and interests?
I’m Martha. My pronouns are she/her and my main hobbies are running, and writing poetry and blog posts.
How would your friends describe you in 3 words?
Goofy, creative and thoughtful.
If you could only listen to one podcast for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
This is a tough question because there’s so many. I think it would probably be ‘What’s Upset You Now’. It’s two comedians just chatting about the little things that annoy them in life – it’s really silly and they make it hilarious to listen to.
What prompted you to get involved with the Podcasting Course?
So I’d just moved to Manchester and I was looking to reset. The course sounded like the perfect option to give me a new routine and I was really wanting to get into more media-related stuff so I thought this sounded like a great starting point. I was also really hoping to meet some new like-minded people.
Did you have much experience in audio/podcasting before? If so, what’s your favourite thing about it?
I had done a little bit a few years ago but it was very basic stuff and all self-taught so it’s been nice to learn everything properly and fine tune my skills. My favourite things about podcasting are definitely the presenting and talking elements.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
I didn’t expect to enjoy the editing aspects as much as I have actually. Also over the time of the course, I’ve got a lot more into the routine of the days and that’s been really beneficial to me more generally with the structure of my life to be honest, from waking up and resting. I was also quite apprehensive about the course more generally, I didn’t know we would learn about equipment and editing softwares, for example, which has proven to be SO helpful.
What will you take from the Podcasting Course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
Ideally, I would really like to continue the podcasting journey I’ve started here beyond Reform, and I’d like to find more media related roles to get stuck into.
What’s your go-to podcast to listen to after a long day?
I think it would have to be ‘The Girls Bathroom’ – it’s a great gossipy podcast and I love hearing about other peoples’ problems so I know I’m not alone.
If you could have anyone on your own podcast as a guest, who would it be and why?
I think it would have to be my mum. We already have so many in-depth chats but I would love to be able to record them and refer back to them in times of need.
If you would like to get involved or find out more about any of our projects, please drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
We’re back with another one of our CV Sessions, kindly funded by Manchester City Council. Come along for an afternoon set aside for building your CV, or taking a closer look at the one you’ve already got, working through applications and cover letters, or practising interview technique. We’re here to get your confidence up, and get you prepped for your next steps.
Swing by on the 12th of June, 1PM-4PM, to meet our team and discuss any of the above. We even cover refreshments and travel too!
For more info and how to get involved, check out the flyer below.
If you’re unsure about what your next steps might be and need some support with seeking opportunities and career paths then you might want to check out our Next Stepssession on the 8th of June too, where you can meet some industry pros, and careers advisors on where you want to go next.
After seven weeks of incredible talent, creativity and teamwork, our In Focus: Podcasting course has come to a close. This programme was delivered in partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, part of Skills For Growth initiative and funded by European Social Fund. This time round we welcomed a collection of audio-enthusiasts to the space to work on production, editing, script-writing and MORE in progression towards launching their own podcasts. With a helping hand from our award-winning Audio Production Team, our participants gained hands-on experience in the likes of interview technique, publishing, and guest sourcing, not to mention brainstorming podcasting ideas altogether.
We caught up with two of our participants, Joss (he/him) and Lauren (she/her) to find out more about what they got up to and where they’re going from here.
1. Please can you tell us a little bit about yourself? What do you do? What are your interests & hobbies?
L: I am a cancer-specialist nurse, working and living in Manchester. I have two feral children, aged 6 and 2 and a half who keep me on my toes. I am also married to a nurse and between us we love travelling, seeing the world, eating good food and drinking wine (me, not the kids haha)
J: I am the Lead Carbon Consultant for Net Zero Group.
3. Why did you want to join this In Focus course?
L: So I saw the course on one of my community Whatsapp group chats and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to take part. As a nurse, you come across and meet so many incredible people and there are some very funny situations you find yourself in. I think we have the ability to find light in the dark and I was really keen to do this course to share our stories of how we balance everyday life and work, and the challenges we face whilst doing so.
J: I was feeling pretty lost with my work, and I was desperate for a creative outlet, so it was perfect timing for me when I came across the advert for the course. I already have a radio show but I felt like my ideas were more appropriate for a podcast so it was the perfect opportunity.
4. What interests you about podcasting and audio in general?
L: I absolutely LOVE podcasts. I listen to them on the school run, I listen to them on the way to work and I love how accessible they are and how varied they can be.
5. What’s your favourite aspect about podcasting/audio?
L: This is probably a new-found favourite as I’d never really done podcasting before, but it’s definitely recording and editing. It’s something I never thought I’d be capable of doing but I’m loving the process and learning.
6. When and how did you realise that you wanted to be involved with podcasting/audio?
L: I don’t think I ever knew until I saw the advert for the course, but seeing that made me realise there was an idea inside me that I really wanted to create and this has been the best opportunity to do that.
J: I saw the poster for the course, it looked bright and interesting, but it also seemed like quite a comprehensive course. This really appealed to me and I realised it literally started the following week so I didn’t have time to think about it – I just went for it.
7. What have you gained from this course?
L: The list is endless. I’ve gained a new set of friends, some amazing technical skills which have allowed me to create something I love that I will hopefully share with the world soon, and I gained the confidence to do something way out of my comfort zone.
J: I’ve gained all the skills I knew I needed to podcast but I just planned to pick them up along the way, but now I have them all under my belt to go.
8. What’s your biggest aspiration for creating or working in audio/podcasting?
L: I really want to create a successful podcast about nursing. I feel like I have something quite unique to offer to the podcasting world.
9. Where do you see yourself after this is all finished?
L: Probably super busy! I have so many ideas whizzing around about what I want to create, and hopefully it will be out there soon – watch this space.
J: I already had some ideas in the mix but I’m going to use what I put together for this course as a kick-off to create the fully formed podcast now! Obviously, I’ve built some momentum now to do this alongside work but it would also be fun, now I’m part of the podcasting and audio community to explore this professionally. Also because I work in sustainability, we’re often communicating about climate change, and what others are doing and sharing messages. So there’s a lot of scope to bring audio into that line of work too.
We can’t wait to see what this pair and other participants have up their sleeves moving forward from here! Don’t forget if you would like to get involved or find out more about any of our projects, please drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
Are you looking for the next step in your career or creative journey? Look no further than our acclaimed Next Steps sessions, our monthly online sessions that offer valuable career advice and the chance to meet professionals in various creative fields.
The session, funded by Manchester City Council, is completely free to attend and is taking place on 8th June, 3.30PM – 5.30PM.
What’s better than free careers guidance and connecting with professionals to gain valuable insights into your future. Sign up for Next Steps today and take the first step towards realizing your creative potential.
We’re back with the second episode of our Remote Rhythm Lab docuseries – a collection of mini documentaries following our three pairs of South African and Manchester creatives, collaborating musically to create a track towards their exclusive EP, Mutualism. This project has kindly been funded by British Council, and curated with the help of our friends shesaid.so South Africa and Rose Bonica. For those of you wondering more about the Remote Rhythm Lab project, head to our blog here. In the meantime, meet our next pair of collaborators, Chulu & Obeka.
CHULU
We’re transported to Cape Town as Chulu introduces themself beneath the screen, and instantly we are drawn to their infectious and open energy. “I suppose you could say I am an R&B, neo-soul artist, but that’s only because that’s what is nearest and dearest to my heart”. Manchester-based Obeka, on the other hand, is attracted to creating Caribbean come African diaspora-infused beats, combined with electronic and handmade sounds. The pair’s varying introductions set us up for an opposing, but simultaneously complimentary collaboration.
The pair navigated their remote and internationally-distanced communication well, with a core narrative driving the creation of the record. “The track was actually inspired by one of the very first conversations Obeka and I had when we were trying to get familiar with each other. I had just come back from a much needed trip back home and we related to the feeling of longing to be around family but being distanced by circumstance. We noted creating something that felt like a siren call to home”, says Chulu. With this initial idea in mind, the pair focused on their expertise, with Obeka taking to the beats and percussion, and Chulu homing in on the vocals and melodies.
OBEKA
Although their experience lay in different fortes, it soon became apparent their differences were going to work in each others’ favour. “The collaboration, while a little outside of my comfort zone, felt very natural and helped me engage with my writing in particular in a new and exciting way”, notes Chulu, talking about what they took from the project. However, the mentor and mentee dynamic of this collaboration was definitely remoulded in this unique experience with both parties actually learning from one another. “I learned more and more each day during our writing processes alongside my personal challenges of working with a vocalist”, says Obeka, “it enabled me to focus on finding a balance between my drumwork and percussion whilst also allowing the melodic presence of Chulu to shine. Overall I grew a monumental understanding of sculpting vocals and building an atmosphere within the dynamic of a song”.
The duo’s track, Alone, forms a vital part of the wider Mutalism EP, acting as an ode to the necessity of differences in creative collaborations to truly make something notable and special. Not only this, but the record is a great expression of the unity music provides to communities, families, and two creatives on opposite sides of the world. Obeka puts it best with “if we harness this [togetherness and unity] and take care of the people around us, you’ll never be alone!”
Check out the full documentary episode below.
Listen to the full Mutualism EP below, to get a taste of what our other collaborators created.
We’re back with a brand new beginners DJ Course in partnership with our friends, Do As You Please. From the 30th of May to the 2nd of June, and then the 5th of June to the 7th of June, you’re invited to Reform Radio to learn the likes of beatmatching, how to self-promote and source gigs.
Following the course, we’re here to help you with industry opportunities and career support too. But first, let’s get behind the decks.
The best part? All of this is FREE and travel and lunch is provided. See you there.
We recently welcomed back Manchester foursome, The Bluntskins, into the studio for the Jorgy and Cheech show in celebration of their new album, Skunkadelic. Not only did they chat us through the release, but we were also lucky enough to hear a live rendition of two tracks from the record.
The Bluntskins, have been making moves on the Manchester scene since the early 2010’s and have self-released six albums over the years. Blending hip-hop bars with sweet soulful choruses, the band make the perfect listening to wind down to. This Jorgy and Cheech special is definitely one to listen to after a long day.
Get a listen of it yourself and check out the show, or watch the full live session below.
Ramping creativity and collaboration up to the next level, we are back with a bang with the new edition of our Remote Rhythm Lab. The initial seeds of this project were planted in early 2021 when ten South African music makers were invited to be mentored by the renowned electronic act, producer and visual artist, Rose Bonica, and shesaid.so. The South African arm of shesaid.so is a collective focused on the unity of women, LGBTQIA+ and gender non-conforming creatives, which works to elevate the voices of marginalised genders in the music industry.
Following some remarkable mentoring sessions, all participants submitted their tracks for the opportunity to be selected for our penultimate Remote Rhythm Lab project. Within this, we invited our three selected finalists of undeserving areas of the Western Cape of South Africa to be mentored and collaborate with three experienced Manchester producers. Not only did they create a track together, but they also recorded the process in contribution towards our Remote Rhythm Lab docuseries, centred on their creative process and the challenges they faced. Fast forward to now, and we’ve got a whole EPand mini docuseries to show for it – and our first episode is out now! Keep reading to meet our first pair of collaborators in our Remote Rhythm Lab documentary debut.
Whilst some of you may have heard of Remote Rhythm Lab before, this exciting series of projects forms differently each time. Back in 2018, we saw five pairs of differing artists spending 24 hours in our studios to fast-track the creation of a collaborative track. Meanwhile, in 2020, COVID-19 led to the fruition of our first Remote Rhythm Lab – a project made possible by Jägermeisterand the Arts Council. This involved Manchester artists pairing up with four artists from across the world to create a track via exploratory virtual methods in 24 hours. This year, kindly funded by British Council, we tested the boundaries of remote collaboration again with our pairs taking to their decks, computers, and instruments to make a record remotely.
Meet our first pairing: Manchester vocalist and music maker Ellen Beth Abdi and electronic artist Singlemotheroftwo, a.k.a Björn
SINGLEMOTHEROFTWO
“Music has always been an important and special part of my daily activity, or almost a meditative process where I can externalise and synthesise things into more sonic and audible soundscapes in ways I can’t translate my thoughts and feelings in the world”, says Björn, introducing themself on the pair’s documentary all the way in South Africa. Next we meet Ellen, acting as both a mentor and collaborator to Björn, who makes a nod to this being her first experience of making a track completely remotely with someone on the other side of the world and the initial difficulties they faced. “The tune itself is called Teething Problems because of the initial issues we had when attempting to record on zoom”.
From Björn’s start of chopping up and playing with a 135bpm amen break drumbeat, to Ellen coming in with a taste of her soulful melodies and chords. Whilst the pair’s typical genres and production processes didn’t align, they ended up complimenting each other’s areas of expertise and struggles – “we have very different musical backgrounds with regards to the instruments and styles we play and our method of production. Turns out that difference actually lent itself really well to the creative process as we filled in the blanks for each other when creating the track”, says Ellen.
ELLEN BETH ABDI
However, it wasn’t just the combined creativity and remote process which pushed the pair to new boundaries, Björn also acknowledged how working with a fellow creative in Manchester made them more able to create a safe and appropriate space for the LGBTQIA+ community within the electronic music scene. The combination of both individuals’ life experiences and creativity made the idyllic blend in completing Teething Problems, which Ellen describes as mellow, sincere, and floaty within the episode. To see the full creative process and our first set of artists working together, check out our first episode now.
Teething Problems is part of a full record, featuring collaborative tunes made by all of our pairings on the project, released on our sister label Rhythm Lab. To hear a sneak peek of the music before our next documentary episode is out, listen to the Mutalism EP below.
Last week, our April’s edition of Music Course (kindly funded by MAES) finished on a real high with a live radio show, showcasing our incredible participants’ range of talent and skills. This time round, the group channeled their collective creativity to form Space Odyssey, a show centred on their diversity as individuals and their shared love of quality tunes.
We caught up with Kathy to chat about her experience over the past two weeks at Reform, and where she’s going from here.
Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you’re up to at the moment?
Hey, I’m Kathy (she/her/they/them) and I’m currently spending most of my time working on a setting up a community radio station for a market in Birmingham. When I’m not here, that’s what you’ll find me doing!
If your friends had to describe you in three words – what do you think they’d be?
Weird – that’s definitely what comes out their mouth the most: “you’re weird” – and probably fun and kind.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
This is the hardest question ever – I like too many albums. If I had to choose an artist, it would be Nina Simone. Anything by Nina Simone moves me, so probably a greatest hits of hers.
What prompted you to get involved in the Music Course?
Funnily enough, I didn’t actually think it was a music course – I thought it was radio and production vibes. Then when I got here they said “you’re going to make a song”, but it has actually been really good to step outside of my comfort zone and push myself to share my own creative work with others, rather than facilitate others.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus today, tell me what has changed about your first impressions, your thoughts, feelings and more.
Initially I was really hesitant, I had no idea what song I wanted to make and whether I could. But this place has taught me the importance of sharing rubbish things, and stuff you might feel embarrassed about. I’ve shared some really embarrassing work in this room, and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done, because it loosens you up and reminds you that it’s okay to make mistakes as it’s all part of the creative process.
What else will you be taking from the Music Coursemoving forward?
It’s made me want to make more, create more, share more, and honestly make more rubbish things so I can figure out what I actually want to achieve. It’s made me really appreciate my own creative process, because we’ve had free reign to embrace our own way of doing things and be non-linear with our processes.
What’s your go-to genre to listen to after a long day?
That really depends on the type of long day I’ve had. But I think it would have to be 90s entrance, to sing along to and let go of the day. Or even massive fairground tunes that you hear on rides to blast out if people have really annoyed me.
Last question, if you could meet any artist who has ever lived on this planet, who would it be and why?
Wow, that’s a massive question. Bob Marley has really taught me a lot about being a good human, but I think it would have to be Stevie Wonder – what a huge inspiration.
Listen to the full show below.
If you would like to get involved or find out more about any of our projects, please drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
Are you looking for the next step in your career or creative pursuits? Look no further than Next Steps, our online session that offers valuable career advice and the chance to meet professionals in various creative fields.
The session, funded by Manchester City Council, is completely free to attend and is taking place on 26th April 3.30PM – 5.30PM.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with professionals and gain valuable insights into your future career. Sign up for Next Steps today and take the first step towards realizing your creative dreams!
Are you on the hunt for your dream job but struggling to get past the application stage? You’re not alone! In today’s competitive job market, it’s more important than ever to make sure your CV and cover letter stand out from the crowd. That’s where our free CV Sessions come in.
Funded by Manchester City Council, this one-day session is designed to help you perfect your CV, application forms, and cover letters. You’ll learn how to showcase your skills and experience in a way that catches the eye of potential employers. Plus, we’ll work on interview skills and improving your confidence, so you’re ready to impress when it comes to the big day.
Not only will you walk away with a killer CV and improved interview skills, but you’ll also have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and build your professional network. And did we mention it’s completely free to attend?
So what are you waiting for? Sign up for our CV Sessions course today and take the first step towards landing your dream job!
The next session will take place on Monday 3rd April from 1PM – 4PM at Reform Radio.
Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming Manchester’s very own Frisko to our studios who delivered an impressive freestyle on the latest Jorgy and Cheech show. Frisko has made a name for himself in the music industry, having released numerous tracks on Manchester’s Room2 records label.
Frisko, as he is known in the industry, recently delivered the latest release from Room2 records, produced by Kydro. The track showcases his exceptional lyrical prowess as he details his readiness to fight and stay active in the music scene.
Frisko’s unique style and undeniable talent have helped him gain recognition and respect from fans and fellow musicians alike. His music carries a certain energy and intensity that draws listeners in and keeps them hooked.
Listen back to the show with Frisko to hear more and watch the performance below.
Our In Focus: Radio recently wrapped up in late February. During this course, participants learned about audio production, presenting, music sequencing, research and interview skills, recording, editing & sound design, industry advice and knowledge on BBC systems.
We caught up with Nadya, one of the participants on the course to see how they got on.
Please introduce yourself/name/pronouns?
My name is Nadya Vella, my pronouns are she/her.
Please can you tell us a little bit about yourself? What are your interests? What are your hobbies?
I’m a Canadian DJ based in Manchester. My hobbies obviously include music and fashion too. Yeah, to be honest, outside of my day job I am working on lots of different things to do with music and otherwise I am a simple girl.
What interests you about radio and audio in general?
Well, something that interests me about it is that on a global scale you are connecting to people and things you know very little about, but can enjoy at the same time. I love the elements of music, which also feels universal as you don’t necessarily need to speak the same language to understand. I enjoy the intricacies of radio, you may have one person talking but a whole team of people are there producing it. So with this course, it was really nice to kind of see that unfold for me and grasp all the different elements involved.
What’s your favourite aspect about radio/audio?
Yeah, I guess it’s that idea of connection and of course the platforms. I think with the kind of radio stations like Reform, for me, and even like the BBC, I do really love that aspect of freedom and self-expression that you can have with showcasing things that touch you, or you think is fire. It’s really nice to be able to just put yourself out there in a way that is safe and you are able to share things that are important to you.
When and how did you realise that you wanted to be involved with radio/audio?
When I was Year 8, in school in Canada we had optional classes. I took TV & Radio, because I thought it sounded easy and interesting. It focused on video editing, how to run a radio show and about its structures. It was a light overview of a full production. Me and my friends then kickstarted our junior high radio show. So its all kind of continued on since then. I got deeper into my craft with age and time, especially my DJing and as I put more time into it, radio became an obvious route.
What have you gained from this course?
What systems the BBC use, how things are correlated between people working and making sure they get paid for tracks and audio. I enjoyed learning about the Reaper software. I noticed that having a relationship with your producer can really elevate your radio shows.
What’s your biggest aspiration for creating or working in audio/radio?
I would love to do a BBC 1 Residency and I know there have been Canadians that have done it, but I’d love to show up for East Africa as well and to be a representative on a platform like the BBC would be amazing.
Where do you see yourself after this is all finished?
On a beach! Also I do hope my radio show becomes tighter, maybe with new connections I have made through this course, new opportunities may arise and I am hopeful that they will. I would like to collaborate with these same like minded individuals to push ourselves to the forefront of what a good radio show looks like.
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