Author: Reform Radio

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BEHIND THE SCENES: MUSIC COURSE (OCTOBER)

The latest instalment of our free Music Course has just wrapped up and what an interesting two weeks it’s been. Participants have worked hard for the last while, trying their hands on creative song making, learning and preparing a radio show and putting these new found abilities into action, live on the airwaves of Reform Radio.

If you haven’t heard of Music Course, it’s a two-week programme generously funded by Manchester Adult Education Service, which focuses on radio and music production, including songwriting and creative writing.

We had a chat with some of the young people who took part to find out their most memorable moments, musical inspirations and goals for the future. Keep reading to find out more.  

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF…

My name is Jake and I’m 23 years old.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES OR INTERESTS?

I have been studying music, well, since I was 16 – I went to Music College and then went on to study music at University level. In college I was able to get out there and play with live bands and things like that.

I made some really good friends and we made music together as well and from that point on, I just sort of realised that music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life really – there’s a level of excitement to it. I never thought of doing anything else.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT MUSIC COURSE AND WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO GET INVOLVED?

So I heard about Reform Radio through the Job Centre, my work coach referred me to Reform Radio, who signed me up. I met Naomi and Conall, they were really great and knew I wanted to get into music production roles.

IF MONEY WASN’T A THING, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING FULL TIME?

I would love to just make music and play my music for people to hear, share and just spread the love.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU HAVE LEARNT FROM THE COURSE THAT YOU WILL TAKE HOME WITH YOU?

One thing I’ve learned from doing this course is that no matter where you come from, what background you have and your level of experience, music production is attainable.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AFTER THE PROJECT?

Well I want to get back into making music. I want to just keep going for it because this is what I was meant to do. So I’m not too sure where I see myself in a few years, but I do know I’m going to carry on trying to improve and get better at music.

To listen to the full show that the group worked on together, please click down 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. 

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Raise The Bar: Argh Kid

Wordsmith sensation and Manchester bred Argh Kid, aka David Scott, joined Jorgy and Cheech for this rendition of Raise The Bar. 

Performing to sold out shows across the country, he is the official poet for the NSPCC, UEFA and Manchester United and his work has reached television screens across the globe. He graces our airwaves with a few performances, including his thought provoking ‘Tear Aways’.

Listen back to the full show down below to find out more about Argh Kid’s inspirations, future ambitions and reflections on the Manchester cultural scene.

Watch the full performance below. 

Listen back to the show down below. 

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WATCH LIVE Q&A CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF ‘OUT OF SPACE’ BOOK WITH JIM OTTEWILL ,AALICE, RUF DUG & MIX-STRESS

Tonight at 8PM we welcome the author Jim Ottewill alongside a bunch of local legends – aalice (Meat Free), Ruf Dug (Ruf Kutz) and Reform’s very own Mix-Stress (Rebecca.Never.Becky Collective) for a live discussion exploring the nightlife of Manchester. You can join the discussion by clicking the link below and dropping your thoughts in the chat.

The book plots a course through the different UK towns and cities club culture has found a home. From Glasgow to Margate via Manchester, Sheffield and unlikely dance music meccas such as Coalville and Todmorden, ‘Out Of Space’ maps where electronic music has thrived, and where it might be headed next…

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blog Funders Projects Thirty Pound Gentleman Youth Music

INTRODUCING THIS YEAR’S SOUNDCAMP FINALISTS: GROUP 2

Soundcamp kicked off this May, inviting new and aspiring artists into the space for a two-week Bootcamp, funded by Youth Music in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. After the two-week period, 12 finalists were selected to stay on and hone their craft to the next level, with mentoring from some of the best in the business such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie. 

Let us introduce you to our second group of Soundcamp 2022 finalists… 

KARIS JADE

Hello, I am Karis Jade and I’m 22 years old. Originally from Wolverhampton, I am a R&B/Soul singer and songwriter with a story to tell. 

How would you describe yourself as an artist? 

I would describe myself as an R&B, Soul, Hip Hop artist who doesn’t take themselves too seriously.

How long have you been doing music? When did you start? 

In the year of 2017, myself and Superlative made our first collaborative project ‘written free sundays’. This is a project where we made and released a song every week. 

What are some of your main influences? 

My main influences are Superlative, WILLOW, Jacob Collier and Daniel Caesar. My son is also one of my main influences as I want to show him that he can do whatever he wishes in life. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience? 

I hope to gain confidence and connections within the industry. I would also like to establish myself as an artist. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist? 

I see myself making important changes in the world whilst touring and making music.

Who is your dream collaboration?

WILLOW or Jacob Collier. I admire their rawness and realness. 

MICAH STALGIC 

I am Micah Stalgic, a singer, dancer and songwriter with a passion to carve out a unique fusion of R&B, Hip-Hop & Afrobeat music. Follow me on Instagram and other platforms. 

You can find my work on Spotify, Apple Music and Soundcloud.

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

I absolutely love to dance. When I make music, I try and incorporate this element of myself into music that puts my audience in the mood to dance. As well as dancing, I love vintage fashion and I like to fuse this into my audio and visual artistry. 

How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?

I have always been surrounded by musical people and aspiring artists so I would freestyle here and there until one day, I finally decided to take music more seriously. I’ve been making music for about five years now. 

What are some of your main influences?

There are two things that really influence my music creation process. The first is the act of dancing. Music plays a major role in dancing and I would like to think that people can’t dance effectively without music. The second is my personal experiences, my emotions and the challenges life throws at me. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?

I hope to gain more professional and industry skills and I hope to gain valuable knowledge that would help me navigate through this artistic journey. I hope to build a network of talented artists in Manchester. I also look forward to all the surprises Reform Radio has in store for Soundcampers.

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?

I see myself as a globally recognised artist who electrifies the crowd and entertains his audience. I see myself evolving into an artist who positively impacts this generation. This will be done by sharing my story about mental health and many other life challenges.

Who is your dream collaboration?

Chris Brown, Usher, Tory Lanez, Rihanna, J Cole, Little Simz and Wizkid. 

HARMONY

My name is Harmony, I am a singer and songwriter. You can find me on Instagram or on SoundCloud. 

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

I am a lyrical artist and I take influence from all genres but I’d generally put myself under adult contemporary. 

How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?

I have always sung as it was something my dad taught me and my sisters. Music was always a huge part of my household and day to day I grew up singing in church. I wrote my first song and short chorus when I was around six or seven years old.  

What are some of your main influences?

Lyrically, I’m inspired by how Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, and Solange paint sonic images with their voices and choice of lyricism. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?

I hope to be a more confident, well-rounded artist and make connections with other musicians I admire and can create with. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?

I see myself connecting with people all over the world through music and expanding my musical storytelling into the world of visuals and film, making timeless music. 

Who is your dream collaboration?

I have too many to count but currently, Kendrick Lamar.

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blog Funders Projects Thirty Pound Gentleman Youth Music

INTRODUCING THIS YEAR’S SOUNDCAMP FINALISTS: GROUP 1

Soundcamp kicked off this May, inviting new and aspiring artists into the space for a two-week Bootcamp, funded by Youth Music in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. After the two-week period, 12 finalists were selected to stay on and hone their craft to the next level, with mentoring from some of the best in the business such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie. 

Let us introduce you to our first group of Soundcamp 2022 finalists… 

BEATRIX DEXTER

Hi, I’m Beatrix Dexter and I am an artist, songwriter and producer from Manchester. You can find me on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music: @beatrixdexter. 

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

I would describe myself as an innovative, original and authentic artist. I’m not afraid to try new things or to break barriers and be as creative as possible. 

How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?

I’ve been doing music for the past 3 years but I have always been interested in becoming an artist, I just did not have the confidence to pursue my dreams. It has taken me a while to be comfortable enough to embrace who I am and what I have always wanted to do.

What are some of your main influences?

My main influences are Beyoncé, Rihanna and Miley Cyrus. I admire Beyoncé for her energy, drive and hard work. Rihanna for her confidence and style. Miley Cyrus for her daring and free-spirited vibe. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?

After my experience with Soundcamp, I hope to be able to progress further as an independent artist with all the knowledge and skills that I have acquired. I hope to be able to gain recognition for my creativity and my talents to be able to manage myself not only more efficiently, but confidently. And I hope to keep making music that breaks barriers and that brings something different to the table. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?

In the future I see myself as not just an artist but also an entrepreneur, I want to be able to branch into many different creative aspects such as design and running a company. I see myself becoming very successful at what I do. 

Who is your dream collaboration?

My dream collaboration would be with Miley Cyrus, as I feel like she also represents a vibe that is completely authentic like myself and also her voice transcends different genres, styles and sounds, which is exactly the kind of route I want to take as an artist.

ATHAR YOUSIF

I am a dancer, as well as having a good ear to differentiate and know where there are irregularities. I love listening to music, especially Afrobeat and Dancehall. I do a lot of dance choreos, by me and others on Tiktok. @lc_alhilo @athar_asman_athilo 

How would you describe yourself as an artist? 

A multi-talented individual that loves music and dancing. I am a fast learner with a vision.

How long have you been doing music? When did you start? 

About six years in the industry, I started as a radio host but I have been dancing all my life. 

What are some of your main influences? 

My love for dance. My friends. Social media. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience? 

The confidence and knowledge to be able to make it in the music industry as well as the world. Building relations and meeting people. Being able to become more comfortable with my talents and the ability to utilise them. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist? 

Successful, untouchable and famous but humble. 

Who is your dream collaboration?

Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, DJ Khalid, Stefflon Don, Vybz Cartel, Tems and Wizkid. 

BENNETT

My stage name is Bennettiscoming. This is a double entendre lol. @bennetiscoming (spotify etc) 

How would you describe yourself as an artist? 

I would describe myself as an emotive artist with a sensual tone and honest, soul-baring lyrics. 

How long have you been doing music? When did you start? 

I began singing when I was six years old, I tried to sing a lot in primary school and progressed later to making my own music when I was eighteen. So far, I’ve been doing it for four years. 

What are some of your main influences? 

My favourite singer when I was little was Beyoncé. I’ve since developed my craft around my influences, Rihanna, SZA, Brandy, Mariah Carey, Jazmine Sullivan and Bree Runway. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience? 

I hope to learn more about the business and how I can package myself as well as develop my craft. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist? 

I see myself performing for thousands of people and having my music heard and enjoyed. I see myself being a major figure in the Manchester scene and from then, the world. 

Who is your dream collaboration?

Rihanna! Brandy! The harmonies would be crazy. 

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A LOOK BACK AT JULY ON THE PEOPLE’S PARTY WITH AFRODEUTSCHE

July was a busy month for us, producing The People’s Party with Afrodeutsche, and we hope you caught some of the show in the summer heat! Airing every Friday night 7-9PM.

Kicking off the month was Manchester based DJ and producer Mr Scruff, who brought us a Phones Down Finale mix dedicated to the music of his youth. This month we also heard mixes from Manchester Queer collective Kiss Me Again and Turkish DJ Nene H.

Rising East London artist Eliza Rose joined the party this month to take on the Unmixable challenge. She had to combine Blondie with Soul II Soul, and it was truly magical. LA based producer Obli, and Irish duo Le Boom, also took on the challenge this month and we were truly blown away by their creativity.

Last but not least, as part of our Fresh Magic feature, in which we bring you the freshest new artists, we had producer and DJ Junior Simba, DJ Ceri and Italian artist Stenny who chatted to us about their new music. 

Tune into the show on BBC6 Music every Friday night!

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A LOOK BACK AT JUNE ON ‘THE PEOPLE’S PARTY WITH AFRODEUTSCHE’

Welcome back to our recap of The People’s Party with Afrodeutsche, where we look back at a month of guest mixes and features from musicians across the world. 

This June, we celebrated both Pride month and our very own Afrodeutsche presenting live from Worthy Farm at Glastonbury with Tom Ravenscroft, taking listeners across the stages and acting as a live guide to the festival after dark. 

American-Icelandic songwriter and singer John Grant, joined Afrodeutsche to chat about being personally selected for a performance at Grace Jones’ Meltdown Festival that ran between the 10 – 19th of June. 

As the People’s Party Selector he offered two tracks to welcome in the show and kick things off, such as ‘Main Title’ from John Scott’s Inseminoid soundtrack album and ‘Freaks Come Out At Night’ by Brooklyn, New York-based Hip-Hop trio Whoodini.

The Huddersfield based DJ and Electronic music artist that is SDEM joined us this June for a floor-filling futuristic Phones Down Finale Mix. Playing a mix of Drum N’ Bass, featuring tracks from Manchester, Bradford, Wigan, London and Chicago that were put out between 1993 and 2022, he played the ultimate mix of classic 90s breakbeat hardcore and current dancefloor mutations.

As the first North West commissioned show by 6 Music, we love showcasing Northern talent. This month we were joined by Manchester based Matt Brewer, also known as Frameworks, a multi-instrumentalist and producer, who is known for his rich, warm compositions, pulsing bass, and haunting vocals. He played us his new track ‘NO SKIN’ in collaboration with Australian producer Mild Minds.

Keep up with our Instagram for the latest show updates or tune into the show every Friday night from 7PM – 9PM to hear the magic for yourselves. It’s a Friday night celebration you won’t regret.

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A LOOK BACK AT MAY ON ‘THE PEOPLE’S PARTY WITH AFRODEUTSCHE’

Back in October 2021, we proudly joined the BBC 6 Music family and started producing ‘The People’s Party’, hosted by Afrodeutsche. Nine months down the line and we are still loving that we get to produce this incredible show every Friday. A big thank you to everyone listening, we couldn’t have done it without you! 

This month, Locked Groove took on the ‘Unmixable Challenge’, where two tracks contrasting in musical style are selected and mixed together, resulting in a mindblowing blend of genres (or so they hope). The two tracks Locked Groove was challenged to mix this time running were Radiohead’s ‘Idioteque’ and ‘Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ by Bombalurina. Would you take on the challenge? Listen below to see how he did. 

This May, 6 Music celebrated 25 years since the release of Radiohead’s iconic ‘OK Computer’ album. On the People’s Party, we delved into Radiohead’s electronic influence, playing the artists who have been inspired by their music. 

Electronic artist and Radiohead remixer Nathan Fake played us out with a Radiohead-inspired Phones Down Finale guest mix. 

Veronica Vasicka, musician, DJ, and founder of Minimal Wave record label brought us a Phones Down Finale mix as we celebrated Afrodeutsche’s All Points East festival (APE) curation.

Returning for the second year in a row, BBC Radio 6 will be making another appearance at Victoria Park’s well-loved APE. The line-up has been curated by Afrodeutsche, alongside Gilles Peterson, Mary Anne Hobbs, Tom Ravenscroft, Jamz Supernova and Don Letts – the other 6 Music station presenters. With a spectacular line up of artists such as DJ Storm, Sherelle and Nia Archives joining the 6 Music stage, it’s set to be cosmic. 

In May we also welcomed duo Henry Counsell and Louis Curran, who together make Joy Anonymous. They chatted to us about their community-driven pop-up music events and took on the Unmixable Challenge.

‘The People’s Party’ is wholeheartedly, for the people. We created this show for listeners to feel connected, with each avid listener’s input adding to the inspiration of the shows to follow. So, if you’re not already tuning in every Friday, we urge you to whack on the volume – wherever you are – and tune in from 7PM – 9PM. It’s a Friday night celebration you simply won’t regret! 

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A LOOK BACK AT APRIL on ‘The People’s Party with Afrodeutsche’

The People’s Party with Afrodeutsche had another jam-packed month of guests in April.  Produced by us at Reform Radio, April saw conversations and mixes from Overmono, Elkka, Not Bad For A Girl, Elena Colombi and more.

The beginning of the month saw the team travelling down to Cardiff for the BBC 6 Music Festival. Co-hosting with Tom Ravenscroft, Afrodeutsche interviewed Electronic duo Overmono, as well as Welsh native DJ Elkka.

We had some massive unmixable attempts in April too. In this feature artists are tasked with mixing two seemingly unmixable tracks together, and you decide whether it works. In April the challenge was attempted by Italian artist Elena Colombi, electronic legend Luke Slater, and jazz-electronic artist Rebecca Vasmant who helped us to celebrate this year’s Record Store Day. We were also very excited to welcome Metronomy drummer and solo artist Anna Prior. How do you think Anna did?

Last month, The People’s Party also had some great guest mixes, including Bristol experimental producer Ploy, and local collective ‘Not Bad For A Girl’.

Means&3rd aka Ben Marsden played out the show with a ‘Phone’s Down Finale’ mix as part of Record Store Day celebrations. We heard about his journey securing a place behind the counter at Eastern Bloc Records, one of the UK’s finest record stores, for which he currently curates the House and techno sections.

The People’s Party airing every Friday night 7-9pm hosts the freshest musical guests every week. Listen back to the unmissable features on BBC Sounds now. 

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The Life and Death Podcast returns for Series 3 – and we’re going Stateside!

The Life and Death Podcast produced by Reform Radio, in collaboration with Ashgate Hospice returns for a third series. Stephen Rumford, talks to people who have experiences of death and dying to get a deeper understanding of what life and death means to them. This series welcomes guests from stateside as the charity meets guests from as far as Arizona who have experienced bereavement, death and conversations around dying.

Each episode welcomes experts, writers, doctors and people who have experienced end-of-life care to discuss their unique relationships, hospice life, and how death affects the living. 

The first episode was released on Monday 2nd May to coincide with Dying Matters Awareness Week. In the first episode, host and Senior Physiotherapist at Ashgate Hospice, Stephen Rumford, meets 45-year-old Kimberley Greaves to discuss life as a young widow and mum to two children. The pair discuss the awkward conversations Kimberley faces when she tells people her husband has died and how her children kept her going through the darkest of times. 

Among the guests featured in season three include Sunday Times best seller and journalist Clover Stroud, author of the recently released ‘The Death of My Blood’ and neuroscientist Mary-Frances O’Connor, an author and associate professor at the University of Arizona, as well as Seamus O’Mahoney, well-regarded commentator on modern medicine and healthcare systems.

Episode 1 & 2 with Kimberley Grove and Seamus O’Mahoney are available to listen below and episodes will be released fornightnightly.

To listen back to series one, two and the special one off Christmas episode you can search for ‘The Life and Death Podcast Ashgate Hospice’ or by clicking the link.

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A LOOK BACK AT MARCH on ‘The People’s Party with Afrodeutsche’

March was a busy month on The People’s Party with Afrodeutsche, broadcasting every Friday night from 7-9pm on BBC Radio 6 Music. 

Kicking off the month was musician, DJ, and Producer Quantic, AKA Will Holland. Following the release of his latest EP ‘Heaven or Hell’, Quantic stopped by to take on the Unmixable challenge, combining two listener-selected tracks that are total opposites. Watch this for a behind the scenes insight into how he mixed the tracks.

This month, BBC Radio 6 Music celebrated 20 years of broadcasting on the airwaves. In celebration, The People’s Party threw it back to 2002 for some much appreciated noughties nostalgia. We were so excited that German electronic DJ, Ellen Allien, was in the mix for The Phones Down Finale with a selection of early noughties dance tunes to get us ready for the weekend.

The 23rd March marked 18 years since the release of Madlib and MF Doom’s iconic ‘Madvillainy’ album so this month we had a samples special, celebrating the most iconic samples and the best to ever sample them. Hip Hop turntablist and samples maestro, DJ Yoda, stopped by to attempt the Unmixable challenge with two tracks that featured iconic samples. Mixing M.I.A’s ‘Paper Planes’ (sampling The Clash) and The Sugarhill Gang’s ‘Rappers Delight (sampling Chic), DJ Yoda blew us away with his attempt. And all of you agreed. 

To celebrate our samples extravaganza, we were also joined by Brooklyn artist Stas Thee Boss. She selected some of the finest sampled tracks of all time for The Phones Down Finale Mix.

And finally, this month, Italian Producer and Paul Simon collaborator, Clap! Clap!, took on the Unmixable challenge. This was a hard one for you to judge since we may have slipped in a ‘Venga Boys’ track on 6 music with this challenge. Listen back to see how he got on!

Recap and listen back to all of the guests we’ve had over the month of March, and listen Fridays from 7pm!

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MAES Projects Salford City College

Portrait in a Beat (Radio Show)

The participants for this Radio show have been working very hard over the past couple of weeks to create the best show that they possibly can for the enjoyment of all listening.

Expect comedy, discussion, a variety of music and much more.

This show is funded by the Salford City College and Manchester Adult Education Service.