Today is Blue Monday. A day that on average many find very mentally challenging. From the weather remaining dark and gloomy, to financial strain from the holiday period, many factors can flood in during this month, making this time of the year even more challenging than usual for some.
If you are struggling mentally and would like to talk to someone, please visit our Emergency Contacts page. There are multiple amazing organisations that offer their services 24/7.
To help uplift you during this difficult time, participants from our well-being focused project Positive Frequencies, have created a show exploring what it means to be true to ourselves (the good, the bad …and the beautiful!). The participants will take you on a journey through song, poetry and spoken word showcasing their talents.
The show will air today (Monday 17th January) at 1PM on reformradio.co.uk.
Supported byManchester Adult Education Service, Positive Frequencies is a week of personal development, creative writing and self-expression. The workshop will wrap up with a roundtable discussion. We provide a space for Participants to develop positive self-expression and a toolbox of wellbeing skills to help take and sustain their positive next steps.
The lead facilitator of this week-long well-being course, Dan Owens-Cooper, has also created a video on staying connected. Dan is Reform’s Mental Health and Well-being manager who has had countless 1-1s with our residents and present and past participants. Check out the video below.
Last month we took the reins of the Art Council England’s Instagram for a full day takeover, exploring the incredible HERchesterproject that they so kindly funded.
HERchester was born in 2019 with a goal of bringing together female MC talent. This year we piloted the programme for women, those that identify as women and non-binary people on a larger scale across four cities – Manchester, Sheffield, Morecambe and Blackpool, connecting and collaborating with organisations such as Ritetrax, House of Wingz and More Music to accommodate the participants in their respective cities.
For the IG Story takeover, we invited the project’s leader, Manchester’s finest MC, OneDa, to share her experience as a rapper and she spoke about the importance of creating a safe space for MCs to grow.
Community was one of the many themes at the heart of the HERchester Documentary. Participants reflected on their time over the eight weeks, sharing how skills were developed, friendships were made and how they inspired and motivated one another to grow.
Participant Zari also made an appearance on the Arts Council’s IG Story. The aspiring artist highlighted how there isn’t an awful lot of spaces for a 27 year old female rapper like herself to explore her artistry. So when she came across the HERchester project on Instgaram, she jumped straight in.
We would like to once again thank Arts Council England for supporting this project. Their funding has allowed Reform to create opportunities for the HERchester MCs, whether they were aspiring, established or simply curious.
Watch the full cypher below, the finale performance that perfectly showcases the hard work put in by all the amazing MCs.
It’s finally the time to share our annual round up video!
Despite the challenges, it’s been another incredible year and we are grateful, as ever, to all our partners and funders for their continued support.
Of course we couldn’t do all this without the exceptional graft of our wonderful staff and advisory board, who contribute so much and remain passionate about shaping our organisation to be the best version of itself. To all our artists, DJs and residents, thank you for your patience and commitment, we are so happy to have you back. Finally, to our supporters, thank you, you don’t appreciate how much your input is valued.
The holidays are here and to celebrate the Christmas and the fast approaching 2022, our residents will be holding down the Reform airwaves with with these shows as we take a break.
So make sure you stay locked and get cosy with a hot drink and tune into these shows to keep you warm over the coming weeks.
Join Julie Wills in her Out Since Friday X-Mas Special, treating you to the best of disco, funk, soul, boogie Italo, house and more. This time with the input from listeners.
Celebrating another year of fantastic music, Infusion host Pintcan Papi invites Good Custard resident Mai Tai for a cheeky B2B. The two will be playing some of their favourite releases, diving into disco & electro with some other treats added for good measure.
Explore the sonic universe of Priceless Bodies, a new band with vintage taste. Twin sisters inspired by the 70’s and 80’s, PB spins their fave leftfield tracks around those eras.
Raise your bpm and jam out with London based Dj Elrobo as we explore a wide range of genres from breaks to techno, dnb to dubstep.
Reform Radio Presents: Xmas Special
24th December | 9PM-10PM
Tune in for an hour of Christmas inspired tracks selected by our very own staff! Xmas classics, the banger by RUN DMC, remixes of festive tracks & more…
Dj Val, aka la Jeva, has created a show dedicated to those that are not able to celebrate Christmas in Puerto Rico, and to anyone that is curious about Puerto Rican music and culture. Expect an hour of Puerto Rican and Caribbean Christmas music from Latin America and its diaspora, sprinkled in with salsa from Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe & Yomo Toro in Asalto Navideño, Ismael Rivera, and Cheo Feliciano.
Dive into Andrea’s passionate, open mind with deep house, disco, soul and funk at its core. Buckle up to hear a diversity of sounds from ‘80s soul to Brook Benton, all packaged nicely in a Christmas Special.
Music that touches body and soul? Melodic and Progressive Afro vibes? A perfectionist and energetic Dj? Experience this and much more in Red Owls Takeover.
To wrap up our most recent MAES funded Music Course is Vibez@it’s_finest.pro. A show created by up and coming talent from the Manchester area.
Music Course gives participants the opportunity to learn and develop their skills in music production, radio productions, social media and creative writing.
Listen to the full show below. Expect a whole range of different sounds, interviews and personalities.
The HERchester Documentary is finally out on Reform’s Youtube Channel. An exclusive look into the BTS of the HERchester Cypher, a finale performance that wrapped up an 8 week long MCing and lyrical writing workshop.
The project was funded by Arts Council England and brought together women, non-binary people, transgender women and those that identify as women from 4 different cities: Manchester, Morecambe, Blackpool and Sheffield. We teamed up with RiteTrax, House of Wingz and More Music who accommodated and guided participants in their respective cities.
Guided by interviews and shots from the rehearsals and cypher, the documentary gives us all the opportunity to understand the appeal of this amazing project. Participants share why they joined, their highlights and what they gained from this workshop. From the project being a safe space to grow to feeling supported and inspired by one another, the documentary’s narrative emphasises the importance of creating a space for underrepresented individuals to develop their skills in the music scene.
Watch the full documentary below.
We are very excited to announce that this Thursday 16th December at 12PM we will be taking over Arts Council England Instagram stories to shout about this amazing project.
This radio show is a collection of memories and advice from the young people of Tameside. The group have filled in this one hour with their own unique experiences of finding the Comedy in Life. Expect a conversation on all things queer, an exclusive interview with founder of Tameside’s Global Grooves and more.
The show was created by the participants of Tameside Futures, a project in partnership with the Prince’s Trust and Tameside City Council.
Raise the Baris a video series that showcases artists delivering freestyles or live performances on our resident’s shows.
Taking the stage for this episode of Raise the Bar is SINDYSMAN, a 23 year old music student and rapper who guested on Jorgy and Cheech‘s most recent show. SINDYSMAN gave us an exclusive performance of his unreleased track ‘It’s Ready for the Weekend’.
Watch the full performance below.
This artist is by no means a stranger to Reform Radio. This year, SINDYSMAN featured alongside artists such as China Lilly, Micco and Elias, on Rhythm Lab Record’s ‘Roots’ release. This album was part of the Sonic Synthesis series, which brought together artists that had never met before to create a track independently, and subsequently swap each other’s STEMS to create a unique re-work of each other’s original track.
Listen to the tracks below.
Listen to the full show here packed with chats on the artist’s collective SINDYSPLACE, upcoming events, projects and releases.
We have been blown away by the number of nominations and wins this year. From Podcasting to Projects, the awards have shone a light on Reform’s multiple departments.
Youth Music Awards 2021
The Youth Music Awards celebrates the most forward-thinking projects and individuals making, learning and earning in music. From artists and entrepreneurs to grassroots projects and young leaders, the event recognises an exciting range of trailblazers from across the scene.
Reform Radio were nominated for 3 Youth Music awards; Outstanding Project Award, Outstanding Act Award & Live Performance Award. Scroll down to find out more about each category.
WINNER : OUTSTANDING PROJECT AWARD
The Outstanding Project award celebrates organisations that push the boundaries and promote inclusive music education. We had two projects nominated this year, Soundcamp and Rhythm Lab Records‘ Career Starter and we are very excited to say that we won in both categories.
8 finalists of the first Soundcamp project with their mentors – Jenna G, Danny Fahey (Thirty Pound Gentleman) and Werkha.
A bit of background about the two projects. Soundcamp is a programme in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman and Youth Music, aiming to discover talent in Greater Manchester. The bootcamp aims to find 12 young people who have shown the potential of making a career in the music industries. They embark on a three-month intense mentorship with working musicians, to create their brand, new music and showcase at an industry event. Since the project began, they have collaborated with Mr Scruff, performed at We Out Here Festival and MIF Festival Square, and tracks have been broadcast on BBC.
Rhythm Lab Records
Rhythm Lab Records is Reform Radio’s in-house record label, that was originally an Arts Council funded project which strived to explore the art of collaboration and foster new creative relationships. As part of the Career Starter project, Reform Radio handed over their record label to five young people for six months. Having a budget of £400 per artist for five artists that they sign to the label, the group have taken on the roles of A&R, Business Affairs, Talent Development and PR and Marketing. With 100% control of the social media platforms, signings, budget, and key decision making, this truly is a ground-breaking project, offering the young group a once in a lifetime opportunity that will propel them into the Manchester music industry.
WINNER : OUTSTANDING ACT AWARD
Snatching a win for the Outstanding Act Award was Bolton born rapper Superlative. Recognised as being one of the best young rappers in the UK scene right now, Superlative aka Corey Brown, has been making waves in the industry for a while now. We are very proud to say that Corey joined our first Soundcamp project in 2018, made it to the final 8 and has been absolutely unstoppable. In 2020, the rapper collaborated with Manchester legend Mr Scruff on Reform Radio’s Co-Lab Theory programme, and has featured on multiple major festival line ups such as Green Man and Castlegate.
RUNNER UP : LIVE PERFORMANCE AWARD
The Live Performance Award is allocated to an artist from a Youth Music project who has delivered an outstanding live performance. Nominated for this award was Soundcamp 20′ alumni Sarah Angel who has performed multiple times in Reform’s studios.
The quote from Sarah Angel’s nominator perfectly encapsulates her intoxicating stage presence – “You can feel her getting lost in the power and emotion of her own music, it is utterly compelling and truly beautiful. This sort of performance without an audience is tricky yet Sarah creates her own atmosphere, making you feel instantly like it’s a live experience. It’s a really amazing achievement and a real skill.”
Manchester Culture Awards
Showcasing Manchester’s best in culture, arts and creativity, the Manchester Culture Awards celebrates the city’s creative heroes. Among awards like Best Performance, Best Event and Young Creative of the Year, Reform have been nominated for the People’s Choice Award and the Promotion of Environmental Sustainability Award.
WINNER : PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Reform Radio have been recognised for helping young people across Manchester through 618 sessions covering employability, digital and creative skills. Another contributing factor to the nomination was Reform’s free wellbeing support for their projects’s participants and community of over 300 DJs. We were really thrilled to receive this award and are grateful to everyone who has been working with us.
WINNER : PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Sustainability has become one of our key focuses here at Reform over the last 2 years. As an organisation and as individuals, we were able to use our passion and energy about climate change in ways that make meaningful, effective change. It means a lot to us that our work is being recognised by the Manchester community and beyond.
Audio Production Awards
WINNER : BEST NEW PODCAST PRODUCER
The APAs, organised by AudioUK, celebrates the craft and skills behind audio production. There are 21 categories in total spanning audiobooks, podcasting and radio.
Reform Radio’s very own Podcasting Manager Olivia Swift has been nominated for Best New Podcast Producer and ended up snatching the award.
This is another award to add to her books, as early on this year the Tough Talks podcast series Olivia produced won BestSex & Relationships Podcast at the British Podcast Awards.
Reform Radio wants to once again thank everyone that has been involved in these projects. These achievements wouldn’t have been accomplished without our amazing participants, staff, partners and funders. It is a blessing to be supported by so many people and organisations and we only want to share gratitude to those contributing to our journey, so thank you.
With ‘High Rise’, Hermanito reworks samples from Werkha (Brownswood; Tru Thoughts) taking us on a crafted journey through his Latin American and Jazz influences, keeping one foot in the past with his sample of live instruments whilst exploring modern lo-fi chillhop beats.
On ‘By Day’ Hermanito blends his contemporary dream-like beats with signature guitar work and world music samples to create a track that stretches across cultures.
Dulcet Panoply by Nymad
With layers upon layers of arpeggiated synth and modulating rhythms reminiscent of Ostgut Ton’s Barker, ‘Some Sun’ makes you picture a utopian world at sunrise – a psychedelic, ambient autumn anthem.
Ruskin by Notchyy
This captivating blend of field recordings and bouncing, elasticated synthesis makes a sonic escape like no other. As the nights begin to draw in, here is contemplative deep house that’ll take you from dark to dawn; its masterful simplicity is the indisputable sound of clouds parting.
Oort Clod / Priceless Bodies – Split EP by Alphaville Records
A-Side – Oort Clod
Oort Clod is a Manchester based five-piece band, whose blend of indie pop/rock, post-punk and kiwi-pop is both timely and timeless.
Rather than anything distinctly Mancunian, Oort Clod sounds more like Australian contemporary indie music.
B-Side – Priceless Bodies
Priceless Bodies are a Manchester based lo-fi project consisting of twin sisters Viv & Bianca Pencz. The duo have created their own musical vision with a multidisciplinary approach, and playing everything from new wave and no wave to post-disco from the ’70s and ’80s..
Their new EP, mastered by Oort Clod’sMatt Fortunati, is an eclectic exploration of working-class & female-forward living, with references to mental health, Soviet heritage, and American New Wave cinema all coalesced into a sound uniquely theirs: guitar, analogue synth, sampling, and idiosyncratic percussion – from sleigh bells to kitchen knives – are all incorporated.
Marco Woolf
Francine, i by Marco Woolf, Phlexx Records
Over the last 3 years, Malawian-born singer-songwriter Marco Woolf has developed a penchant for storytelling, at most of his live performances the audience has come to expect strange and intriguing poetic anecdotes.
Statik aka El Statiko is an eclectic DJ from Manchester playing genres including Hip Hop, Bass, Jungle, Funk, Disco and Breaks. Statik is a six-time UK Turntablist champion and has competed in international competitions (IDA and DMC) since 2013. When performing, Statik likes to marry technical skill with musicality and uses a variety of equipment and production softwares to manipulate music live.
Machine Learning is Imaginary Part debut LP. The Italian producer takes inspiration from a mathematical notion via his alias, as in mathematics complex numbers are made from a real part and an imaginary part. Imaginary Part is an escape from reality, taking inspiration from ambient, downtempo and abstract soundtracks.
Quantum Index
The 4 tracks of Quantum Index are inspired by the contemporary experimental electronic music scene happening in the UK and have a strong sci-fi direction. Using a combination of digital and modular equipment Imaginary Part creates a work of the highest elegance.
Mind EP
Mind EP is an immersive sound experience into three states of the mind : Strike, Pressure and Release.
Mr Mustard is the lovechild of Ruben Sheridan (Hunrosa, Lovescene) and Jack Duckham (Secret Night Gang, Lovescene). Together they make experimental noises under the mantra “vibes over quality”, though their jazz, hip-hop and electronic-inspired duo has excelled at delivering both.
Wednesday 1st December marks World AIDS Day. A unifying day where we remember the 36 million people who’ve lost their lives to HIV, to stand in solidarity with the 38 million people who live with the virus, and remind the public and government that HIV is still very present.
A few years ago, we kickstarted the Open Forum radio series made in partnership with Gaydio and funded by Audio Content Fund. This was an hour-long round table discussion, that brought together a melting pot of artists, experts and those that just want a good old chinwag about that month’s Open Forum topic.
The second episode was aired on World AIDS day in 2019 and explored the topic of sex. As well as a lively discussion, award-winning HIV+ theatre-maker, writer and performer Nathaniel Hall graced us with a performance of a poem. Nathaniel shone a light on the complicated nature of sex and shared his story.
Listen to the full show below.
The poem performed during this episode inspired Nathaniel to write ‘First Time: A Show About Staying Positive In A Negative World’. The autobiographical story is a one man show that seemingly combines heartbreak and comedy to showcase what it is like to grow up positive in a negative world.
The show ‘First Time’, which has received raving reviews from The Guardian, Northern Soul and more, is produced by the award-winning LGBTQ+ theatre company Dibby Theatre. The company’s strive and passion for social change is not only demonstrated through their theatre, but also through their workshops, exhibitions, debates, short films and post-show parties.
Head to the North Wall Arts Centre’s Youtube channel and watch their most recent film project ‘HIV+ME’. The series of 3 beautifully shot short films showcases three Mancunians living with HIV and their extraordinary stories. Watch the trailer below.
For those living in Manchester, ‘First Time’ will be on the stage from 30th November till 4th December at CONTACT theatre. For further information on the play’s touring dates and locations, head to Dibby Theatre’s website.
Accompanying the 4th December performance is ACT UP + Get Down. This official post-show afterparty will be thrown to celebrate 36 yrs of HIV activism in Manchester. You can also catch Reform residents Supernature Disco and Mix-Stress providing the tunes and vibes for this celebratory night.
We would like to take this moment to state that this day can be both empowering and triggering for individuals. We encourage all to keep this in mind during discussions and when sharing assets and words on social media.
Let’s work together, continue this movement throughout the year and stand in solidarity. Head to the Wold AIDs Day’s website to learn more about the day, their campaigns and fundraising opportunities.
Soundcamp is a 12 week programme that gives up and coming artists the opportunity to develop their performance and music business skills, delivered in partnership with Youth Music. The Soundcamp Spotlight series is a new feature that aims to shine the light on Soundcamp artists and share their story with our audience.
To kick off this series, we sat down with DJ, Producer, Label Owner and Project Facilitator Joe Roche.
Could you please introduce yourself.
Hi, I’m Joe Roche and I’m your new favourite DJ. Only messing (not really), I live in Salford and I make and play tunes for a living, which is unreal. I run an online record store, record label and event/music brand called Do As You Please.
When did your musical journey start?
My parents co-owned a nightclub that booked DJs like Utah Saints, Sasha & Nightmares on Wax in the early acid house days. I was brought up around these people and that scene so I suppose it was from about 1994.
In terms of DJ’ing and making music though coming up to the 10 year mark now, mad.
How would you describe your production and mixing style?
I like groovy party gear to be honest. Love the old Chicago/Detroit styles, French house, chunky Glasgow/Scottish style house and techno. Early 00s breakbeat as well if the crowd is up for it. Also, more recent bouncy deep and tech house, like Gene on Earth and Huerta have changed the game for me.
My style is kind of a culmination of all these influences. I like to be eclectic and versatile with my DJing, and I feel this shows in my production as well. I’d love to have a track of my own to play at any time of day or night, in any type of venue.
At the end of last year you participated in Reform’s Soundcamp bootcamp, a project to cultivate 16 of Manchester’s promising artists. Why did you decide to apply for this programme?
I finished my DJ & production degree last Summer, and I was looking for my next step into the industry following that. The programme just seemed perfect, for real life, guided mentoring and learning. I’ve worked with Reform since 2016 as a participant and I know the quality of the courses is always high, but this seemed like a bit of a right of passage as an artist and I was incredibly keen to be amongst the local talent who were going for the positions.
What were your Soundcamp highlights?
You know what, the whole thing was absolutely class. As cliche as it is, every session and every little success for not only me, but for everyone else I was lucky enough to be on the programme with, was incredible. Having different mentors from different disciplines teaching you all their industry tips was definitely a highlight. The initial bootcamp process was unreal as well. Having like 30 creatives in a room with all the tools they’d need to create tunes and just setting them off is easily the best idea ever made.
The final showcase of everyone sharing their work is something I’ll never forget, too. Unbelievable talent, and all on our doorstep.
Soundcamp Showcase at We Out Here Online & On Air 2021
Since the Soundcamp Showcase, you performed a mega one hour live set at Manchester International Festival. How was that experience?
Well it was mega, obviously! The whole experience was amazing and it was nice to do it in the place I live. All my other larger event experiences have been elsewhere, so having a lot of familiar people and places around me was ace.
I actually managed to produce the whole set in about 4 weeks, which is something I’m really proud of. This set was following the previous live set I did for We Out Here Festival a few weeks before, which meant everything was really fresh and I had the drive to up the level of my performance.
The stage and crowd were class and to be honest it was a really proud moment for me all round.
I even made the visuals!
You’ve frequently been involved in Reform’s projects, both asa participant and as a facilitator. DJ sessions has been your most recent facilitation project, where you’ve been teaching participants DJ skills and helping them connect with potential promoters. What do you think draws you to facilitation?
Well, I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to pursue music and production as a career, and now I’m lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with an amazing company, teaching people everything I’ve learnt to better their lives and careers. The industry isn’t a level playing field, but there’s plenty of work there, people just need a leg up and some confidence with what they’re doing. I love sharing my eureka moments from over the years and to be honest, I learn as much as I teach a lot of the time. Plus it’s a right laugh and you meet about 8 million people every time you do a project.
What are you hoping your next steps will be?
I’d like to get some serious production work done now I’ve settled after uni and Soundcamp. Everything was too up in the air over the past 12-18 months to get my head down and find a flow with making music. I’d love to get some more label signings under my belt, new club residencies and hopefully expand into having a team representing/helping me as an artist in terms of a manager and agent.
Anything upcoming that you would like to shout out?
Yeah, we’ve got an event at Eastern Bloc on December 11th which I’m well buzzing about.Vinyl only, loads of mint up and coming DJs, come through its gonna be well good. Any Leeds heads reading this we’ve also got Distrikt booked on Tuesday 21st for the Do As You Please Christmas do. Next year loads of events gonna be happening so keep an eye on the socials and www.doasyouplease.uk.
Also we have another vinyl release scheduled for next year on the label. Massive release in my mind, can’t wait to share that with the world.
What was the last event you went to?
Back to Basics last weekend, prohibition theme and incredible line up. Also have to note, went to fabric for Craig Richards, Francesco Del Garda, Bradley Zero and loads of other heads at the start of the month and that was INCREDIBLE. fabric is one of the best clubs I’ve been to hands down, only £15 a ticket as well, buzzing.
Are there any local artists/musicians/collectives that you would like to shout out?
Yeah, I’ve been playing at Joshua Brooks quite regularly recently in the club and bar, massive shout to Sharples and the guys down there for having me and for what they’ve done with the venue. Absolutely love the space and the whole team are wicked and an absolute pleasure to work with.
Big shout to my friends at Surco, who invited me to play and celebrate their 6th birthday in October, unbelievable achievement from them and buzzing to see where they go.
Finally a huge thanks to all the Reform, Rhythm Lab and Soundcamp staff and artists that have made this chapter of my journey so class and memorable. You’re all ace, long live Reform.
And finally…What has made you chuckle recently?
Back to Basics 30th birthday at the Warehouse in Leeds. Loads of wicked characters and the whole night was absolutely class, but just bonkers and well funny. Also watched Jason Manford taking a scam call and having them on today, which was hilarious.
Every month we are promoting events hosted by our very own residents. Scroll down to find out what events are taking place this December.
ACTUP + Get Down: The Official Post-Show Afterparty
You can catch Reform Radio residents SupernatureDisco and Mix-Stress playing at the afterparty for the end of a national run for the acclaimed play – “First Time” (By Dibby Theatre/Nathaniel Hall) about people’s first time having sex. Nathaniel Hall who is a theatre maker and HIV activist took part in the Tough Talks podcast series, that were produced by Reform Radio for Hits Radio Pride. You can check out all the episodes by clicking here.
The event will also celebrate 36 yrs of HIV Activism in Manchester and will take place at Contact Theatre on the 4th December from 10pm.
Get more information about the event here and get your tickets here.
GYMNASTICS
You are all welcome on Thursday 16th December to join some regular night of proper club music in the dark and loud surroundings of AATMA, with artists like Miley, Esmé or very own Reform Radio’s Infant Hercules. Get ready to get lost in sound.
Fun time party crews Regal Disco & OneFiveEight join forces for a good old Christmas knee’s up, on the 17th of December from 11pm to 4am at YES. Strictly fun and vibes heavy on the dancefloor. Expect some global rhythms, disco, funk, bass and everything on between.
Refuge NYE
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Reform residents DJ Paulette and Supernature Disco at ‘Come As You Are’ that will take place in the usual place – Refuge. From7pm till 2am, move to the rhythm of soul, disco and funk and count down the bongs in style with a whole host of familiar faces and fantastic folk.
Since Thursday 12th August, we have been releasing episodes from the High Rise series on a weekly basis. We are excited to announce that all 11 episodes are out on Podfollow and Spotify.
High Rise is a European Social Fund 12 week creative writing radio drama project.
During these 12 weeks, MBE appointed Louise Wallwein guided each participant to create their own episode. All 11 episodes explored Greater Manchester’s gentrification.
Listen to all episodes below.
EP1: Hong Kong to Manchester
Written and produced by Farwa Naseer.
Hong Kong to Manchester explores themes of race, class and cultural differences. It showcases how humans connect regardless of this and celebrates Manchester’s diversity and evolving skyline.
EP2: Rain, Thunder and Fire
Written by Connor Forsyth.
An argument over the changing city, brought about by an artwork depicting it aflame. The High Rise buildings divide the past and future of the city. A story of sorrow, conflict, and passion.
EP3: Pushed Out Again
Written and produced by Jonathan Williams.
As the echoes of a compulsory order from the past linger, a teenager struggles with the uncertainty looming over his family with history threatening to repeat itself.
EP4: Nothing & Everything
Written & produced by Tom Braithwaite.
Guy, abandoned by the world, searching for the man responsible, runs into the arms of fate and a whirlwind romance with his rival’s daughter.
EP5: Same City. Total Opposites
by Joe Johnstone.
‘Same City. Total Opposites’ follows one boy, who is torn from his mother and is introduced to the tower blocks of Manchester.
EP6: No Power Great Responsibility
Written and directed by Alapelode Oluwatobi.
In ‘No Power Great Responsibility’, a builder fights for the freedoms of his family as a big Construction firm kicks local builders out of business.
EP7: Block 2 Block
Written and directed by Jozef Bryer.
‘Block 2 Block’ is a story of one young adult adapting back to normal life. He encounters many obstacles in his way, as he navigates two different environments.
EP8: A Day In the Life
Written by Alanis Leah MacDonald.
“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination”. In this episode, Gregory and Samantha are in a relationship and need a new home. Then the Manchester high rises are built. What will happen next?
EP9: Floor 129
Written and produced by Alex Ingham-Brophy.
This episode asks the question, what happens when you want more from life ? Everything’s tested. Relationships, moralities and sense of self-worth are all at risk, and it all starts on Floor 129.
EP10: A Tale from Two Sides
Written & directed by Maddie Zygmunt
Two Men, One Address, this is the story of the class divide.
EP11: Mourning Manchester, Mourning Malik
by Zhahava Waseem
“A drama rooted in grime, simplified in rhyme, inspired by the experience of both yours and mine, is it really one of crime? I mean, some of you may think it’s fine. Malik and Myles, Posh and Poor, one gets wasted and one goes to the floor. A story of friendship, a story of fraud. So sit back and relax, you won’t get bored.”
TRIGGER WARNING This article contains information about suicide, sexual assault and violence which may be triggering.
Amplifying the voices and stories of those close to us is at the core of what Reform Radio is all about.
During this year’s Black History Month we announced our new – and first ever – Artist In Residence, Melissa Dean. Through this programme the artist will receive a small bursary and free space, while we support them to secure new paid work, both within and outside our organisation. In celebration of this exciting new residency we have invited Melissa to share her story. Featuring topics of race, trauma and the arts, in this piece Melissa guides us through her life from childhood to now, presenting the environments, cultures and events that have shaped the person she is today.
Introducing Melissa…
When Reform asked me to write an autobiography to introduce me as their first Artist In Residence, it was no easy task. It’s taken me several weeks to unravel the right stories that shed some light onto who I am, how I got here and to highlight how poignant this residency is for me, at this moment in my career, as I discover my voice through writing.
This is the first time I have publicly shared a piece of writing and it feels essential to shed some light onto some of my journey, in the hope of empowering others.It is also a celebration that perseverance and hard work pays off.
Up until the age of 13, I was a very shy child, who cried every day when I was dropped off at infant and junior school. Everyday. I was a very sensitive child and am still the same sensitive, but strong woman. I believe sensitivity is a super power.
I grew up in a loving home in Leyton, East London. A melting pot of cultures. My dad is Black and was born in Guyana. He arrived in Britain in the Windrush generation, searching for bigger opportunities. My mum is white, Northern Irish and came here with her family when she was 11, after the death of her mother. My dad worked hard in factories until he retired. My mum was an office worker throughout her career with bigger dreams, but lacked confidence. The 60s was hardly a time when women or black people were encouraged to dream.
My parents threw me into the swimming pool at age 4, and as I grew – karate, Irish dancing, piano and much more. I was lucky enough to have such privileges, although we were far from wealthy. I spent most school holidays at my dad’s zip factory and every weekend at cricket: my dad, a West Indies cricket fanatic. Yearly visits to Ireland and Spain to see my mum’s family were our holidays, and I only met my dad’s family in the Caribbean once, when I was 20.
I went to junior school in the 90s; the years of The Spice Girls, Tamagotchis, mega drives, Yoyo’s, cats cradle and The Goonies. The days before high tech camera phones and social media, thank God!
When I was growing up, our house was full of my parents’ friends, my mum’s two sisters and the sense of laughter, 60s music, Caribbean food and dancing lived within our walls.
I was really into football, which I played each lunchtime with my class. My mum took me to a football club at our local green one Saturday. I stood there, feeling a bit… Stuck. At 10 years old, the voice in my head said, “Go, run, get the ball, do something”. But I just couldn’t move which was embarrassing and impossible to explain. Shyness often felt paralytic and controlled so much of what I wanted to do, but just… couldn’t. This same shyness stopped me defending myself against some of the worst bullying at secondary school.
Going from a mixed sex primary school where Black and mixed race was a minority, into an all-girls secondary school, full of predominantly Black and Asian women was a real shock to my system. I saw a multitude of mixed race teenagers for the first time. Everyone had curly hair except me and I noticed I was much lighter skinned than others.
My 13th birthday came around and my parents let me have a big party. 100 wonderful people squeezed into our home, my brother Wayne (17 years my senior) DJ’d and was on ‘grinding too close patrol’. Literally. Lol. The party was a hit and I felt popular and cool. But this joyous Princess feeling didn’t last long, as in the following weeks, I was raped.
they intentionally penetrate the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis –
or B does not consent to the penetration, and
A does not reasonably believe that B consents.
As a society, I believe that we are afraid of the word rape, as we imagine the worst but there are different levels to it, it’s not always as black and white as our imaginations.…
“A does not reasonably believe that B consents”.
Many people think rape is being held down, whilst you scream no, which is not always the case. So often, people don’t say no. And until we begin having these essential conversations as a society, the cycle will just continue.
We often make excuses for the predators and think about the pain it would bring to our loved ones. It could be a friend, a stranger, a family friend. “We were drunk, I wasn’t clear enough, I chose to go there, I didn’t leave, I went back again. They’re my partner”. We allow ourselves so many excuses, as to why it was our own fault and why we shouldn’t tell anyone.
You may wonder why I chose to talk about this in my biography, but it has affected my entire life and is part of what makes me the strong and empathetic woman I am today.
Trauma and pain create walls in our minds that affect us in every way and I believe therapy is a great way of breaking down those walls. It’s hugely affected my understanding of boundaries. It was only coming to Manchester at the age of 32, a city where I didn’t know anyone and in having to meet new people that I have really learnt about boundaries. Other peoples and my own.
Rape being my first sexual experience, I sadly went on to think that these behaviours were normal and hiding this from my family gave them no chance to teach me otherwise. Over the years I have shared my story with others, and unexpectedly others have shared their own experiences in return, asking me if their stories are also rape – which they each were.
An experienced therapist of 30 years apologised to me last year for denying in her mind I had in fact been raped until she read the sex act, which to me was mind blowing.
It was only going through a bad break up last year, triggering some sessions with said therapist that she thought I had PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) due to flashbacks I mentioned having sometimes during sex. I was actually thrilled by the discovery as there was now a potential solution. I was offered a therapy called EMDR, which worked wonders for me.
It was during one of these beginning sessions that another rape, around the same time as the first, a much more traumatic one, came to mind. I had pushed it deep down in the hope to forget. I was so distraught after a particular session that I decided to call the police. The idea had been put to me over the years and I always thought, “I’ll do it one day, when the time’s right.” But there’s never a right or easy time. And going to the police isn’t for everyone.
I could go on about attempting suicide, of bunking off school and turning into a horrible teenager, but I’ll park that for another biog. I will be clear about one thing. My parents tried everything to reach me, but I was inaccessible due to fear.
Around the time this happened, by chance I watched the film, ‘Meet Joe Black’ and I felt an emotional connection to the beauty of the classical soundtrack. I went on to research other classical soundtracks and was introduced to Thomas Newman, Hans Zimmer, City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
Listening to this music alone in my room in the evenings, out poured a river of tears that wouldn’t stop. It was a cathartic release of sadness, of pain and anger.
Between that and my love of GCSE drama, and my incredible drama teacher Ms Owen, I knew I wanted to be an actress, at 13. GCSE drama was one of the things that saved my life and GCSE drama has now been cut from my secondary school and others due to government funding cuts.
A year after these events things began to look up. The older girls left school and I joined a church youth group. We’d come together once a week and play games, dance and have discussions. We became a team of volunteers that would work in the community. We went to Lourdes, in the South of France yearly and assisted older, less mobile members of the community, in this place of pilgrimage. I went every year for 7 years.
This group really changed my life and so much healing came for me during these trips, where I began to form my own relationship with God. I didn’t know it then, but this introduced me and my core to community engagement, something that would come back around when I started my own theatre company, 11 years later. This shy young girl having trauma shoved in her face at 13, I became a loud, crossing boundary madness of a personality.
Between that and my parents paying for me to go away with the school choir each year, to places like South Africa, Barcelona, Austria, a love for travel and escapism was born, which I have carried into my adult life. My parents and I spent my two years of Sixth Form fundraising for a trip to teach drama and English in Zambia, in my gap year.
I auditioned for drama schools before I left for Zambia and I was lucky enough to get a place and a full DADA (dance and drama award) to pay for my £36,000 drama school fees. Drama school was hard work. It was not what I was expecting. You’re in lessons all day, everyday and you rarely get a night off. You get out what you put in. I was one of the very few actors from a diverse background (being in Oxfordshire), which was another uneasy shock to the system.
You can never really be prepared for the reality of not getting work as an actor, of the unspoken rejection that comes with the industry. Around a full time job, audition tapes for big shows can take you a week to do and you mostly don’t get a response. You learn to accept that it must be a no after two weeks of hearing nothing.
The reason I am still in the game after 11 years is because I have the full support of my family and I am proactive in my approach.
At 26, I was fed up with not having control of my career and started my own theatre company. I wanted to use theatre as a way of encouraging discussion around human rights issues.
As you can see with this biog, I am still trying to do the same, in another art form.
Over the years, I began to book small roles on TV including; Line of Duty, EastEnders and Doctors. I set up my own voice over studio in our spare room, which after years of hard work is proving fruitful as I am now a voice over for the Guardian Newspaper. I’m producing much more of my own work these days, which 11 years on has become more important to me than just booking an acting job.
I’m trying to stay connected to my creativity and things like Universal Credit have become a support for me in the last year, as I put all of my efforts into my own work and into looking after myself and my mental health. I have gotten by through waitressing, bar work and teaching assisting which have all helped shape who I am today and planted within me a love for working with children.
I moved to Manchester in late 2020 during the second lockdown to take some space for myself and to have a mental break from acting. So many people had told me I’d love Manchester and they weren’t wrong.
I took the lockdown opportunity to stay in my room and write. Moving to a place where I knew nobody, I was reintroduced to that shy Melissa and I realised she is still a part of me and has a voice. I was soon offered the chance to have my own show on Reform Radio and this new opportunity here as their Artist In Residence seems the perfect timing to tap into that voice.
I also discovered hiking, new great friendships and wild swimming which alongside writing gave me a chance at 33 to heal from my traumas. In these past few months, I have also produced a filmed piece of theatre, ME YOU US THEM, that looks into stories of race in Northern Ireland, with the support of Arts Council England and Terra Nova Productions. Between that and starting my own collection of creatives (Melting Pan Productions) I have been keeping busy.
The Black Lives Matter movement helped me question some of my own ignorances and how I occasionally projected my rapists onto other men that spoke or dressed a certain type of way. The movement also encouraged me to start doing my own research and after reading books such as ‘Why I’m No longer Talking To White People About Race’ by Reni Eddo-Lodge, ‘Natives’ by Akala and watching programmes such as ‘Uprising’ by Steve McQueen, I have really had my eyes opened to the systematic racism in the UK, which I had been blind to before. I am so sorry for that.
I have come to understand and accept, over the past year, that people are always going to put their labels on us. Whether we ask them to or not. Sometimes the people we love the most, and that’s ok, it’s just part of life. It’s how we respond and reject the world’s labelling or projections onto us that matters. We have to set boundaries and hold onto what we identify as.
It’s taken me 20 years to reconnect to self.It’s good to finally be here, finding peace, at 33, wearing my crown with pride.
I hope that this autobiography empowers others to realise you are not on your own. We all have trauma which has its own domino effect, on each of our lives.
I must celebrate that this residency comes at a time where my hard work is beginning to pay off and take this new journey with writing. Of my 11 years in the Arts, Reform Radio is the first company to offer me artistic support. Thank you so much for that. I am excited for this new chapter of life.
If you have been affected by any of the above, here are links I hope are of use –
We are currently hiring for 8 Kickstart roles. As these roles are part of the government’s Kickstart Scheme, you are eligible to apply for these positions if you are on Universal Credit and aged 16-24 years old. We have positions open from all across our departments, so act fast, as these will fill up quickly.
Scroll down to see what roles we have open.
For full descriptions of these roles, how to apply & closing dates head to the Kickstart page on our new opportunities website. You can also contact kickstart@reformradio.co.uk for any enquiries.
Last month we had our first BLM discussion back in Reform’s space with our staff and some special guests to help guide the conversation.
For anyone who is not familiar, we hold a monthly BLM discussion in which we focus on a different piece of media or writing that tackles this topic. The discussion aims to create a space to learn, reflect and discuss the future actions that we can take as individuals and as an organisation.
To celebrate this year’s Black History Month we invited Actress, Writer and Producer Melissa Dean to perform a live piece of spoken word in which she covered the topics of race, trauma and her personal experiences. Melissa has also recently joined our team as Reform’s first ever Artist In Residence. This new year-long programme provides the artist with a small bursary, free space and support to secure new paid work both within our organisation and with our networks.
Following Melissa’s performance and our reflective discussion on the piece, we welcomed the amazing Jay Chambers and Parise from Black in MCR to deliver anti-racism training. The session explored and questioned the roots of British Culture, looked at racial injustice in the music industry, and made us think of what else we can do to improve our relationships and actions within our own organisation.
We’ll be hoping back onto Zoom for this month’s BLM discussion taking place on Monday 15th November from 4PM-5PM. The focal piece will be ‘Dark Matter: A History of the Afrofuture’, a documentary available to watch on BBC Iplayer. From Jean-Michel Basquiat to Grace Jones, ‘Dark Matter’ explores how black artists use the sci-fi genre of Afrofuturism to examine black history and imagine new alternative futures.
This session is open for anyone, so please contact lewys@reformradio.co.uk to register your interest!
The High Rise series releases one episode every Thursday on Podfollow and Spotify.
The series was born out of a 12 week creative writing radio drama project funded by European Social Fund.
During these 12 weeks, MBE appointed Louise Wallwein guided each participant to create their own episode. All 11 episodes explored Greater Manchester’s gentrification.
Since the last blog post, 4 more episodes have been released. Read on to listen and learn more about each episode.
EP8: A Day In the Life
Written by Alanis Leah MacDonald.
“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination”. In this episode, Gregory and Samantha are in a relationship and need a new home. Then the Manchester high rises are built. What will happen next?
EP9: Floor 129
Written and produced by Alex Ingham-Brophy.
This episode asks the question, what happens when you want more from life ? Everything’s tested. Relationships, moralities and sense of self-worth are all at risk, and it all starts on Floor 129.
EP10: A Tale from Two Sides
written & directed by Maddie Zygmunt
Two Men, One Address, this is the story of the class divide.
EP11: Mourning Manchester, Mourning Malik (Final episode)
by Zhahava Waseem
“A drama rooted in grime, simplified in rhyme, inspired by the experience of both yours and mine, is it really one of crime? I mean, some of you may think it’s fine. Malik and Myles, Posh and Poor, one gets wasted and one goes to the floor. A story of friendship, a story of fraud. So sit back and relax, you won’t get bored.”
Welcome to Raise the Bar, a video series that showcases artists delivering freestyles or live performances on our resident’s shows.
This week’s Raise the Bar is brought to you by Daisy Adams. She invited two rising stars of the scene, Piri and Tommy Villiers, to perform an acoustic rendition of the liquid DnB influenced track ‘Soft Spot’.
Watch the full performance below.
Tommy Villiers’ production that glides along the pop dance music spectrum, combined with Piri’s effortlessly smooth vocals and lyricism makes them an exciting unstoppable duo.
Catch the full show below, where Daisy Adams sits down with the dynamic duo to talk about how their musical journey started and their collaborative partnership grew.
If you are up for a daytime dance, head to the Klondyke on the 20th November for an amazing fundraising event. Every penny raised will be going to the Manchester Refugee Support Network (MRSN).
Tickets will be priced at £5 and £10 depending on how much people can give. Additionally, everyone who attends is encouraged to bring food donations for the charity.
Mic Check Live is an event showcasing up and coming Rap & RnB artists from in and around Manchester. Taking place at Aatma on Thursday 18th November, every ticket purchased comes with a free download of a song from each artist featured on the event.
With artists like Feeemo, ChikoStokes and many others, the artists will surely take you on a journey, from trap to grime to drill. Check the video below to see the rest of the line-up and purchase tickets here.
