We are delighted to invite you all to this Melting Pan & Terra Nova Productions adaptation of 2018’s stage production of Me You Us Them, previewing exclusively at Reform Radio, on Thursday the 12th of October at 6.30pm.
The production will bring characters to life from various cultures in Northern Ireland, including voices and experience from Nigeria, rural Armagh, Belfast, China, Jamaica and Donegal. Informed by conversations with real people from across Northern Ireland, the piece has been curated through Terra Nova’s ethical intercultural practice. Experience the angry, funny, hopeful and heartfelt voices of complex characters, which make an extraordinary difference to those we usually witness on main stages.
The Me You Us Them creative team is led by mixed-race actor-director-producer Melissa Dean, supported by Andrea Montgomery. Through the process, the pair discovered new ways of sharing theatre on film, as they took ownership of sound scope and production elements, making it an exciting immersive adaptation to delve into as an audience member.
As racism and fascism is continually rising across the post-pandemic world, the accounts of racial experience in Northern Ireland through the production are strikingly important and current. This marks the piece as a necessary production to experience, in hearing real stories of racism, identity and sense of belonging.
You can grab your Pay As You Feel tickets now here.
This year, October marks Black History Month 2023 and this year’s theme is ‘Saluting Our Sisters’. The theme is a gracious nod to the crucial role that Black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change, and building communities, alongside highlighting the #WEMATTER campaign which amplifies and notices the vitality of their voice. Not only this, but this year’s campaign also aims to challenge the systems that oppress Black women and actively inspire future generations.
Black History Month is a momentous occasion to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of Black people to British society. From looking back to the historical impacts of Black individuals, to celebrating the work and motions of them today, to looking forward and empowering future recognition of such individuals, Black History Month encourages a necessary acknowledgement of the Black community.
In honour of the occasion, Reform will have collated a list of events around the North West to attend in celebration of Black History Month. Check them out below and be sure to show up and support the #WEMATTER movement.
This year, Manchester Museum will be holding three workshops using the themes of ‘Saluting Our Sisters’ and ‘Before Windrush’. These include a writing workshop for adults, a family story-telling session, and a print workshop. Use the museum’s extensive Afro-Caribbean collections to inspire you in these creative workshops.
Brighter Sound teams up with Vic Meets for a series of workshops and panels this autumn. From songwriting and freestyling to DJing and broadcasting, with industry advice at every turn. All will be hosted by BBC Radio 1 presenter and R&B/Soul artist Victoria Jane, with guests fronting each workshop, including DJ Chaise, Akemi Fox, G33 and Layfullstop. There will be plenty of time to ask burning questions and get practical experience in the workshop areas. All workshops are free but please book in advance.
Enjoy an incredible line-up of our specially curated storytellers telling you their story, unfiltered and in their own words. In addition to the line up, true to our open mic roots there will be a couple of spaces open for budding storytellers, so feel free to come with your own five minute true story in mind. Our events are as much about the joy of hearing the voices of others, of finding there’s a story in each person, and coming to connect and learn.
The Black Writers Guild has hired the Portico Library in Manchester to provide a positive space for you to hear from published authors, and to connect with other emerging and established black writers in the north and midlands. Guest speakers include the incredible Diana Anyakwo, Yvonne Battle-Felton, Danielle Jawando, Okechukwu Nzelu and Kimberly Whittam.
This is a comedy night that is not only packed to the brim with jokes but also celebrates the vast array of comedic talent throughout Black History Month. We pride ourselves on championing comedians who appeal to comedy lovers of all backgrounds – so grab your tickets and head down for a night of good vibes!
As part of the Ubuntu Festival of Events for Black History Month, The Zebra Partnership has collaborated with Stockport Race Equality Partnership to deliver a weekend of events in Stockport. On Saturday 14th October, Carol Ann Whitehead will be bringing back Miss Diagnosis and hosting a special BHM ‘Miss Diagnosis Lunch and Learn’ – a panel discussion about Black Women’s health and incorrect diagnosis from maternal care to breast cancer. After the discussion there will be a chance to network with Afrobeats and enjoy some African Caribbean food. All are welcome.
A-POC-ALYPSE CABARET is a horror inspired event, showcasing queer artists of colour on a stage created for us, by us. This is a safe space to enjoy queer POC artists whose style of performance and creative vision is celebrated. Get ready to experience a powerhouse of POC talent, from some of Manchester’s finest and across the UK. This is going to be a cultural reset, bringing queer POC monsters to the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village! This month’s line-up features Eva Serration, Romeo De La Cruz, Jada Love, Lilly Snatchdragon & The Bollywitch.
MAMAWE brings you an experience you do not want to miss, a workshop focused on celebrating BHM through movement. Join dance teachers and choreographers, Angelina Abel and Adriano Oliveira who will lead this brief introductory session, drawing inspiration from the Angolan heritage, providing you with an opportunity to relax, express yourself, and emphasise the significance of purposeful movement.
Jorgy & Cheech return to the airwaves for two hours of hip hop, rappering and irreverent chat. Joining them in the studio for a live session and catch up this time round is upcoming artist, Grief School.
Grief School spat bars that blew us away, preparing us for their upcoming album out on the 13th of October.
Check out the full session on YouTube and listen back to the full show below.
For the past two weeks, we’ve had a group of participants completing our Podcasting Course in the space, from learning how to script write, all the way to hosting their own live show on Reform Radio which showcased their five minute podcast pieces. You can listen back to the full show below.
We caught up with participants, Tagan and Huma, to hear about their experiences on the project and to hear what they’ll be taking from it moving forward.
What are your names, pronouns, and what you’re getting up to at the moment outside the course?
H: I’m Huma, my pronouns are she/her, and I work for a charity which supports victims of domestic abuse.
T: My name is Tagan, my pronouns are he/him, and I’m currently exploring new hobbies in my free time and trying to get more creative.
Describe yourself in 3 words
H: Kind, empathetic, and a good listener
T: Compassionate, determined and loving
If you had to recommend a podcast to someone who’s never listened to a podcast before, what would it be and why?
H: I would recommend a podcast to people in relationships who are questioning whether their relationship is healthy. The podcast is called ‘I’m Not In An Abusive Relationship’, and it’s about the early signs of abuse and neglect. It’s informative and could be really important to people who are unsure of the signs.
T: I would recommend the ‘Inspired Unemployed’ podcast. It’s a bunch of lads having fun behind the mic and creating content and it’s just good fun.
What prompted you to get involved with the Podcasting Course?
H: For me, I attended to simply explore. I wasn’t a massive podcast fan before taking on the course but I came just to give it a go.
T: I was in a similar place, I didn’t have a major expectation of the course. However, I tried the taster session and was instantly drawn into it and knew I needed to complete the rest of it.
What’s become your favourite thing about podcasting and audio through completing the course?
H: I’ve really enjoyed the thought process of writing a script. I can’t say I enjoyed the editing aspect too much, however, and listening to myself back! But the process of writing was so creative and it made me really consider the layout of podcasting.
T: For me I just loved the whole creative aspect to audio, and achieving things I didn’t think I was capable of. Being in the studio was also great as it pushed me out my comfort zone and taught me loads of new skills.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
H: My impressions have changed hugely. I didn’t know anything about Reform Radio at all and was quite apprehensive about what we were going to experience and do on the course. But I ended up looking forward to it every morning and feeling so motivated to come along.
T: I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did and I didn’t think I’d be as committed as I have been about turning up everyday. I’m really grateful for the opportunity which Reform has given me to meet such a collective of kind people who support you by setting high standards and supporting your work. I think the main thing I’ll take with me is the confidence I’ve grown in developing audio and media skills, but also generally within life.
What will you take from the podcasting course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
H: I think I definitely feel more open to getting out of my comfort zone and trying new things in life. It’s taught me to go for things I wouldn’t usually try. I would love to continue building the podcast idea I formulated through the course and create a larger series. I feel like creating this podcast will support my work with victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
T: I will definitely take new-found confidence from the Podcasting Course, I feel like it’s really built my self-esteem. I will be taking a lot of new friendships with like-minded creatives from the course, also.
If you could have anyone on your own podcast as a guest, who would it be and why?
H: For me, it would Yasmin Mogahed, a specialist in spirituality, psychology, and personal development.
T: I don’t have anyone specific I’d ask. It would be fun to have someone totally random to discuss random subject like conspiracy theories or psychology to hear a unique point of view.
Come join us at our future courses! If you’d like to get involved or find out more about any of our projects, please drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
The Jorgy & Cheech show is BACK. Known for their hip hop mixes, rappering and irreverent chat, this week the pair welcomed Manchester talent PiQasso into the studio to get behind the mic.
PiQasso has been made a name for himself on the UK scene, blending 90s hip hop beats with his effortless flow. With this in mind, the Northern rapper is both excitingly unique, with notes of familiar nostalgia running beneath his verses.
Listen to the full show here and watch the live session below.
HERchester are back on the block! Back in spring this year we’ve held a series of lyrical and MCing workshops, led by OneDa, across the North West – in Manchester, Sheffield, Blackpool & Morecambe. The cohort are now returning for a one-night special to round up what they’ve been up to – kindly funded by Arts Council England, and in partnership with House of Wingz, More Music and Rite Trax.
Taking over GRUB MCR on the 15th of August, 6.30PM – 9PM, the female-identifying and non-binary rap cohort will premiere their exclusive cypher, filmed at Manchester’s Blues Kitchen, and a film documenting the behind the scenes action of the project. If that’s not enough for you, the night will also include a live Q&A with HERchester and OneDa.
And this is open to all with the space being an inclusive atmosphere to meet likeminded creatives, whilst also witnessing the incredible community’s talent first-hand. It’s going to be an evening of good vibes and boundless creativity.
Reserve your free tickets here. And for full info, see the flyer below.
Reform Radio is bringing its ‘First Dance’ Wedding Dancefloor to Manchester’s Pride Parade, celebrating the 10 year anniversary of, both, the Same Sex Marriage Act and Reform Radio.
This year, marks our 10th anniversary as an organisation, founded in the basement of a shared-house in Manchester by three friends, Reform’s current directors. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Marriage Act, and Reform Radio’s first ever radio show in 2013, we want will be staging Reform Radio’s ‘First Dance’ as our entry to Manchester Pride. This wedding dance-floor will be a celebration of the power of love, and love for the LGBTQ+ community.
The playlist for the parade will be made up of songs from our LGBTQ+ community and partners. This is where we need your help!
LGBTQIA+ community and queer wedding attendees, please submit yours and your friends’ first dance songs for them to be played alongside our Pride parade. Send your tracks over to dani@reformradio.co.uk – we can’t wait to hear them and share this celebration with you all.
You may have seen across our socials that we’ve had a busy couple months here at Reform, with a number of participants coming into the space twice a week for our In Focus Content & Social Media course.
Kindly funded by ESF & Skills For Growth, In Focus Content and Social Media is a 7-week course that is designed to upskill people in all things marketing, social media and content creation. All participants have a chance to create an exclusive social media campaign for a Manchester based creative, brand or an organisation. This time round, participants worked with the likes of Yemi Bolatiwa, Studio 88 and Gravy Mag.
We caught up with Dara, who worked on Yemi Bolatiwa’s campaign, to find out more about her time on the course and where she’s heading next.
Introduce yourself (name, pronouns, and what you’re up to at the moment/hobbies etc)
I’m Dara Jackson, I use she/her pronouns and I’m currently graduating from a Masters of research in Neuroscience. My hobbies include watching anime, dancing, singing, painting, and curating digital art on Pinterest.
How would your friends describe you in 3 words?
Joyful, driven and loving.
If you could create any piece of content for yourself/a brand/an artist, what would it be? And who would you want to work with?
I really want to work for Selena Gomez’s brand, Rare Beauty, as a mental health content creator. I’d also love to work for Iris Van Herpen, Gucci or Zimmerman as a fashion or mental health content creator. Rosalia is another musician I’d love to work for too because she inspires me all the time to stay true to my roots.
What prompted you to get involved with In Focus: Content & Social Media?
I am seeking a career in content creation or the creative industries as I feel happiest doing that so this would be a great first step to getting there.
Did you have much experience in content/marketing before? If so, what’s your favourite aspect of it?
I think my favourite part is the idea generation. I like thinking of ways to get in touch with people’s humanity and remind them that everything is ok. Art can remind you of your humanity to fail, to be stagnant and to pause and re-centre. I think I just enjoy making people feel seen.
Where do you find inspiration for your creative content work?
From so much! My relationship with Christ has had a significant impact on the framework I navigate the world with. I think the compassion I experienced from my God is my first filter: compassion and grace. I get inspiration from my mum, dad, brother and sister because they’ve all had lives that speak of struggle, overcoming and making beauty out of ashes. I get inspiration from Greek, Japanese, Trinbagonian, African and Norse Mythology. I get inspiration from Islam, Hinduism and Confucianism. Also I am inspired greatly by my heritage – I’m of African, Indian, Spanish and Irish descent. I am inspired by both digital and traditional art, music like trance, alternative and noir. I pull from anime, Astronomy, nature, my own struggles – I think that’s about it!
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 felt safe and like I was somewhere I belonged straight away and that hasn’t changed at all. I think the course taught me to relax and enjoy the process. Reform really knows how to make people feel like they can do anything, no matter what level you are.
What will you take from the In Focus course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
Definitely editing if we’re talking technical. I was so scared of using Premiere Pro before! I also hope to take my understanding of how small details in concepts can make a huge difference in perception, and also my value of teamwork.
My plan moving forward is to work in the creative industries. Creative work is the only work that makes me truly happy now and using art to help people find peace and freedom would be a great legacy to have. We’ll see how it goes!
Come join us at our future courses!If you’d like to get involved or find out more about any of our projects, please drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
Ten years of Reform Radio means one thing – we’re going DAB! Pop the radio on because we’re now live in your cars and on your digital smart speakers.
As you may know, 2023 marks our tenth birthday and to continue with our celebrations we’re delighted to announce we are going DAB. For those of you that aren’t familiar, DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) means Reform Radio will be digitally transmitted to devices. Different to FM, this digital transmission allows you to select stations by name, gives it a clearer sound quality and offers more widespread listening.
For those of you across Greater Manchester, you can now pop us on you DAB devices and tune into the good vibes 24/7. This is huge for us to be found alongside our favourite radio big hitters on DAB lists in cars and speakers across the region.
Reform Radio is now on DAB across Greater Manchester and worldwide via your smart speaker.
Some of you may know we’ve had a little secret up our sleeves and told you to save a very special date…
We are delighted to invite you all to our 10th birthday event, alongside celebrating a decade of our old friends, Shindigger! On September the 9th, from 2pm until 2am, we will be taking over The Yard, Manchester, to bring you live music, stalls, free workshops and some real good food.
Expect plenty of live music, including first ever festival performances from some of the most exciting acts in the city, alongside exclusive back-to-back DJ sets, curated especially for this event.
Following them, another Reform Resident supergroup, The Nandina Collectivecombine psychedelic-funk inflected sultry 70s grooves, with driving percussion and floating melodies; music made for dancing.
Andrea Trout goes B2B for the first time with ShinDigger Sessions favourite, Léna C. Mysteriously masked Reform residents Cooper T bring their riotous live show to the early evening, before we launch into the dance, with fellow 10 year birthday boy Levi Love going B2B with Reform’s very own drowzee.
Following his incredible recent release on Reform’s record label Rhythm Lab Records, it felt only right to bring Obeka’s energetic percussive live show to proceedings. Fresh off the back of shutting down Manchester International Festival, all female and non-binary rap collective HERchester will take to the stage for an explosive cypher.
Our last live act of the night, with her last show before heading out on a European tour, is none-other than OneDa. Seeing us into Sunday, we have the legendary Mr Scruff performing exclusively with Superlative for the first time since the release of their collaboration, Read All About It. To close the night, we bring together two of our favourite selectors in the city for their first B2B together, expect plus 140 BPM madness from Murder He Wrote and DR MYSTERY.
ShinDigger will be pouring a range of 8 draught beers on the day, including the new release Yuzu Pale created with Reform Radio. Meanwhile you can keep your bellies full with Carribbean food from Knights BBQ (including their legendary smoked jerk chicken) and Greek BBQ from Souvlaki Xpress. Kids are free and welcome till 7pm, with face painting, ball pit, workshop activities, films and sweet treats to keep them entertained.
Hop into the fun whenever from 2pm and join this celebration of community, music, arts and a whole decade of Reform Radio and Shindigger.
Tickets are available here now – grab them early so you don’t miss out!
This blog post was created as part of In Focus: Content and Social Media course, funded by the Skills for Growth & European Social Fund.
We are Kao, Meg, Sarah and Anna. We have just completed the In Focus: Content and Social Media course with Reform Radio. We’d love to share our journey through the course with you! As a team, we rose to the challenge of creating a social media campaign for Manchester recording studio, Studio 88, who are launching a new product.
Over 7 weeks, we learnt about digital content creation and had lots of opportunities to gain hands on experience. Throughout the course, our marketing, video and photography skills were developed and honed. Taught by Reform Radio’s in house Content and Marketing Team, we were well placed to get to grips with the intricacies of content creation and social media. The modules covered included; social media and marketing strategies, analytics, trends, audience development, planning and implementing a social media marketing campaign and working from briefs to developing concepts.
In addition, there were valuable lessons on filming and photography, concept production and creating short form videos for platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram. Crucially, there were practical sessions which focussed on editing and post-production. This comprehensive and interesting course has provided a solid grounding in Content and Social Media, along with a professional piece of work which can evidence our skills. The tutors were knowledgeable and approachable and the whole group were lovely.
Darrius, Samantha, M1LLZ, Meg, Kao (from left to right)
Our group worked on a brief for local recording studio, Studio 88.
“Studio 88 stands for infinite and abundant creation…in Chinese mythology it symbolizes good fortune and wealth. We try and incorporate all of these values and philosophies into the business.” – Darrius, Director of Studio 88
Darrius
Studio 88 is a local multi-genre recording studio, providing a range of services for artists and producers looking to join a welcoming, creative community. It is owned and directed by Darrius Stewart (He/Him) and has studios in both central and South Manchester. Both sites are accessible and professionally equipped. New for summer 2023, Studio 88 have launched an affordable subscription package service, Create88, for all creatives with a range of benefits. The monthly package guarantees 12 hours a month in the studio along with a wealth of other benefits including the opportunity to work with in-house producers and access to the well-established and formidable creative network.
Darrius explains: “Studio 88 MCR is much more than just a recording studio, we are a place for artists to grow and develop, turning ideas into fruition, and offering Manchester’s upcoming artists a creative space like no other.” Local beatmaker and Junior Recording Engineer Pretty Trixx describes how the studio has helped her: “I’m really a bedroom producer at heart and like to stay behind the scenes whilst making my music but the studio is slowly helping me come out of my shell and work with more creators.”
Pretty Trixx
With a passion for music as her first love Pretty Trixx has worked with notable names in the industry through being involved with Studio 88, including Kwengface and Youngz SB.
Artist and Studio 88 collaborator M1LLZ says: “They took me in as a home. They gave me somewhere to go to show what my passion was. They did a lot. I’m now an artist.”
Studio 88 Singer, Songwriter and Manager, Samantha Mae says: “From my manager side, I am working with 4 people; 3 artists and 1 producer/engineer. We are all in a development scheme and we’re all on the same wavelength, we want to see results and progress. In terms of my singing -songwriting, I’m helping song write for those who get writer’s block. I come up with creative ideas to get them out of that space and out of their head. I’m just trying to help everyone do what they do and what they love.”
M1LLZ
Samantha Mae
Studio 88 prides itself on being a launchpad for upcoming artists, a safe space with a family feel for people working in all genres to come and learn to improve their music making skills and learn about themselves in the process. M1LLZ says: “They showed me how to control my breath, pronounce my words, open my mouth. All the good fundamentals that can help you find your way of doing it. That’s what they did to help me progress.”
Studio 88 has rich partnerships with other creative organisations across Manchester and the UK. The new package can add structure to projects, guaranteeing studio time and a network to collaborate with.
The Create88 subscription package for £150 per month is now live and includes:
Hello! We are the 2023 cohort at Reform Radio’s exciting In Focus: Content and Social Media program. This is a fantastic digital content creation program aimed at uplifting people through the education of practical experience in digital content creation.
Our team, Owen, Inna, Dara and Eleanor not only learned about digital content creation but also got the opportunity of delivering a social media campaign for Manchester’s rising soul star, Yemi Bolatiwa. In collaboration with SHAR, DJ Sappo and Harry’s Method she has released an eclectic remix EP of her song Black British Female.
Eleanor, Dara, Owen, Yemi, Inna (from left to right)
About the Course
The In Focus: Content and Social Media is a comprehensive 7-week course focusing on practical experience in digital content creation. Delivered by Reform Radio’s experienced Content & Marketing Team and industry experts, this programme enhanced our skills in marketing, video, and photography.
The curriculum consisted of social media and marketing strategies, analytics, trends, and audience development, planning and social media marketing campaign conceptualisation, implementation and execution.
Other key skills gained were: the basics of filming and concept production, including creation of short-form videos for different platforms like Instagram, editing and post-production.
Yemi Bolatiwa, Manchester’s Rising Soul Star
Yemi Bolatiwa, a talented artist born south-east London and has lived in Manchester for 14 years. She has recently released a remix collaboration of her powerful anthem, “Black British Female” (BBF).
While pursuing her masters in Social Anthropology, Yemi’s love for exploration of culture and behaviour intermingled with her renewed spark for music during open mic nights. Her journey has been a natural progression, leading her to meet a band and perform at host of large and cozy gigs and festivals. Today, Yemi is actively pursuing her passion for music, and has been honing in on her songwriting craft over the past 10 years across such genres as reggae, dub, hip-hop, drum & bass, house and of course soul & RnB in all it’s forms. Her unique blend of empowerment, positivity, and exploration of identity intends to resonate with listeners, as she uses her music to address socio-political issues and foster relatability.
The Evolution of Yemi’s Musical Journey
Yemi’s musical journey began unexpectedly, as her participation in open mic nights reignited her long-lost school passion for music. Although she didn’t initially anticipate pursuing music professionally, the organic process led her to collaborate with a band and perform live PA sets with DJs. Opportunities flowed naturally and Yemi even secured a residency at Albert’s Schloss, allowing her to develop her vocal skills and learn another side to the music industry. She describes her musical path as a continuous exploration, emphasising the importance of collaboration and remaining open to new experiences.
Powerful Messages in Yemi’s Music
Yemi Bolatiwa’s music is driven by a desire to empower, spread positivity, explore identity, and highlight resilience. In her recent songs, she delves into vulnerability and shares her experiences through her music, fostering relatability with her audience. Yemi’s dedication to addressing socio-political issues is evident, as she seeks to find her people and create a sense of connection through her music. Her desire for her music to speak to people is reflected in her remix EP, featuring a variety of styles and interpretations from across the bass music spectrum.
A Song of Empowerment
The single “Black British Female” (BBF) holds a dual meaning, playing on the abbreviation “BFF” while also delivering a light-hearted approach to a serious message. The song’s second verse confronts black stereotypes and emphasises that Yemi Bolatiwa is more than those preconceptions. Musically, BBF combines elements of electronic music, drum & bass, and a fast-paced tempo to evoke a sense of energy and attitude. This serves as an undercurrent to Yemi’s exploration of identity, ultimately instilling pride and reinforcing the notion that individuals can be multi-dimensional while still making sense.
Revitalizing BBF: Remixing for New Life
Yemi enlisted three of her close friends to create remixes of BBF, breathing new life into the song and giving it a fresh perspective. Each remix brings a distinct flavour to the table: a future garage version, a heavy drum & bass rendition, and a liquid dnb dark interpretation. Of all the remixes, the garage version by SHAR struck a chord with Yemi the most, evoking memories of her youth. This collaborative effort not only provides multiple versions of the song but also amplifies its impact and showcases its versatility.
Yemi Bolatiwa’s musical journey has been an enriching and organic process, fuelled by her passion for empowerment, positivity, identity exploration, and resilience. Through her music, she seeks to address socio-political issues and foster relatability among her listeners. With the release of “Black British Female” (BBF) and its accompanying remix EP, Yemi aims to create a powerful emotional connection with her audience and make her music a captivating experience that goes beyond mere listening. As she continues to collaborate and evolve, Yemi Bolatiwa’s unique voice and messages will undoubtedly resonate with a diverse audience, inspiring and empowering individuals along the way.
If you want to get involved in any of our creative courses, drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
Positive Frequencies returned in full force, inviting a group of participants to turn inwards and create outwards. Funded by Manchester Adult Education Service, this incredible project welcomes individuals to set their focus onto their well-being and self-care practice. From sessions on imposter syndrome, to post-COVID life, our attendees are encouraged to use the likes of creative writing, songwriting and more to check in and express their emotions healthily. To share the wisdom and insight they had built throughout the course, our participants created a radio show for the Reform Radio airwaves. Listen to it below.
We caught up with Divine to see how the project went and what they plan to take from it moving forward into their everyday lives.
Introduceyourself (name, pronouns, and what you’re up to at the moment/hobbies etc).
Divine: My name is Divine Neza. I use she/her pronouns. At the moment I’m doing art therapy, textiles – creating my own bag. In my free time I like reading and watching funny videos.
How do you think your friends would describe you in three words?
Divine: I think my friends would describe me as funny, genuine and intellectual.
What’s your favourite thing to do to make you feel good/as a form of self-care?
Divine: My favourite thing to do as a form of self-care is binge watching Friends. It was a special interest of mine growing up and having episodes play in the background makes me feel safe.
Did you have much experience of using writing in your well-being practice already? If so, what’s your favourite element of this or what have you enjoyed about trying it for the first time?
Divine: I have lots of experience in writing to express myself but very little practice within my well-being. I really enjoyed switching my perspective on my approach to writing, as a tool for promoting a healthy well-being as opposed to just a way to vent negative feelings.
What prompted you to get involved in our Positive Frequencies course?
Divine: The recommendation by referral enlightened me on the potential benefits of doing a course like this. Especially given my mental health and life’s circumstances at the moment, Positive Frequencies seemed like a great opportunity to utilise my skills in a manner that would really help me.
Let’s throw it back to your first day on the course versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
Divine: Initially I was super nervous. I was incredibly anxious beforehand for numerous reasons, mainly not even to do with the course. Upon first impressions, I was worried I would feel excluded and confused as the first few sessions were over Zoom and the lack of real-life interaction made me very hesitant to connect with people. Once the first session took place and the course went on, many (if not all) of my anxieties around the course subsided. Dan, Tito, Lola, Adele, Autumn and any other staff I met/interacted with over the time were so kind, informative and inclusive. Reform Radio felt like a safe space. After completing the course, I feel confident in myself and my ideas. Positive Frequencies was the first time I’ve been honest about my autism with a group of new people and I’ve come away feeling very proud for staying true to myself. I’m not as nervous to enter new spaces without masking, because my experience on this course has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone.
What will you take from the Positive Frequencies course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
Divine: Moving forward I will definitely be taking the lessons on imposter syndrome, comfort zone anxiety and goals vs values with me. I’ll be consolidating that advice to better my well-being and my writing skills. My plans from here are to learn more creative skills and to develop the talents I already have by working on my confidence in other areas.
What’s one piece of advice/knowledge you’ve received regarding well-being through the course which you’d pass onto somebody else?
Divine: To attain true fulfillment one must align their life with their values. A life based on your values and principles will bring you far more joy than one based on achieving arbitrary goals.
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.
We are very excited to announce that we have curated several shows featuring Reform’s nearest and dearest artists and hosts at this year’s Manchester International Festival which returns to the city from 29 June to 16 July. Taking place at the new riverside location Festival Square’s free open-air stage will host over 190 artists, bands, DJs and musicians, as well as family entertainment and a wide variety of food and drink. With over 150 artists in the line-up hailing from Greater Manchester, the programme is massive celebration of sounds of the region. Festival Square activities are totally free to attend, so there is absolutely no excuse to miss this.
Check out our schedule below and see you at the Festival Square.
FRIDAY 30TH JUNE 1pm – 2.30pm – MELATROIS
Serving up music with no genre restrictions and conversation inspired by the socio-political climate, Melatrois is two hours of down to earth, kind of weird airtime with more rhythm than rhyme.
FRIDAY 30TH JUNE3PM – 4.30PM – THE GET OUT
The Get Out, an afternoon version of our first ever breakfast show, The Get Up. Chat and tunes with Yelena Lashimba, broadcast live, encouraging people to get down to Festival Square.
WEDNESDAY 12TH JULY 3PM – 4.30PM– HERCHESTER
HERchester will be showcasing their talents from the latest edition & talking about the process they’ve been through from joining the project, improving their skills together and recording a cypher at Blues Kitchen.
THURSDAY 13TH JULY 1PM – 2.30PM – MUSIC AND MIND
A platform that celebrates the bringing together of music and mental health, shining a light on lived experiences and the music that drives the people behind them, hosted by Levi Love.
THURSDAY 13TH JULY 3PM – 4.30PM – MUTUALISM
A discussion with Obeka and Murder He Wrote, hosted by Reform’s Natasha delving deep into the processes behind our most recent collaborative project with shesaid.so South Africa, exploring remote collaboration.
THURSDAY 13TH JULY 9PM – 10PM – SOUNDCAMP SHOWCASE
Soundcamp 2022 alumni are taking over Festival Square to share their musical creations, that were born during their time on Reform’s artist development programme.
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.
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.
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.
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.
