Climate change is complex and often terrifying but it can also be a rich source of inspiration. Whether it’s through creative placement and storytelling or transitioning to more sustainable practices, if you work in the creative industries you have more power than you realise.
Join us at Reform for a live, audio industry focused panel discussion, led by Dan Jackson, about how you can influence change through your editorial and creative practices. We will be discussing the increased importance of net zero, not just for the future of our planet but the acquisition of new work.
Dan has two decades of experience working across production and broadcasting. His credits span a broad range of programming including The South Bank Show, Coronation Street, and Beyond Belief and he’s produced content for ITV, the BBC World Service, BBC Radio 2 and 4 and the indie podcast sector including Spotify and Audible. Dan has won a number of awards for Sustainability in Production and combines his editorial, production-management and technical experience to support Reform Radio as an advisory board member.
Hosted by Reform’s Assistant Producer, Aisha Williams who has worked with Dan in the past to produce and present the station’s C-Change round table discussions. She is the perfect person to talk about how Reform have put Dan’s teachings into action.
Also joining them will be Reform Radio director Sam Oliveira to discuss the launch of a new carbon literacy training program, designed specifically for producers and content creators. This training will be free for anyone living in Greater Manchester and is accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project. Come along to find out more.
The latest instalment of our free Music Course has just wrapped up and what an interesting two weeks it’s been. Participants have worked hard for the last while, trying their hands on creative song making, learning and preparing a radio show and putting these new found abilities into action, live on the airwaves of Reform Radio.
If you haven’t heard of Music Course, it’s a two-week programme generously funded by Manchester Adult Education Service, which focuses on radio and music production, including songwriting and creative writing.
We had a chat with some of the young people who took part to find out their most memorable moments, musical inspirations and goals for the future. Keep reading to find out more.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF…
My name is Jake and I’m 23 years old.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES OR INTERESTS?
I have been studying music, well, since I was 16 – I went to Music College and then went on to study music at University level. In college I was able to get out there and play with live bands and things like that.
I made some really good friends and we made music together as well and from that point on, I just sort of realised that music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life really – there’s a level of excitement to it. I never thought of doing anything else.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT MUSIC COURSE AND WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO GET INVOLVED?
So I heard about Reform Radio through the Job Centre, my work coach referred me to Reform Radio, who signed me up. I met Naomi and Conall, they were really great and knew I wanted to get into music production roles.
IF MONEY WASN’T A THING, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING FULL TIME?
I would love to just make music and play my music for people to hear, share and just spread the love.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU HAVE LEARNT FROM THE COURSE THAT YOU WILL TAKE HOME WITH YOU?
One thing I’ve learned from doing this course is that no matter where you come from, what background you have and your level of experience, music production is attainable.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AFTER THE PROJECT?
Well I want to get back into making music. I want to just keep going for it because this is what I was meant to do. So I’m not too sure where I see myself in a few years, but I do know I’m going to carry on trying to improve and get better at music.
To listen to the full show that the group worked on together, please click down below.
If you would like to get involved or find out more about any of our projects, please drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
Manchester’s first city centre park in over a century opened its gates today. Described as an urban escape, the 6.5-acre park that lies along the banks of River Medlock is now open to the public.
In recognition of the ongoing launch of Mayfield, we teamed up with the National Lottery Heritage Fund to explore the past, present and future of the site.
Produced by one of our very own, Jamie Green, the three-part series is now available to listen to on all streaming platforms. Get listening now and if you love it as much as we do, you can even leave a review or rating on Apple.
We caught up with Jamie to find out more about the production process, the themes explored in each episode, as well as his journey with Reform and beyond.
Please could you introduce yourself and explain your current occupation.
Hey, my name is Jamie Green and I am a freelance Audio Producer for Reform Radio. I work within Reform’s Podcasting team and assist with recording, editing, and producing podcasts and audio content.
You joined Reform Radio in January 2022 as a Kickstart Studio & Podcasting Assistant. How did you hear about this opportunity and what made you decide to apply?
I first saw the opportunity as a Studio & Podcasting Assistant posted on Reform’s Instagram page. I had decided over the coronavirus lockdown that I really wanted to pursue a career working with audio and so this role just seemed like the perfect opportunity. Having previously participated in some of Reform’s audio-based courses, I also knew what an incredible company they were and was keen to work in such a creative, inclusive environment.
Please could you describe your responsibilities/projects that you worked on?
I have worked on a fantastic variety of projects, from editing interviews for BBC 6 Music’s The People’s Party with Afrodeutsche to travelling around the UK recording a road trip style podcast about British vineyards. I have also led the production of our ‘Park Life’ podcast which has involved interviewing photographers, archaeologists and event organisers. My day-to-day responsibilities have included anything from recording autobiographical audiobooks for clients such as Liz Taylor to editing podcast series for ‘The Life & Death Podcast’ for Ashgate Hospice.
After Kickstart, you continued working with Reform as a freelancer, how are you finding it now?
The transition to becoming a freelancer has been really exciting, I have loved working across numerous projects and utilising my audio skills in different ways to deliver exciting content such as the ‘Park Life’ podcast.
Have you had any opportunities arise as a direct result of Reform?
Definitely, I think one of the key opportunities that I have gained through my connections within Reform is being booked for regular DJ work which has really helped build my confidence as a DJ and also provided financial support.
You have been working on the Mayfield project for some time. Please could you briefly describe what this project is and what your involvement has been?
With Manchester building its first city centre park in over 100 years, we have produced a three-part podcast series that captures and explores the heritage of this area of Manchester known as Mayfield.
My role has been to lead the creation of this podcast, which has involved everything from interviewing archaeologists and photographers to sourcing archive recordings from the Manchester Central Library, designing soundscapes and capturing field recordings to accompany the podcast.
How has the experience been producing this podcast? Any highlights?
Producing the ‘Park Life’ podcast has been an incredible experience. I have loved discovering the forgotten stories of this unique area of Manchester through speaking with so many fascinating people. Their passion for the heritage of Mayfield has really rubbed off on me, and so I feel really fortunate to have been given the creative freedom to shape the format of this podcast and how we tell the story of this site.
During the project, you touch on themes including The River, The Park and Culture. Can you talk a little bit about the creative process here?
The River
The first episode of the podcast is themed around The River Medlock. The episode tells the story of how the Medlock was transformed from a beautiful meandering river into an industrial sewer later covered over with concrete to make way for expanding industries. After being hidden for over 50 years the river Medlock in Mayfield has now been uncovered, so we really wanted to focus on how the river has intrinsically shaped the history of this area and reflect on the importance of protecting and valuing our waterways.
The Park
The theme of the second episode was inspired by Manchester opening its first city centre park in over 100 years this month! We wanted to learn about the site’s transformation from a derelict wasteland into a lush haven in the city centre, and also explore the importance of green spaces on our mental health and well-being.
Culture
The Mayfield district in Manchester is becoming a cultural hub in the city, with it being home to The Warehouse Project, Escape To Freight Island, and hosting events such MIF, Pride and numerous art exhibitions. So it only seemed natural to theme an episode around the culture surrounding the park today. However, we also wanted to dig a bit deeper and explore the unique cultural heritage of the site and investigate how this has also developed over time.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Take the plunge and move up to Manchester, it will be worth it!
What do you want for the future?
Working on the ‘Park Life’ podcast has really reinforced my desire to continue working with audio and sourcing work that integrates my passion for sound design, recording audio and producing music. In the future, I would love to continue producing audio content across different formats and using my creativity to shape the listening experience.
Do you have anything upcoming that you would like to shout about?
I’m super excited to have my first track released over the coming months as part of a compilation album on Martyn’s record label, 3024. Keep an eye out for that!
Our two-week digital broadcasting course kicked off last month, inviting young people across Manchester to learn about all things producing, presenting, scripting, live broadcast and more. This programme was kindly made possible by Manchester Adult Education.
Participants came together to learn how a working radio environment functions and equip themselves with the skill set to pursue their dreams of finding careers in digital broadcasting.
We caught up with one of the participants to chat about their experience. After studying Film at the University of Central Lancashire, 27 year old Zack Khan from Manchesterhas since aspired to work within the TV or Film industry. We had a chat to find out a little bit more about Zack, why he joined Radio Course and his goals for the future.
Please can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name’s Zack and I’m from Manchester. I’ve been back and forth between Manchester, Preston and Pakistan over the past ten years. After moving to Preston for University and then dropping out, I decided to come back to Manchester and live in Oldham.
Film has always been a huge part of my life and my childhood dream was always to grow up and work in the film industry. That’s partially how I ended up here!
How have you heard about Radio Course and what prompted you to get involved?
My work coach at University had received a call out about the course and reached out to me asking if I wanted to get involved. I never expected to be doing anything in radio but I thought, why not!?
If money wasn’t a thing, what would you like to be doing full time?
As a kid, it was always film and TV. During lockdown, I tried podcasting for a couple of months. It was mainly about films and entertainment, such as what’s going on in the industry and film news. It was called the Mad Bat Podcast which was a mix of our two favourite films: Mad Max and Batman.
Is there anything you were involved in before joining Radio Course that you would like to share?
After I finished college, I took a gap year before University and went back to Pakistan for a year and did a couple of months of work with an independent film-maker who mainly made adverts.
I think he was shooting an advert where my dad worked at the time. My dad had spoken to him and said something along the lines of ‘my son is really interested in this, could you potentially take him on as a volunteer?’. It was pretty cool and he got me really involved in it.
When and how did you realise that that is the thing you wanted to do?
I used to have one of those old TVs that had a built-in VCR player, my mum got me loads of VHS tapes so a lot of my childhood was spent in my room watching movies. Seeing what you could do in those worlds, the possibilities and the lack of restrictions really excited me. I never imagined that I would be doing radio or podcasting but I’m glad I have some experience in these things now.
I remember getting into podcasts during my gap year when the app showed up on my phone after an update and I was like ‘what’s this?’. My go-to podcasts are The NoSleep Podcast which is an anthology series of horror stories, and ‘The Last Podcast on The Left’ which is a dark comedy, true crime podcast.
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?
Before I walked through the door, it was a very tense and nervous experience. I’m usually not the type of person that does well in social situations, especially after the last couple of years of Covid and lockdown. Essentially, the moment I walked in there was a very calm, inviting and supportive environment which easily set those fears aside.
Anxiety popped up here and there, mainly from doing creative writing exercises. I would worry in my own head ‘I don’t know if I can do this’, but I largely managed to overcome these feelings thanks to Alex and Naomi who were really supportive and patient. They got involved and offered help. It was a very cohesive environment.
What is one thing you have learnt from the course that you will take home with you?
I learnt a lot of technical stuff such as operating the equipment, recording and monitoring mic levels on the drops. I feel like I will carry these skills on with me even if I don’t get into film. They are great skills to know for editing Youtube videos, which I have some experience with.
What are your goals after the project?
One goal is to work on areas that I have personally struggled with over the past two weeks. For example, the anxiety that I talked about. I have a habit of second-guessing myself and stopping myself from doing stuff.
Something that caught me off guard was that when doing creative work, it often requires you to be vulnerable to some degree. That’s something I’ve had in mind and thought maybe I should let myself be vulnerable and not be so closed off.
When Covid started I was living on my own. A few years of living by myself and then lockdown made me really closed off and I didn’t have much opportunity to go out and interact with people. Being on this course has taught me I really do need to start opening up again, especially in this line of work it’s really beneficial.
To listen to the full show that the group worked on together, please click down below.
If you would like to get involved or find out more about any of our projects, please drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
Next Tuesday we’re taking over Band on The Wall for the Soundcamp Showcase, bringing 12 exciting up-and-coming talents to the stage for a night of live performances and celebration of our most recent artist development programme, Soundcamp.
12 weeks ago we partnered up with Youth Music Charity and Thirty Pound Gentleman to curate a mentoring scheme for up-and-coming musicians aged 18 – 25.
The project kicked off with a two-week bootcamp where participants were invited into the space to work on songwriting and creative collaboration. 12 finalists were then selected to stay on and receive mentoring from industry professionals such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie.
Get yourselves down there on Tuesday 13th September to hear the magic for yourselves.
Soundcamp kicked off this May, inviting new and aspiring artists into the space for a two-week Bootcamp. After the two-week period, 12 finalists were selected to stay on and hone their craft to the next level, with mentoring from some of the best in the business such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie.
Let us introduce you to our third group of Soundcamp 2022 finalists…
BAMBI RAPTOR
Hi, I’m Imogen. My artist name is Bambi Raptor and I am a producer, singer and songwriter from Manchester. I don’t have any socials or music out yet, but they will be coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled!
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
A combination of dancey beats, weird sounds, catchy melodies and emotional lyrics – think Phoebe Bridgers if she’d grown up with a 90s Garage Classics CD and a retro drum machine.
How long have you been doing music? When did you start?
I started playing the piano at 8 years old, then the drums aged 11. Eventually, I joined various Indie Rock, Pop and Grunge bands in my teens. I had always written songs for fun, but during the first lockdown, I decided to take this more seriously and develop an established sound for a new solo original project, which grew into Bambi Raptor.
What are some of your main influences?
I am influenced by the creative production of The Neptunes, SOPHIE, and Gold Panda. The House and Garage sound revival of Disclosure and Sam Gellaitry, and the heartfelt melodic songwriting of Phoebe Bridgers, The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon.
What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?
I hope to release a short EP of songs that I am really proud of and that encapsulate my sound. I would love to perform a live set of these songs for the first time!
I really want to develop a solid foundation for my music, so that I can continue to develop this project in the future.
What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?
I would love to tour the world and play amazing shows with my favourite artists, but I’ve got a lot of work to do if I want to get to that point! In the meantime, I will continue making and releasing music that I enjoy, collaborating with different vocalists and producers, and trying to get my music out to as many people as possible – hopefully, they’ll like it!
Who is your dream collaboration?
This is a tough question! I would love to work with Anomalie – my keyboard skills aren’t as good as I’d like them to be, so to watch him shredding over one of my beats would be crazy! I’d also love to work with a really charismatic vocalist who I could bounce ideas off – Tyler, The Creator or Lizzo would be awesome, and I think the three of us would make something really fun!
Hi, I’m Bake Gently. A Manchester-based artist who is beginning to release music of his own after working with notable artists in the city such as Quiet Houses and Paige Kennedy. I am inspired by great songwriting, truth and beauty when making music, and strive to balance expression with introversion. You can follow me on Instagram and TikTok @bakegently and listen to my work on all major streaming platforms.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I would describe my sound as commercial with a classic twist. I make Alternative Pop and love blending my music with things I’m influenced by in film, art, literature and life in general. I’m quite a private person really, so I guess a slight air of mystique and aloofness plays into my image as an artist, but hopefully with the impression of not taking myself too seriously at the same time!
How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?
I first got into music after picking up the guitar when I was around ten. I then moved on to bass, which I played in ensembles at school as well as in bands with my mates and pursued it at a degree level, enrolling on a four-year popular music course at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. It was here that I got involved in even more projects and was also honing my songwriting and production which I’ve always done on the side. After graduating during the summer of 2021 I realised that I was most interested in developing these latter skills so started concentrating on my solo project as a vehicle for this.
What are some of your main influences?
I want my sound to be a culmination of the modern Pop experimentalism of Caroline Polachek, the high-fidelity production of Daft Punk and the musical and songwriting class of Steely Dan. I also draw upon storytelling concepts from Japanese Samurai films and Hollywood Westerns for my lyrics, as well as the natural imagery of painters like Caspar David Friedrich and the colourful wordplay of magical realism.
What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?
I hope to use it as a time to focus on my craft and consolidate my current career choices. I also hope to use it to make new friends in the local arts scene and push me out of my comfort zone in terms of sharing my work.
What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?
I see myself as someone who will always be creating and striving to make a living from doing what they love. I’d like to find some degree of success or recognition with my project and potentially use it as a springboard to write and produce for other notable artists. I know my sound is one that’s going to take time to develop and flourish so I’m determined to treat my career as a marathon, not a sprint, and enjoy the ride as much as possible.
Who is your dream collaboration?
For my own project, I’d love to collaborate with some of the finest Pop writers out there such as Max Martin and his team, Dr. Luke or Stargate. Alternatively, as a writer/producer working on another artist’s music, I like the idea of collaborating with someone very different to me. I was just thinking the other day how liberating it would be to write a song with a powerful female artist like Doja Cat, Lizzo or Beyoncé.
Our podcasting course Tameside Futures just wrapped up, inviting participants to the 4C Community Centre in Ashton for a two-week Bootcamp which is kindly made possible by the Prince’s Trust and Tameside Council.
Following the Bootcamp, four weeks of additional support are offered such as CV and interview prep, well-being and extra creative sessions that help young people in Tameside connect with local employers.
During this August’s workshop, a wide range of employers such as Brother, Take 1 Scenic, The Village Hotels and Eve Studios joined us, allowing for a wide range of interviewing activities.
If you’re not familiar with these businesses, let’s tell you a little bit about them. Take 1 Scenic is a creative construction company, working across theatre sets and beyond. The Village Hotels are a chain of hotels across the UK, with prime locations in places such as Aberdeen, Swansea and Manchester. Eve Studios offer mixing, mastering and recording services and, last but not least, Brother is a technology company supplying some big names in the industry.
Listen back to the live radio show they worked towards to find out more about what went down.
To get involved with any of our free courses, please email projects@reformradio.co.uk
Soundcamp kicked off this May, inviting new and aspiring artists into the space for a two-week Bootcamp, funded by Youth Music in partnership withThirty Pound Gentleman. After the two-week period, 12 finalists were selected to stay on and hone their craft to the next level, with mentoring from some of the best in the business such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie.
Let us introduce you to our second group of Soundcamp 2022 finalists…
KARIS JADE
Hello, I am Karis Jade and I’m 22 years old. Originally from Wolverhampton, I am a R&B/Soul singer and songwriter with a story to tell.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I would describe myself as an R&B, Soul, Hip Hop artist who doesn’t take themselves too seriously.
How long have you been doing music? When did you start?
In the year of 2017, myself and Superlative made our first collaborative project ‘written free sundays’. This is a project where we made and released a song every week.
What are some of your main influences?
My main influences are Superlative, WILLOW, Jacob Collier and Daniel Caesar. My son is also one of my main influences as I want to show him that he can do whatever he wishes in life.
What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?
I hope to gain confidence and connections within the industry. I would also like to establish myself as an artist.
What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?
I see myself making important changes in the world whilst touring and making music.
Who is your dream collaboration?
WILLOW or Jacob Collier. I admire their rawness and realness.
I am Micah Stalgic, a singer, dancer and songwriter with a passion to carve out a unique fusion of R&B, Hip-Hop & Afrobeat music. Follow me on Instagram and other platforms.
You can find my work on Spotify, Apple Music and Soundcloud.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I absolutely love to dance. When I make music, I try and incorporate this element of myself into music that puts my audience in the mood to dance. As well as dancing, I love vintage fashion and I like to fuse this into my audio and visual artistry.
How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?
I have always been surrounded by musical people and aspiring artists so I would freestyle here and there until one day, I finally decided to take music more seriously. I’ve been making music for about five years now.
What are some of your main influences?
There are two things that really influence my music creation process. The first is the act of dancing. Music plays a major role in dancing and I would like to think that people can’t dance effectively without music. The second is my personal experiences, my emotions and the challenges life throws at me.
What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?
I hope to gain more professional and industry skills and I hope to gain valuable knowledge that would help me navigate through this artistic journey. I hope to build a network of talented artists in Manchester. I also look forward to all the surprises Reform Radio has in store for Soundcampers.
What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?
I see myself as a globally recognised artist who electrifies the crowd and entertains his audience. I see myself evolving into an artist who positively impacts this generation. This will be done by sharing my story about mental health and many other life challenges.
Who is your dream collaboration?
Chris Brown, Usher, Tory Lanez, Rihanna, J Cole, Little Simz and Wizkid.
My name is Harmony, I am a singer and songwriter. You can find me on Instagram or on SoundCloud.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I am a lyrical artist and I take influence from all genres but I’d generally put myself under adult contemporary.
How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?
I have always sung as it was something my dad taught me and my sisters. Music was always a huge part of my household and day to day I grew up singing in church. I wrote my first song and short chorus when I was around six or seven years old.
What are some of your main influences?
Lyrically, I’m inspired by how Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, and Solange paint sonic images with their voices and choice of lyricism.
What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?
I hope to be a more confident, well-rounded artist and make connections with other musicians I admire and can create with.
What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?
I see myself connecting with people all over the world through music and expanding my musical storytelling into the world of visuals and film, making timeless music.
Who is your dream collaboration?
I have too many to count but currently, Kendrick Lamar.
Soundcamp kicked off this May, inviting new and aspiring artists into the space for a two-week Bootcamp, funded by Youth Music in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. After the two-week period, 12 finalists were selected to stay on and hone their craft to the next level, with mentoring from some of the best in the business such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie.
Let us introduce you to our first group of Soundcamp 2022 finalists…
BEATRIX DEXTER
Hi, I’m Beatrix Dexter and I am an artist, songwriter and producer from Manchester. You can find me on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music: @beatrixdexter.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I would describe myself as an innovative, original and authentic artist. I’m not afraid to try new things or to break barriers and be as creative as possible.
How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?
I’ve been doing music for the past 3 years but I have always been interested in becoming an artist, I just did not have the confidence to pursue my dreams. It has taken me a while to be comfortable enough to embrace who I am and what I have always wanted to do.
What are some of your main influences?
My main influences are Beyoncé, Rihanna and Miley Cyrus. I admire Beyoncé for her energy, drive and hard work. Rihanna for her confidence and style. Miley Cyrus for her daring and free-spirited vibe.
What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?
After my experience with Soundcamp, I hope to be able to progress further as an independent artist with all the knowledge and skills that I have acquired. I hope to be able to gain recognition for my creativity and my talents to be able to manage myself not only more efficiently, but confidently. And I hope to keep making music that breaks barriers and that brings something different to the table.
What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?
In the future I see myself as not just an artist but also an entrepreneur, I want to be able to branch into many different creative aspects such as design and running a company. I see myself becoming very successful at what I do.
Who is your dream collaboration?
My dream collaboration would be with Miley Cyrus, as I feel like she also represents a vibe that is completely authentic like myself and also her voice transcends different genres, styles and sounds, which is exactly the kind of route I want to take as an artist.
I am a dancer, as well as having a good ear to differentiate and know where there are irregularities. I love listening to music, especially Afrobeat and Dancehall. I do a lot of dance choreos, by me and others on Tiktok. @lc_alhilo @athar_asman_athilo
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
A multi-talented individual that loves music and dancing. I am a fast learner with a vision.
How long have you been doing music? When did you start?
About six years in the industry, I started as a radio host but I have been dancing all my life.
What are some of your main influences?
My love for dance. My friends. Social media.
What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?
The confidence and knowledge to be able to make it in the music industry as well as the world. Building relations and meeting people. Being able to become more comfortable with my talents and the ability to utilise them.
What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?
Successful, untouchable and famous but humble.
Who is your dream collaboration?
Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, DJ Khalid, Stefflon Don, Vybz Cartel, Tems and Wizkid.
My stage name is Bennettiscoming. This is a double entendre lol. @bennetiscoming (spotify etc)
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I would describe myself as an emotive artist with a sensual tone and honest, soul-baring lyrics.
How long have you been doing music? When did you start?
I began singing when I was six years old, I tried to sing a lot in primary school and progressed later to making my own music when I was eighteen. So far, I’ve been doing it for four years.
What are some of your main influences?
My favourite singer when I was little was Beyoncé. I’ve since developed my craft around my influences, Rihanna, SZA, Brandy, Mariah Carey, Jazmine Sullivan and Bree Runway.
What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?
I hope to learn more about the business and how I can package myself as well as develop my craft.
What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?
I see myself performing for thousands of people and having my music heard and enjoyed. I see myself being a major figure in the Manchester scene and from then, the world.
Our podcasting course Manchester Futures just wrapped up. If you’re unfamiliar with MF, it’s a 6-week course that provides bespoke support to young people aged 16-25 looking for work, kindly made possible by The Prince’s Trust.
With the goal of working towards a live radio show the group immersed themselves into the digital world and got to business.
This time, employers joining us were Fuzzy Duck, Brighter Sounds and The British Red Cross. Let’s tell you a little bit about each of them.
Fuzzy Duck is a company that works across the realms of design, film, animation and other means of creativity to craft much-loved stories. The kind of stories that one doesn’t forget or the kind that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling. They’ve worked with BBC Bitesize, CBBC’s Blue Peter, the Science Museum in London and the National Trust to name a few.
Brighter Sounds is a creative music charity which helps music creators, leaders and industry professionals through creative projects, residencies, training and events. Over the years, they have connected those working with them with established artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Bugzy Malone and Everything Everything.
And, last but not least, the British Red Cross is a humanitarian charity aiming to help those in crisis, in the UK and the rest of the world. Currently, they are offering advice, support and schemes to help those affected in Ukraine, as well as offering advice on Climate Change and what we can do as individuals to prevent further monstrosities.
Participants such as Kate, who aspires to make their own podcast post workshop on philosophy and cinematography, chose to explore the British Red Cross as they wanted to learn “insight into the humanitarian industry”. Bartender Gabriel Hackman agreed that it was “really informative”, adding that he chose Red Cross because he was “intrigued by the panel about climate change” that the charity discussed.
Others like part-time fundraiser George Edwards went with Fuzzy Duck out of a keen interest in the film production industry. During his time at University, George received training in Radio commercials and would love to make his own radio show exploring plays, due to his “love of theatre”.
Although no previous broadcasting experience is required to join the course, individuals such as Amina had dabbled in a podcasting course funded by the Prince’s Trust in the past. During Manchester Futures, she built up her confidence and said: “I would actually love to make my own podcast about personal development or confidence building”.
As with all of our workshops, we strive to create and maintain an environment of ease, where anyone can join and be their authentic selves with no judgement. It’s great to see when that pays off and people involved such as Amina leave feeling confident and ready to boss their next move.
To hear more from the group behind Manchester Futures, you can tune into the radio show they scripted and produced themselves called ‘Shut Up and Listen’. During the show, they chat about neurodiversity, potatoes and game shows.
Listen now.
If you’re interested in applying for the next workshop, please drop an email to projects@reformradio.co.uk to find out more.
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 feature that aims to shine the light on Soundcamp artists and share their stories with our audience.
Next up it’s Alex Pascalidis…
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name is Alex Pascalidis, soon to be under the alias bathhat. I am a folk artist, a poet and on the odd occasion, I put some noises together whilst DJing.
When did your musical journey start?
My serious musical journey started a little later on. I went to uni to do music production but started making music the summer before. I am still a bit shocked that I got in at all. I could always sing and loved doing that but I always thought music was gatekept, as in, because I didn’t have any formal training I wasn’t able to do it. I had the same thing growing up with dance, I didn’t learn formally but from films and again, any possibility I thought I had about doing something with it faded quite quickly when I thought there were traditional barriers in front of me.
I make quite specifically folk music now. I have a loose definition of what folk music is, but for me, it is guitar and singing. Adrianne Lenker is a big inspiration of mine, along with Grouper so that may give an idea of what I’m talking about. I’m interested in the delicate and beautiful along with the abstract. I am still trying to figure out how to make a sonic identity but for now, I am just trying to sing well, consistently and write good songs.
You were part of Soundcamp 2018. Do you have any highlights or experiences you would like to share?
The main highlight of the Soundcamp experience apart from meeting some amazing talent and being mentored by some extraordinary artists (and when I say extraordinary I mean legends in the music industry), was gaining creative confidence in my artistry, and I really mean artistry. What has me exploring a lot of different mediums to this day is the ignition that the project gave me.
Has your career progressed or changed since participating in Soundcamp?
I think that the establishment of a poetic voice since Soundcamp has welcomed a splitting of energy. Both poetry and music are equally important in my life now. I never knew I would be this into writing, reading and exploring the subconscious through the written word. I think from a music perspective I was once so interested in having a high volume of projects being released and not really caring what came of them. Now I care a lot more about what comes of them and whether or not the project is the best thing I can do at that moment. I think that taking your time and trusting in whatever it is you think you can do is for the best.
How and when did your facilitation journey start with Reform? How did the opportunity to manage Soundcamp 2022 come about?
Facilitation came after Soundcamp. At the time I was getting more and more into educating myself and realising the power or excitement that came from that. I was feeling quite cheated by the education system, convincing me that learning is boring. I wanted to go about sharing something with other people, teaching and passing on some of my knowledge, that seemed cool.
I think there was some funding from Soundcamp that basically paid us to run a single 2 hour session and for that first one I taught creativity. Since then I made it clear that I wanted to facilitate with the directors and then did another one-off creativity session and built up from there. I have now been working between Reform Radio and Sonder Radio for the past year, facilitating and creating various creative skills workshops.
There is the opportunity here to be romantic about how the opportunity to manage Soundcamp 2022 came about but it would be a hard spin. I think the real story is I didn’t have a project coming up and was figuring out a way to talk to the directors about maybe filling in on one or two of the days at Soundcamp Bootcamp. As I was going to send the message, I received one asking if I wanted to do just that and then I was offered the role. I didn’t really know what project managing would entail but I said yes very quickly and I’m glad I did.
How does it feel to have come full circle and now be the one guiding people who were once in your shoes?
There are two edges to it. I think on the one hand I love it, it is inspiring to see so much talent in the room and be at the beginning of a lot of seriously good musician’s careers. On the other hand, I think it puts into perspective a little how I have come full circle but I am still relatively in the same place with my music. There is always the imposter syndrome writhing away in the back of my mind. But, if I can add anything on top of my experience to what the facilitators are saying, I will, and everything I say I believe, it is just whether I myself have my own proof of it working for me.
What advice would you give somebody thinking of applying for Soundcamp next year?
Give it a shot and see what happens. If you get chosen that’s cool, if you don’t that’s also cool. You don’t need it to become the thing you are supposed to be, it can help take yourself seriously and it can help with learning specific things about the industry but there are many famous musicians who didn’t go through Soundcamp who are successful. The boot camp is such a hotbed of creativity and talent, that even if you attend that and make some connections you will be winning. The amount of music I have heard of being made as a result of the boot camp is actually ridiculous, so many conversations come up about the collaboration that’s happened since with lots of different people. It’s beautiful. That, for me, is the reason you go to Soundcamp.
The process helped me so much and I know that it helps all those that get through it. The first bit of creative confidence I got with my music was Werkha listening to my music on the first day of attending and taking an interest in what I had done. That was the spark. Go to the boot camp and just allow yourself to create. What happens after that is out of your control but as long as you are creating you will be good.
Anything upcoming that you would like to shout out?
I have a music project coming out soon! Hopefully, it will be done and out within the next few months. It is a folk project. No name yet but it will be the debut project from my new alias bathhat. The project is just me and some guitar and it is the first project that I feel I will like in 3 years so that’s a positive.
In Tameside, we are running a 6-week programme providing bespoke support to young people aged 16-25 looking for work. If you like what you hear but want a feel for what’s to come, join our taster day on July 25th from 12:30 – 2:30 PM.
Meet employers and get experience, all while being supported by our lovely team of facilitators. Preparing for interviews or writing applications can be super tough. That’s why we created Radio Course to help you! Our team will guide you in the application process for jobs and prepare you for interviews.
See the flyer below for more details.
If you would like to get involved in this project, please drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
Are you between the ages of 16-30 and have been in the care system? Every Wednesday we run drop-in sessions for people looking to get into the creative industries of radio, podcasting, music or writing.
The weekly sessions are onlinefrom 6:30 – 8 PM and each week we will be delving into the realms of radio and broadcasting, editing and podcasting, as well as how to use different types of music software.
Broaden your writing skills each week by learning about creative writing outlets such as songwriting and scriptwriting.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in, why not join next Wednesday’s session!?
Taking place on a Thursday once a month, this session is based on opportunities for the future. The next online session will take place on Thursday 14th July– from 15:30 – 17:30.
The session includes 1-1s, both CV and cover letter support, and invites several speakers who discuss various opportunities available.
The first Music Course of 2022 just wrapped up. For those unfamiliar, it’s a two-week radio and music production course, with opportunities to make your own radio show or delve into songwriting and creative writing. This workshop is kindly made possible by the lovely people at Manchester Adult EducationService.
Encouraging creativity and a safe space to do so is at the heart of what our workshops are all about. With the realms of radio and music being explored, we set out to find out what creative ventures the group had set for post-music-course life.
Manchester-born Andy came to the project with a distinctive area of interest and expertise: the Vikings. During the project, he worked on a soundscape inspired by the Vikings, recording his own vocals and a speech from Ragnar Lodbrok, a King and hero amongst the Vikings to create a piece of music. In the future, Andy hopes to make his own Viking-based talk show called ‘Ask Ragnar’ where he could act as “an agony aunt to people phoning in, covering mental health and the struggles of living in the modern world”.
This highly innovative idea is just one of the many brilliant things to surface over the weeks. Similarly, Ukrainian Solomiia who had worked as a “music producer in Kyiv in 2019”, says she would love to start her own show exploring the area of “mental health of musicians”. Other participants such as Okubay Haile, a music maker, would love to create their own show covering the “gospel community”. We would love to see this one in action!
The workshop saw spirits run high and those involved such as Andy, Solomiia and Okubay, take the front seat and immerse themselves in singing, writing and producing.
Listen back to the radio show they scripted, edited and produced during the workshop down below to find out more about Music Course and what they accomplished.
Our workshops run all year long and are open to all. To find out about our next one, please drop an email to projects@reformradio.co.uk – see you at the next one!
Our two-week podcasting course Tameside Futures just came to an end, a workshop which is kindly made possible by Prince’s Trust and Tameside Council.
Based at 4C Community Centre in Ashton, kicking off with a two-week Podcasting Bootcamp, followed by additional weeks dedicated to CV/Interview skills, Well-being and extra creative sessions that help young people in Tameside connect with employers in the local area.
Over the two weeks we had a visit from Mozzington Digital Design company and Splinter Scenery, a theatrical set building company that has worked with the likes of “The Play That Goes Wrong’ and RuPaul’s Drag Race Werk the World tour. The participants interviewed and made podcasts on these businesses that they planned, scripted, recorded and edited themselves. Alongside this, the individuals debated the topics of music, horror films and even ghost stories, having a go at soundscaping ghost stories.
Find out what went down during the project down below.
To get involved with the next one please contact projects@reformradio.co.uk
DJ Sessions project just came to an end, bringing together the budding stars and DJs of Manchester. If you’re not familiar with DJ Sessions, it’s a week-long practical workshop followed by two weeks of employment and well-being support, kindly funded by MAES.
Orchestrated by Joe Roche, a Manchester-based DJ, Producer and Record label owner, alongside the legendary Maule , the duo set out to teach the young people of Manchester how to tackle the decks.
Meet Mia, a Ukrainian musician and aspiring DJ who joined the project in the hope of gaining new skills: “my father was a musician, so I’ve loved music since my childhood. I wanted to join DJ sessions as it’s a great opportunity and I’m interested in music, I like to be able to do everything, so I think DJing is cool in that retrospect”.
Mia’s style is pretty eclectic and she likes playing genres such as Old School Hip Hop and R&B, as well as modern R&B, Hip Hop and Disco, commenting that she likes “a lot of kinds of music”. When asked what her goals for the week were, she said: “I would like to continue DJing after the course finishes and really improve on myself, and maybe get a job where I can DJ”.
Luckily for Mia and the rest of the group, our facilitators had invited a host of promoters to watch the showcase at the end of the week and offer them opportunities to play out in Manchester. The participants carefully selected a tracklist to WOW the audience of promoters and Reform turned into a club for the day, with beats echoing through the studio and beyond. We can’t wait for the next instalment of DJ Sessions in June!
If you are keen to get your hands on decks or have any questions about this or our other projects, drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk
Soundcamp 2022 started this month, kicking off with a two week Bootcamp which just wrapped up. Filling the space with the best up and coming musical talents across Manchester. For those of you that are not familiar with Soundcamp, it’s a 12-week training and artist development programme that we started back in 2018, funded by the lovely Youth Music and in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman.
Joining Soundcamp once again, facilitators and artists Jenna G, Werkha and Anna Mcluckie kicked off the project and got the ball rolling, offering their industry knowledge and mentorship to those involved. At the end of the Bootcamp, twelve artists were selected to progress onto the 12-month mentorship programme, granting the opportunity to take their craft to the next level.
If you don’t know our fabulous facilitators, let’s get you acquainted. Jenna Gis a vocalist and MC who has worked with the likes of Danni Minogue, Aleesha Dixon and Chase & Status. Werkhais a DJ and producer, who has recently dropped an album, ‘All Werk Is Play’. Last but not least, Anna McLuckie is a singer, songwriter and harpist based in Manchester, who you can catch playing at the Deaf Institute at the end of the month.
Participants such as Manchester-based Atha, who is an aspiring events host and musician, touched on how it has been working with industry professionals, commenting that the facilitators have been “caring, giving us the space to ask them questions which is comforting and beneficial”. Freelance actor, open mic organiser and poet Boshra adds that the environment created by the facilitators was “welcoming, which is important and they genuinely want to help”, whilst guitarist Fabio explains how each artist seemed to be “well-rooted in the industry”.
As always, we strive to maintain an aura of inclusivity, encouraging those involved to be their authentic selves. Beatrix Dexter a self-proclaimed ‘authentic, innovative and daring’ artist and participant says how the experience of working with the likes of Jenna, Werkha and Anna was insightful and ‘every day was enlightening and very focus driven’.
As a music course and artist development programme, collaboration is thoroughly encouraged throughout. One of the collaborative tasks during the Bootcamp was to create a piece on either nature or identity, spurring creations of beautiful spoken word pieces, whilst other activities included musical creations. During the second week, one group wrote a dreamy three-part harmony on one side of the room and on the other side of the room, there was some high energy rapping going on, proving just how eclectic each person’s style is.
It was great to see those involved appearing comfortable, honest, supporting one another, and having a bit of a laugh. People shared their work, from poetry to lyricism, creating blends of genres. One group, including Fabio, created a track fusing Folk, EDM and gritty Rap, surprising themselves with an original song that worked incredibly well. This narrative led the rest of Soundcamp’s journey, with Atha commenting that she’s ‘met at least five different musicians, five different instrumentalists and five producers, so it’s like a network of people with different skills and it’s amazing’.
With creative energy flourishing within the group, we set out to find out who was inspiring the group.
WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION?
BOSHRA, ACTOR & POET. ‘Myself. As humans, we go through so much in our lives and I feel like our stories, our past, our struggles and our successes are inspirational in themselves. We as humans inspire ourselves constantly and being creative in this industry is difficult. You have to fail, learn, fail, learn and be okay with rejections, whilst keeping on going and finding alternative ways to bloom, expand and develop.’
FABIO, GUITARIST. ‘I try not to have idols because I don’t believe in having them, but I do have people I look up to who trigger parts of my brain and make me feel inspired. Casey Edwards and Mic Gordon, who are more on the gaming side of things with soundtracks, are incredibly inspirational to me. The experimental side of their gaming works is great, especially as someone who likes electronic and distorted sounds.’
JOY, MODEL & SINGER. ‘My Mother. She gave me life but she also taught me life. My mother came to the UK from Africa and made a life for us, she worked so hard for me and my siblings and that’s something I admire so much.’
IF YOU COULD COLLABORATE WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE?
SOPHIE, JAZZ MUSICIAN. ‘If I could collaborate with anyone living, it would be the legend, Beverly Knight. She is an incredible vocalist and hands down an amazing person. I take lots of my writing inspiration from her. And of course, Ella Fitzgerald. A Jazz legend who means so much to so many people and her legacy lives on. I like to think I take a leaf out of her book every single day.’
FABIO, GUITARIST. ‘While they were alive, Prince or Jimi Hendrix. That would have been pretty cool.’
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM SOUNDCAMP? DID YOU SET YOURSELF ANY PERSONAL GOALS FOR THE BOOTCAMP?
BEATRIX DEXTER, MUSICIAN. ‘To make more connections, network with people and improve my confidence. I wanted to learn more about the industry and what next steps I should take as an artist. ‘
JOY, MODEL & SINGER. ‘A voice for myself. I wanted to get a bit more confident in the talent that I have. Now I feel I’m in the right headspace, I just needed to meet the right people and be in the right space.’
SOPHIE, JAZZ MUSICIAN & MINDFULNESS TEACHER. ‘I joined Soundcamp to collaborate with local people and make connections.’
There was a great variety of performances at the showcase and an incredibly supportive environment was encouraged throughout. What began with nervous energy, soon transformed into laughter and self-confidence. First up was Toby with a very pure and heartfelt spoken-word piece, resulting in a crowd of applause and wooing. Toby fist-pumped the air and faces of joy populated the room, setting the scene for the performances to follow. Soundcamp 2018 alumni IORA played a number of tunes. Their music is electronic-based, so it was great to hear it played differently live. Flavours of Drum N’ Bass with vocals on top, acoustic Indie with spoken word and swing influenced pieces with a jazzy soulful feel.
As the Bootcamp came to an end, friendships had been made and wonderful artistry created, with those involved leaving on a high.
To find out more about our upcoming projects, please drop us a line at projects@reformradio.co.uk – come get involved, meet people and get creative!
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 feature that aims to shine the light on Soundcamp artists and share their story with our audience.
Taking the reins for this instalment is Anamelia…
Please could you introduce yourself?
Hey yo, my name is Anamelia aka Ana*meh*lia aka Anamelly aka The Polecunian.
When did your musical journey start?
I was very very young when I first started singing and performing, I’m talking 3/4 years of age. My first ever award diploma for singing and performing dates back to when I was 3 years old.
How would you best describe your production and mixing style?
Production I would say is quite holistic. I much prefer producing in a way where I’m directing someone who’s waaaaay more skilled than me on the sound production side of things and engineering things. I’m quite techy, but making beats isn’t really my preferred way of working as I’m very easily distracted. I can’t seem to sit in front of a computer screen for too long. I’m more of throw ideas in the air type of person and compose and produce through directing sound producers.
You were part of the Soundcamp cohort back in 2019, what were someof your highlights?
Definitely performing at Night & Day, probably having Jenna G as my mentor too, & mostly the confidence I have gained in my own art. Seeing again how different every single artist was and how there were almost no right or wrong answers with music or art. Just fully immersing myself in that particular moment. Soundcamp was probably the first time I had a chance to finish some of my beats and I actually showed them to a room full of people.
Last year, you were recognised by VICE in an article titled: ‘The UK Is Overlooking Its Homegrown Polish Rappers.’ You speak about being a Polish rapper in the UK and the challenges you have faced. What are some of these challenges? How do you think the UK could change, or progress, to support artists like yourself.
I think Polish people, we’re still very much a minority group and I guess we’re still portrayed in our stereotypes. TV shows and programmes very much put us in these boxes where actors are builders or cleaners but there are sooooo many successful business owners or creatives in this country. There’s a whole underground Hip Hop scene of Poles in Manchester, I presume there’s probably one in London, too. I know there’s one in Edinburgh, Peterborough and Brum. This just makes me wonder why these artists never reach the mainstream, or access developmental projects or funding. This is a big topic to break down, I have done some research, but with a lot of this I might be wrong as from my observation so far, I have a feeling there might be people out there who don’t even want to identify as Polish artists (for various reasons) and hence why I haven’t found them – but this is definitely ongoing research that I’m actually looking into as part of my masters right now.
BUT, as per myself, I have a lot of support around me and I think people need to stop being dismissive of how much of expertise I have, and perhaps consciously give someone like myself – a foreign woman – a chance to speak up, showcase music and recognise my ideas and projects as worthy, by giving me help in areas that I might be struggling with. I guess we’re new to this country, or at least I can speak for myself.
This industry is EXTREMELY competitive, I’d even say that it is one of the hardest industries in the world and it is always easier and smoother when you know the right people. I think as a Polish community, we’re still building our contacts database within the British society. I’m not here to play victim, these are just my observations. I’m here to develop and build my community up, if they’re unaware of these projects around the city, I shout about them, I help people with marketing. I basically try to utilise my skills and knowledge to help people, and that’s why I’m a mentor at a University I guess.
You took part in HERchester in 2021 – what made you decide to get involved?
I wanted to develop my rap skills, I always rapped or used melodic rap techniques but never called myself a rapper. That was definitely a moment for me when something flipped and I realised that I’m a full rounded artist, which means – if I wanna do a rap track, I can do that as that’s my art and that’s my expression for that particular moment & I would very much encourage everyone to try that mindset – just be free and don’t allow ‘society’ or the industry to put you in boxes.
What are you hoping your next steps will be?
I’m constantly working on things but I guess it is fair for me to announce that I have started a business, in partnership with someone. We’re doing events, we have a bookings system/agency thing going on & we actually have a recording studio/band rehearsal space out for hire in town. It’s been pretty much word of mouth at the moment. But this is definitely another example of how a bit of funding from the Arts Council has now gone a loooooong way for me. They gave me a couple of grand during Covid to build a home studio, and with my mate, we built acoustic panels from scratch – ordered wood, and specific absorbent material, not gonna go into all the ingredients, but I’m quite proactive and resourceful – knowing that I didn’t have enough budget to buy panels, we purchased the materials and did them ourselves. We measured the whole room to get specific acoustics to know how many panels we needed and in what measurement to get the right sound with advice from some sound engineering pros. I mean, I don’t actually like math but we fully pulled it off. I mention this to give an example of how a bit of funding can go a long way for an artist like myself or other upcoming/emerging artists
Obviously, I’m constantly making music. I’ve just been to Spain last month to film, and Poland last weekend to perform. I’m doing okay. I’m in London every few weeks working on something too, but generally, I’m performing in the Northern Quarter every week, so that’s where Manchester can catch me. As per new music, I pretty much have featured releases every month. Solo stuff is currently in the works.
Anything upcoming that you would like to shout out?
Come see me perform – at Wilson’s Social 8 -11pm every Thursday. We’re also gonna be starting themed dance events like Salsa, Disco or Funk and Soul night with a full band on a Friday, so keep a lookout for these on my socials & hopefully see you there 🙂
What was the last event you went to?
Probably the ones I play, as I perform 2/3 times a week I have very little free time in the evenings but boy, I do have a need to go to see someone soon! H.E.R is coming to Manchester so I’m hoping to get tickets and Tyler the Creator is playing at Parklife so I’m gonna try to hustle some tickets too.
Are there any local artists/musicians/collectives that you would like to shout out?
Yes! My Polish peeps – PPZ and the Slum Dog Crew. My favourite people Guacamaya Latin band who I’ve had the pleasure of working with recently.
And finally… What’s one thing that’s happened recently that’s made you smile?
I have moved into my own flat, as in, this is the first time in my life where I’m living entirely on my own and I’m LOOOOVING it!
Another Manchester Futures course just came to an end. For the past two week participants were invited into the space for a two-week podcasting Bootcamp, culminating in a live show on our airwaves.
If you’re not familiar with Manchester Futures, it’s a 6-week course that provides bespoke support to young people 16-25 who are looking for work that is delivered in partnership with The Prince’s Trust.
The digital creatives of Manchester came together to learn about scripting, producing, recording and editing, as well as immersing themselves in a working radio environment.
This time around we were joined by three very exciting employers: Escape to Freight Island, NQ Legacy and SharpFutures. Let’s tell you a little bit about them.
NQ Legacy is a non-profit global talent management and full-service entertainment organisation that helps to support young people in the creative industries such as music, film and TV. Some of their current talents include artists such as Aitch and Akemi Fox, brands such as Warner Music and Universal, and more.
SharpFutures are a social enterprise, supporting the young people of Manchester into full-time employment in the creative and digital sectors. They offer a variety of courses, apprenticeships and work placements that help advance your digital skills and get those opportunities you deserve. Some of the clients they have worked with include the BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4.
If you’re based in Manchester, you probably recognise the name Escape to Freight Island. It is an industrial food, drink and entertainment venue, constructed out of an old freight depot, described as the “beating heart” of Manchester. As both an indoor and outdoor venue, much of the entertainment they do is designed around the seasons. With festivals, DJ sets, comedy shows, firework displays and more, there’s always something going on.
Having had the opportunity to interview many acclaimed businesses, the young people involved felt that this experience had evolved their personal and creative skills, with those involved adding that the live show had been the highlight of the project.
On Friday the 6th of May, CreativiTea With Sugar went live on the airwaves, an amalgamation of all their hard work and talents. If you didn’t get a chance to tune in, you can listen back down below.
If you would like to find out more about upcoming projects or get involved with the next Manchester Futures, please drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk and join the community.
