What community radio means to me
Reflections on Aaja during lockdown
Hi there! Guess what? I’ve been writing this Substack for a year now. 26(ish) posts, documenting stuff that inspires my radio shows on community stations LWSTD FM, Aaja and Sister Midnight FM.
Whenever you began reading this and however often you read it, thank you for taking the time. I write this purely because I have to. It helps. I enjoy it. That other people may enjoy it too is always a bonus. I’ve appreciated your likes, comments and shares and have enjoyed chatting with you about stuff that’s come up from this Substack.
I’ve thought a lot about my passion for music and culture since starting to write this. There have been times where I have thought “Do I have enough stuff to write about?”. I feel the same with songs on my radio shows sometimes and it can be equally terrifying. In both cases, once I get into it I never find myself wanting. The abundance of music and creativity gives me so much joy. A HUGE thank you to anyone who has created anything I’ve written about; be it a radio show, mix, track, live performance, a piece of art, a meal or a party. What you all put out into the world is wonderful and makes our time here worthwhile.
Right, that’s enough navel gazing… time for more navel gazing. To mark a year of this Substack I’ve decided to write about “What community radio means to me” by documenting my experiences as part of Aaja during lockdown, specifically from March - September 2020.
This period changed my relationship with radio and forged bonds with a bunch of amazing people. It gave me an understanding of the power of connection through culture, which has guided me ever since. It’s also probably the reason you’re reading this Substack too. You feel the same as I do about these things. Let’s explore it together, but first, some context.
Now let’s not dwell on it too much but for most people March - September 2020 was like a log flume ride through a sewer; wild and shitty. I was living in a 1 bed flat in Aldgate, furloughed early on and detached from my girlfriend, friends and family. I had time on my hands and was doing everything I could to stop myself from pranging out.
I messaged Owain and Sam at Aaja to see if I could do a weekly radio show, alongside my monthly show. I got into radio through Aaja a year before, starting a show called London Sounds. This combined my love of the Jazz being made in the city and my fascination with the book “Sounds Like London” by Lloyd Bradley. Aaja were a year into launching a bar in Deptford Market Yard. It was a cosy archway under a disused railway line, serving drinks and toasties, with DJ’s on most of the day. Sets were streamed on their website.
As the bar was unable to open, Aaja focused on radio, opening up slots to residents and newcomers. I’d managed to bag Sunday mornings from 10-12. Aaja set up a WhastApp group and all of the DJs were added. I didn’t know many of the Aaja crew before this. Big Nick D had got me onto the station, when he booked me for a Bank of Switches night there. I also have Nick to thank for giving me my first DJ gig. I’ve always tried to pay forward the support he gave me. It’s the most wonderful thing you can give someone.
I’d also got to know Stuart and Graeme of Dear Boss, a pair of eclectic wizards with psychedelic acid punk sensibilities. Their 7 hour sets that followed mine were always fabulous and I’d make sure I hung around the arch after.
Then there was DJ Toffee; the Prince of Deptford. Toffee would often be sat in the Aaja bar with a pint of Coca Cola or a cake. He’d talk music and act the rascal. Ben was usually with him as a faithful pal. Outside of that, the gang were pretty new to me.
In the newly set up Aaja WhatsApp group, we planned our shows, tuned in when each other were on, shared memes, shared jokes, checked in on each other. Having been furloughed, I was missing the daily interactions with a group of people working with a shared sense of purpose. This is different from interactions with friends and family. It made me realise how important this was to me. How it should be valued as part of my professional life and brought into my personal life through hobbies.
As the shows were streaming, listeners would be able to message via the Aaja chatroom, embedded on the website. This communication platform was as important as the music. The DJ’s broadcasting live would communicate with us through there. Not only shout outs, but also full conversations could happen between the airwaves and the internet via the chatroom. It played a vital role in keeping us connected, when this was physically impossible.
Both the WhatsApp group and chatroom filled the lockdown community void. Community is more than friends and family. It’s the people within your orbit. These span from the person you side eye on your commute, to the regulars at your gym class, to the people you have deeper connections with through work or volunteering. These people help place and contextualise us within the world we have created for ourselves.
Lockdown encouraged a bunch of people with not much else going on to make some excellent radio. Becca OGT’s “One Great Track” radio show was an extension of a Tumblr she ran for some time, focusing on one great track per post. It was eclectic, soulful and percussive and Becca was a warm and gentle host. The Bermondsey Lido show, monthly on Sunday evenings, felt like being at the coolest afters. Host K Rerosso would play mostly deep house and converse amiably with people in the chat. There were a few people tuned in from the US and Europe, which I liked as it made me feel connected to a wider word. Ian Vale and K+E would make excellent chuggy shows. Rosy Ross would play delightful deep Disco. Chris Lawn’s and Alex O’Hare would play after me on alternate weeks and their shows helped me decompress. There were many others making great radio and I’ve a roll call of people I remember from that time at the end of this post.
I want to give a special shout out to Conor Jatter and Harry Charles. Every weekday Conor would bring warmth, humor and a fantastic mix of soul, jazz, disco and house. Occasionally he’d be joined by his partner TT (herself, a top selector!), her mum Jude and Producer Stuart (the dog). For those tuned in, Conor provided consistency and congregation. It was a valuable public service, for which I am forever grateful. Harry gave similar energy on Saturday’s and connected us to a world outside of the confined one lockdown had created. Harry would play music that would go from playful to transcendental, much in the spirit of the Balearic beat. His energy was laid back and optimistic. His shows provided a holiday for the mind.
It might sound melodramatic, now things are back to normal, but there were times during lockdown where none of us felt like we would ever be able to dance together or travel again. To be able to dance in my living room when the urge took me, and to hear stories and experiences from others, helped negate those foreboding feelings.
The experiences I have written about demonstrate the power of culture and connection combined. This is the impact community radio has had on me. It’s what compels me to have all of these radio shows and want to tune into other community shows and stations when I’m not on there myself. I’m looking at creating, sharing and sustaining those connections through music that helped me so much.
As lockdown lifted, we started to meet in person. It was great to be back at the Aaja arch again for a radio show. Toffee, Nick D and Conor were all there. Conor and I did an impromptu back to back set. Toffee tried to sell Big Nick D one of his own records back to him. The balance of the universe was restored. As the summer continued there were more chances to hang out. I started doing a short lived northern soul show with Cristina Carrasco. This provided us with another opportunity to all hang out at the arch. I met my good pal QuinC for the first time here. Aaja threw a party at the Cause with For the Record and a lot of the gang came down. We danced together again, socially distanced of course.
Over the last five years, the Aaja crew have become some of my closest friends. I was at Conor and TT’s wedding, and have hung out with Harry on numerous occasions in Ibiza (I’m writing this following a lovely evening hanging out with him and his wife Emily last night). I helped QuinC move and vice versa. Becca, Conor, K Rerosso and TT (and a bunch of other wonderful people who I’ll write about another time) were all involved in launching LWSTD FM. We’ve all spent a lot of times hanging out over the last 5 years. Listening to music, dancing together, generally having fun.
Aaja launched a successful new spot adjacent to the Birds Nest pub in Deptford, hosting loads of events. They also launch a second radio channel, focused on music for raving. Last year they secured a long term lease on a new community focused hub, just off of Deptford High Street.
What I’ve learned since being involved in LWSTD FM is how much work goes into running a community radio station. I therefore want to recognise Owain, Sam, Sian, Simone and the whole Aaja team who have kept the station and community going, especially during those tough times in 2020. You all created a very special space and it’s been great to see it evolve.
So there we go. That’s what community radio means to me, told through the lens of a lonely person in a tough time finding purpose and friendship through music. I’d recommend to anyone that starting a community radio show is a great idea. Or getting involved in any part of community radio. In fact, it doesn’t have to be radio. Whether it’s a book club, life drawing class, improv course, dance class, starting a Substack or a ceramics course; carving out time in your life to spend on a creative passion, with a bunch of like minded people, is a wonderful thing to do.
What’s your creative passion? How do you engage with it? Have you thought about this and are not sure where to start? Send me a message and I’ll be happy to chat about it.
Finally, a shout out to a few of the Aaja crew from those lockdown days (and apologies to anyone I’ve missed). You all helped make the world a little bit brighter during a dark time. Long may your love and light continue to shine
Wow. What a great read that was, almost brought a tear to my eye. Seriously.
Despite the situation, those were indeed good times. I also met a bunch of good eggs via Aaja.
Big up Sam, Owen, Sian & crew. I've seen Aaja bloom over the years from an idea about a record to the South London cultural institution it is today. They're genuine soldiers who know their onions, I got mad respect for them.
Ta for the kind words Cosmic. 🙏🏼