Made at The Point Studio / Made in Awhitu

Mullet Leap

This month we welcome Mari*, a driving force behind much beloved online radio station Worldwide FM. Interview (excerpt) down below.

www.musicfrommemory.com

MFM: Hi Mari, people might know you for being one of the driving forces behind Worldwide FM. Can you tell a bit about what you do there and how you ended up with that position?

M: I am “Head of programming and A&R” at Worldwide FM. I oversea programming, produce special guest shows and develop relationships with artists and labels. I’ve been working in radio for about 20 years. Starting with college radio in Boston, and subsequently I worked in New York and then Tokyo and now I’m based in London. So, I’ve always worked as a radio producer! From 2005, I produced Gilles Peterson’s daily show for 7-8 years on J-WAVE, one of the biggest FM radio stations in Japan. I also produced music events for the radio show and brought him over to Japan a couple of times, and this is how I started working with Gilles. 

MFM: How's the online radio scene in Japan actually?

M: Unfortunately, Japan is super behind with anything got to do with playing music online due to the strict and old school music copyright laws. Even Japanese radio stations are not broadcast outside of Japan. People still love tuning into AM/FM radio which could be a good thing, but it’s hard for music to be heard outside of Japan if the copyright law is too strict. Japan is probably one of the most complicated places to start an online music platform which people can tune into for free.

MFM: It seems that the pandemic brought many new online broadcasting stations, likely due to a lack of a stage for artists. How do you feel about this development?

M: It’s great that people realised there is so much potential in online radio stations during the pandemic. Hopefully, listening to radio will stay part of people’s life. Now the norm is back, people are getting busier and artists are back in the studio and touring. It is impossible to run a station in the same way as it was during the pandemic, so stations need to keep up and make relevant adjustments in their programming to fit into this changing world. Continuation is key to success, and also “sustainability” is another essential element to be considered, especially for independent online radio stations.

MFM: How important do you believe online radio is in the current field of music? What do you believe should be its main purpose?

M: With online radio there are so many possibilities and more freedom of expression, whereas traditional radio has to deal with regulations and politics. Online radio can build a strong sense of community as most of them were started out of sheer love to support music and culture. The interesting thing is that online radio can build a community that is Worldwide! Also, online radio could be a good start for young DJs and a place to develop young and up and coming artists as the presenting skills you need are much less on online radio than the traditional radio. There isn’t any format how online radio should be or sound like so there are more possibilities to create something new. I hope to continue searching and developing the unique and engaging platform where people feel welcome and part of by tuning in from any part of the world.

MFM: As a host yourself, what do you seek for in a show? 

M: I like to insert unique content in my radio show which is not just about presenting new music. I like to have some humour and personality in my show, and make people feel great with my music tastes. I don’t have much to say about other people’s show but being original is very important, people follow personality, great content and like to enjoy a show.

MFM: Any future plans at Worldwide FM you'd like to share? A scoop maybe?

M: We are building a new studio which will allow us to do more including live sessions! I cannot wait!

MFM Mix 042: Mari*

Excerpts from the Ape Finger of the Stars improvisation at Noiseberg in Berlin, 7 July 2019.

https://apefingerofthestars.bandcamp.com/album/mountain-forest-ocean
https://www.facebook.com/apefingerofthestars

Live at Noiseberg (Excerpts)

The 3rd track from the album "Archives 2010–19", released in October 2019 on the Berlin-based tape and digital label Die Brücke.

“Archives 2010–19” is a brew that has been fermenting for nearly a decade. It summons a concentrated, powerfully sustained sound-world that combines abstract, concrete sounds with a wealth of acoustic and analogue sources, including guitars, organs, accordion, flute, piano, drums and synthesisers. This is music that speaks, breathes and moves ...

https://mountfog.bandcamp.com/album/archives-2010-19
https://www.discogs.com/Mount-Fog-Archives-201019/release/14279784

Mount Fog – Colony Collapse Disorder

The 2nd track from the album "Archives 2010–19", released in October 2019 on the Berlin-based tape and digital label Die Brücke.

“Archives 2010–19” is a brew that has been fermenting for nearly a decade. It summons a concentrated, powerfully sustained sound-world that combines abstract, concrete sounds with a wealth of acoustic and analogue sources, including guitars, organs, accordion, flute, piano, drums and synthesisers. This is music that speaks, breathes and moves ...

mountfog.bandcamp.com/album/archives-2010-19
www.discogs.com/Mount-Fog-Archive…/release/14279784

Mount Fog – Baku

Monthly selection of boundless music on @rblmedia

Tracklist:
Altar of Flies - Regn (För Mickey Newbury)
Ättestupa - Lösryckta Minnen
Neutral - Berg 211
John Poubelle - 56 fois le tour du soleil
Geins't Naït + L. Petitgand - Ciseaux Daddy
Mount Fog - In a house of many entrances
Killing Sound - Six Harmonies
My Disco - Rival Colour (Kerridge_Remix)
Ketev - Probabilities of a stranger's eyes
Techno Animal - The Dream Forger
The Caretaker - Past Life regression

Episode 46

Alien Slunk (I want to believe)

Hölle 011 lws (@llws)
-
Hailing from Paris and coming from a classical music background, lws is a straying soul exploring how the vibratory experience of the sound-system can lead to enlightenment and liberation. Nurturing love with different forms of musical expression, he makes his way in this decomposed reality, using DJing as a means of navigating different assemblages of beats and bass.

Hölle 011 ‡ lws

Space Sailors

Faded Blue

Mantra/Tantra E.P.

Russian Bouncers - House of Tantra

Ape Finger of the Stars is a Berlin-based drone trio with members from Finland, Germany and Sweden. We make romantic music from synthesisers, saxophone and prepared tapes.

💫 PAST SHOWS 💫

09.03.19 Du Beast, Berlin
07.07.19 Noiseberg, Berlin
22.08.19 Niviili, Berlin
23.08.19 Loophole, Berlin

Live at Noiseberg (Excerpts)

Ape Finger of the Stars

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