In this series, I explore the grassroots music scene, examining the key players, their roles, and the insights they can offer to Joyzine and its readers.
Deb Grant is a committed digger, dancefloor filler and celebrated broadcaster. She’s a huge supporter of underground music and hosts the ‘New Music Fix Daily’ show BBC Radio 6 Music .
How did you get into radio?
I had been interested in music and collecting records since I was really young – that led to djing in my teenage years and radio after that. I started out on smaller stations and it took me a while to find my voice, although the desire to share music I loved was always there. I moved to Resonance FM, a brilliant arts radio station based in south London, then to Jazz FM where I really cut my teeth. BBC Radio 6 Music was always the ultimate goal though and I started filling in here and there for them a few years ago, which was a dream come true, and now I’m full-time hosting the show with Tom – sometimes it feels like pure magical thinking that got me here.
Who was your inspiration growing up?
I grew up in Dublin and listened to a pirate station called Spectrum 101, which became Phantom FM. I used to phone up and chat to the DJs, they were kind to me and I couldn’t believe they were so accessible. I also loved John Kelly, who had a show on RTE radio called the Mystery Train, where you’d here everything from Phillip Glass to Patti Smith to contemporary electronica to 1920s calypso. He made it seem possible to find a place to play whatever I wanted on the radio.
How do you prepare for your ‘New Music Fix’ show?
Constant listening! I get sent so much music and I try to listen to everything. The show is prepped on the day of broadcast so I’ll pick out my favourite tracks in the morning to be played on the show that evening. I usually arrive in the studio an hour before we go live and gossip with Tom before we go on air.
How important is radio when it comes to breaking an act?
Given how much more agency artists have in terms of putting themselves out there these days, radio still seems to be very important. The show just feels like Tom and I casually sharing our favourite music, but often we’ll hear of a band selling out a tour or getting booked for major festivals after we play them on the radio. I think people listen to BBC6 because they trust the DJs to introduce them to their new favourite artists and help them to keep on top of what’s worth listening to – that’s why haven’t been replaced by the algorithm. Yet.
What advice would you give to any budding DJ’s out there?
Just do it as much as you can and have conviction in your own taste, and don’t treat liking music like a competition, it’s not, it’s something that helps people to connect, not a tool for one-upmanship.
Shaun Ryder famously said, “Bez knows his tunes”, you seem to know yours, who should we be listening to?
There’s a great band who were just in session for us called Makeshift Art Bar from Belfast, gothy post-punk, ones to watch. Upchuck, from Atlanta, make earbleedingly great hardcore music. Fold are making really interesting electronic stuff. Bex Burch is making gorgeous dreamy jazz with home made instruments. I love Yama Warashi, she’s mixing solo piano with field recordings from Japan.
Dream festival line up?
Manu Dibango, Grace Jones, Jonathan Richman, Blackhaine, Dead Kennedys and a goodnight set from Ivor Cutler and Raymond Scott.
Catch Deb Grant on ‘The New Music Fix Daily’ show at 7pm week nights BBC Radio 6 Music and on Instagram, Facebook and her website.
Article by Mr Laurence
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