On a bright and chilly morning in the North Laine, SOURCE catches up with YDN Radio presenter and founder ms_gfo, aka Gillian Fischer-Otsuka. She cups her cappuccino and enthuses about the role YDN plays in supporting local musicians as they find their feet in the world…
Who are you trying to reach and why?
We are looking to reach anyone who is interested in local music and unsigned bands. Our demographic is broad and our audience is growing. We’re also working with other community projects, collaborating with local promoters and artists. We want to engage with the musical ecosystem and connect people.
Tell us how the station came to be?
YDN is part of a charity organization focused on community projects. The head of the charity, John Downie, set up SABA UK Unsigned years ago and his idea was to support up-and-coming artists through battle of the bands style competitions. John then wanted to look at how a radio station could further these aims and he set up one in London. I had an interest in becoming a DJ and in 2019 I spotted an ad online asking for presenters so I went to meet him. It took a little pursuing but after a while John, a very busy man, connected me to his technical team and I put together the first broadcast. YDN was born and it felt really good!
Clare Atherton performing at a YDN Radio night at The Folklore Rooms
How does the station support local artists?
We have a particular interest in underground and underdog artists. We’re not genre-specific and we try to be as representative as possible. We put on a show last October with Surviving December at the Green Door Store in collaboration with Blue Door and are building relationships with promoters like these. We’ve also collaborated with Scene magazine. They sponsored one of our podcasts and the Crystal Queer show was born. Presenter Ali Malik is a work experience student from Brighton Uni and drag queen Divina de Campo has guested! It’s not just about musicians. We’ve been offering apprenticeships and work experience to local students too. Anybody interested in sound mixing, podcasting and hosting their own shows can get in touch. University of Brighton students are already working with YDN which is brilliant. I always learn lots from these students as they know what’s going on. They are wonderful, creative people!
Have you got a masterplan for growth?
Broadcasting from our very own studio is an aim, but rent is a serious block and we want to be sustainable. Income from sponsorship is important but perhaps not from the obvious commercial sources – we’re really interested in the mental health of our community and we think health service commissioners could be interested in what we do. We also want to increase collaboration with artists, students, photographers and film-makers to create audio and visual content. Ultimately we want to reach a place where YDN can pay artists we work with.
Do you have any competitors?
There are other great community radio stations in Brighton, but I think YDN has more focus on music and arts opportunities that are about enabling young people to gain experience. Their success is YDN’s success! We have some connection to BBC Sussex and the Introducing team and we have beaten them to some exclusive first plays!
Darren Jones headlines another YDN Radio night on March 11th
Any live sessions or shows planned?
We’re in the middle of planning a series of gigs in 2022 that will promote local artists and the station too. We want to host more shows like our SoSlam records collaboration at the Folklore Rooms last November (reviewed by SOURCE here). Clare Atherton, a Brighton singer-songwriter who is very new on the scene supported one of SoSlam’s signed and more established artists, Darren Jones, and it was a great evening. This kind of collaboration is exactly what I want YDN to be. We have another SoSlam show coming up on March 11th, again with Darren Jones, with support from Imojen and Sophoulla.
Do you have any personal presenting heroes?
Clara Amfo on the Radio 1. Her casual interviewing style makes everyone feel at ease. I love Greg James too. He’s a lot of fun and inspires me to aim for the lighter side in my broadcasts.
What were your top local tracks from 2021?
It was a good year for amazing music. Feedback from audiences was “Oh my god, what great music!”. Brighton band Pandemix released a track called ‘For You’ and after I heard the demo that they sent in, I was beguiled! It is a beautiful song.
Do you have a top Brighton tip for 2022?
Easy. Lemur Lemur. They’re a four-piece indie band who exude positive vibes. They have really engaged with YDN and its audience. They really know how to use social media too so definitely seek them out!
Tune in to YDN at: www.ydnradiobrighton.org.uk
Darren Jones plays at The Folklore Rooms with Imojen and Sophoulla on Friday 11th March.
Tickets are available here
