Q & A

How did you become involved?

It reached the point where I couldn’t justify my ridiculously large record collection unless I started to go on the radio. I was put through the rigours of the RTR training course by Peter Barr, and after hassling him for a few months to listen to my demo, he put me on the Snooze Button show, which I did for several months at considerable cost to my boyish good looks. It was tough back in those days, you had to demonstrate some mettle to survive. Seriously, I think I shaved a few years off my lifespan doing that show, but still, it was great fun and I don’t imagine I would do much with those twilight years anyway. I have wangled my way onto various other shows over the last few years, but have found my spiritual home under the twin moons of RTR retro-beat institutions, El Ritmo and Soulsides, and I also occasionally guest present on RTR’s new psych-folk peregrination, Golden Apples of the Sun.

How long have you been with RTRFM?

Since mid-2008. Have listened religiously for much longer though; since around 2001, I think. So, in a spiritual sense, I’ve been with RTR since about the turn of the millennium.

What do you enjoy most about presenting?

Approaching radio as a work of sonic art and entertainment, and making abstract connections between different genres and eras of musical creativity; pushing the boundaries of genre and listener expectations. I also have a theory that you can actually change the way people think with a judicious mix. It’s all part of my diabolical plan, but I’m still working on it.

*Strangest experience at RTRFM?*

Hmmm, well, when I used to do the graveyard shifts, that could get pretty surreal. At 4am you do sometimes start to hallucinate, without the aid of stimulants. I saw psychedelic-era Roger Waters once. He gave me a pineapple and said “Play this next.” He was right.

Favourite RTRFM programs?

Breakfast with Barr, El Ritmo, Soulsides, Golden Apples of the Sun, Rock, Rattle and Roll, Out To Lunch, Full Frequency, Black and Blue, Posted, Giant Steps, Drastic On Plastic, All City . . . I could go on like this for some time.

What do you do in real life?
I’m still not really sure. I have spent a lot of time researching and writing things, though, so I guess that might make me a writer and researcher . . . although I’d rather be a disco dancer.