0860 Podcast with Fracture

*****NEWS***** Join us for a free 0860 exhibition in London: Somewhere About Town Astrophonica & Utile present an exhibition of artworks, photography, artefacts and performances celebrating Pirate Radio culture running 15th - 17th November at The Hackney Gallery. The private view is on 15th Nov 7-11pm with a live cassette loop performance of Fracture’s ambient Jungle album ‘SLOW860’ and some very special DJ sets which we’ll announce shortly. It’s free and will be a vibe so it would be great to see you there.  Private View 15.11.24, 7-11pm w/ Fracture (SLOW860 Live) and Special Guest DJs TBA Opening times 16 - 17.11.24 12-7pm Hackney Galley, 1 Lower Clapton Road E5 0NS Fracture's new SLOW860 album ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ A long read on the album is here  On to this week’s guest, the rave aesthetic machine that is Pete Cannon. His work as a music producer spans decades and genres, working as a Hip Hop producer, a media composer and in recent years a Hardcore & Jungle artist. His approach steeped in the DIY history of rave music and his studio is full of many of the bedroom producer tools that lead to some of the most seminal records in the genre. The two main reasons I wanted to get Pete on was the fact that he grew up in Blackpool which, as we learn, had a healthy Pirate Radio and rave scene. There’s been lots of representation of London and some of the more well known stations on this Podcast so it was great to hear about first experiences of rave music through his local stations and Manchester legend Stu Allan. We also talk about his passion for old skool equipment including the Amiga, which seems to be having a bit of a renaissance at the moment with various plug-in emulations becoming available and a recent Bizzy B and Brain Records exhibition specifically about using an Amiga to make Jungle. We start on Pirate and then take a deep dive into production, discussing sampling, breakbeats and the sonic qualities of his equipment. Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠0860.fm

*****NEWS***** Fracture's new SLOW860 album ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ Join the Astrophonica Discord ⁠⁠here This week, we have the free-thinking grime historian and modern-day UK music icon, Elijah. He’s a writer, DJ, artist manager, and co-founder of the record label Butterz. With a background in pirate radio, he has evolved into a cultural commentator through his Yellow Squares project on Instagram, which you should definitely check out if you haven't already. He uses this project as a canvas to encourage discussion and challenge industry norms in an open and honest manner. When I emailed him to invite him on the show, he replied immediately, suggesting we do it in two hours. This really put me on my toes and made me put my money where my mouth is—absolutely love it. His approach to the Yellow Squares project reflects his enthusiasm for cultural discussions; he’s very driven and passionate. I’ve always been a big fan of his work. I primarily invited him on because this podcast has mainly focused on Jungle and Drum and Bass from my perspective, leaving little representation for grime. Elijah is someone who has spoken extensively about grime and how the scene utilized pirate radio. He is also very vocal about the current state of the music industry and often challenges outdated ways of thinking in a philosophical manner. This is crucial because, while this podcast celebrates the legacy and history of pirate radio, I want these discussions to be beneficial for those who didn’t experience that era. I can think of no one better to facilitate this than Elijah. We discuss various topics, including his beginnings as a listener and how the grime scene incorporated pirate radio at a time when internet radio had become an easier and safer option. We also delve into his thoughts on the shortcomings of radio today and how a DIY approach is now more important than ever. It’s a truly engrossing conversation that I believe you’ll enjoy. I’ve been getting some great feedback on the podcast and in particular an email from James Norman, a professor at University of Bristol who was struck by the conversation I had with Bailey a couple of episodes ago about how the concept of ‘the future’ is no longer a source of inspiration for Jungle & Drum n Bass. At the end of the show I read and comment on the email and I encourage you to join the discussion via info@astrophonica.co.uk or on the Discord. Thus creating that ever important Pirate Radio broadcaster to listener feedback loop.  Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠0860.fm

*****NEWS***** Preorder Fracture's new SLOW860 album ⁠here⁠ Join the Astrophonica Discord ⁠here Sweetpea is a Producer, DJ, Radio Presenter and Mentor from London who cut her teeth on the legendary Rude FM 88.2 in late '00s. She is another guest on the show that has gone from humble Pirate Radio beginnings to hosting a show on BBC Radio, and someone who has a deep respect for community and the uplifting of others via her work with EQ50 - a mentoring initiative set up to address the imbalance of women in electronic music. We get into her time on Rude FM and the legendary 'Rush Hour' shows. The clue is in the name but let's just say they were no rules all night back 2 back sessions. Sweetpea now has a show on Kool FM which she is very passionate about doing live as she still gets a buzz out of the interaction and possibility for mishaps and technical issues. I too have a a passion for live radio and in this age of prerecorded shows I think it's important to keep it alive. Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠0860.fm

Welcome to Season 2 of the 0860 Podcast.... *****NEWS****** Preorder Fracture's new SLOW860 album here Join the Astrophonica Discord here DJ Bailey is an important DJ in the history of Jungle and Drum & Bass, a resident at the legendary Metalheadz Blue Note Sessions in the mid 90s, a 10-year BBC 1Xtra DJ in the 00s and of course has a history in Pirate Radio on Energy 87.9 FM. He’s an experienced A&R and label owner with Instasound and the passion for finding and presenting new music runs deep.  He was one of the first established DJs to support my early music and supported it in his DJ sets in the early 2000s and invited myself and Neptune on to his 1xtra show in 2011 so I was always going to have him up on the podcast.  We discuss how his background in Pirate Radio shaped his career, being a Metalheadz DJ, streaming his own show ‘Straight From The Bedroom’ on UStream, and his move from cutting edge DJ to passionate archivist and story teller. Make no mistake, Bailey still has his finger on the pulse and continues to host a show on London’s Kool FM. This guy lives for radio and shows no sign of stopping. Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠0860.fm

On this episode we have the legend that is DJ Krust - an iconic figure the early Jungle and drum and bass scene and part of a wider Bristol collective that has contributed so much to the music including top 10 hits, a mercury music prize and some of the most timeless classic tracks that have defined the genre. We talk about his early days in Pirate Radio and how the DIY and Punk mentality is something that runs through his career right up to the present date. He discusses dub plate culture and the legendary Music House studio and a topic that comes up in these conversations time and time again - the importance of community. I’m very excited to present to you…. DJ Krust Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠⁠⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠⁠0860.fm

Warlock played on the notorious Pulse FM 90.6 in the early 90s but started his pirate radio career before that by starting his own station from his university halls of residence. The main reason I wanted to talk to him was that he was involved in a studio raid in which the police and DTI broke down the studio door and confiscated his records. He’s an amazing archivist that holds memories close to his heart but is also always looking to the future for the next sound with excitement and intrigue. Back in the 90s he was lucky enough to get a test press of Rufige Crew’s seminal Terminator and we discuss what it was like playing it on Pulse FM and the interaction with the listeners. A really wonderful conversation with loads of stories and anecdotes. He’s still active and makes amazing forward thinking hardcore and techno influenced music as Hooverian Blur. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠⁠⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠⁠0860.fm

A conversation with the prolific and ever enthusiastic Tim Reaper. He’s known for his immense work ethic both as an artist and as label owner for futureretrolondon and has regular shows on NTS and Jungletrain. I’ve been wanting to speak to him for some time for many reasons but mainly because he makes incredibly authentic Jungle but comes from a time after the Pirate Radio era. We speak about his understanding of Pirate Radio and the impact it’s had on the music. We discuss the concept of nostalgia and the use of nostalgia when making Jungle music. We also discuss his love for the DIY ethos - it runs through everything he does, including making music on a laptop on the train with Ear Buds, to the way he runs his record label Future Retro London. it’s very grass roots and he uses it both as a platform for showcasing the best in modern Jungle but also to give younger and up and coming producers a place for early releases in their career. He’s very community minded and very DIY minded and authenticity runs through everything he does. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠⁠⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠⁠0860.fm

Get ready people, we have an amazing episode up next on the 0860 Podcast - The incredible multi-award-winning rave historian - Uncle Dugs. Pirate Radio runs through this man’s veins. From his early days on Conflict in the mid 90s, through to time on Kool London and then with Rinse FM as station manager and now weekly Friday morning show. But, what makes dugs so great is that he comes from a listener background. He was as fascinated and infatuated with Pirate Radio as I was. He still gets excited at the mention of it and was very much into the idea of sitting down for a chat with me for the project. We’d never met but got on instantly due to our shared history - and I think that’s testament to the wide community the Pirate Radio created and nurtured. He talks about his love of Kool FM as a listener and about his time on various stations as a DJ. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠⁠⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠⁠0860.fm

This episode I have something slightly different in that the guests don’t have a background in Pirate Radio as they were too young at the time but are from the generation that are certainly influenced by it. I think it’s incredibly important to speak with younger people involved in radio and to discuss the legacy and to hear their thoughts. So - I give you the incredible and dynamic duo Naina and Sherelle. Both came through the community station based in Brixton - Reprezent. It’s a great station and I’ve had the pleasure of playing on there a few times and now host The Hooversound Show on NTS We discuss the links between Pirate Radio and the current day. Their understanding of the legacy and how they continue that legacy. Again there are links to community as Naina talks about her work with No ID, a collective and party series focussing on South Asian Talent and as Sherelle talks about Beautiful - a new label platform for Black and LGBTQI+ artists. I love these guys, I love their energy and the respect they have for the culture. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠⁠⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠⁠0860.fm

Om Unit & Laurent Fintoni ran an early online stream from their front room in Tulse Hill called La Maisonette Electronique from 2010 to 2013. It was a real community hub with artists from all over the world crashing at their flat while on tour and then playing on the stream. It was an incredible time of cross pollination of styles and really helped paved the way for me to make tracks such as Loving Touch and opened my ears to artists outside of my Jungle roots. We went off on a real deep conversation about music - Footwork Jungle and the LA beat scene, the effect of the internet and how community can continue to exist in an online sense. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠0860.fm

Flipping it again slightly this time this guest - the first MC we’ve had on 0860.fm - and none other than the legendary and enigmatic Stamina MC. He’s the voice of the Rinse FM jingles and also has a show as DJ on there, in fact along with Slimzee he is the only original member from the Pirate Era still on the station. He was DJ Flight’s MC on Pressure and then Rinse and is incredibly humble about the whole thing. He’s a real connosure and purist and does music for music’s sake. We talk about our admiration for DJ Flight and the search for unknown music no one else is playing. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠0860.fm

Very excited to present the next guest in the series - The unstoppable DJ Mantra. At this point she needs little introduction but if you don’t know she - along with partner Double O - is responsible for what has become London’s premier Jungle night - Rupture. They’re actually just about to celebrate their 16th year running. It’s a grass roots event and community and this extends to her work with EQ50 - a collective of women working towards fairer representation within drum and bass. A real pleasure to talk to and we discuss how she was introduced to Pirate Radio by over-hearing her older brother listening to stations in his bedroom and how she started off her fascination with it all as a garage raver. She’s just someone who is so in touch with grass roots and the building of communities - and these are topics that come up time and time again in this chat. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠0860.fm

In this episode I’ll be speaking with Missing aka Sam Gordon. Sam had one of the biggest pirate radio tracks I can remember in 1995 with The Box Reopens on Kemet Records - A remix of a track originally by Noise Factory. Honestly, I heard this track so much on the airwaves back then and it got me thinking, did it get as much play in the clubs and thus did pirate radio offer a space for tracks to grow and gain an audience outside of clubs. This turned out to be a really fascinating conversation and we discussed his unique approach to expensive studio time in the 90s - which included literally writing out drum patterns on paper to save time. We talk about the political climate at the end of the 80s and into the 90s that may have been the breeding ground for the DIY and punk nature of Pirate Radio and we end up drawing similarities between Jungle and the current sound of UK Drill.

Wow, what can I say about this guest. This is the guy that sparked this whole project off. The legendary Kool FM founder - Eastman. We talk about founding Kool, some of the different studios and experiences - including using a fishing rod to cast electrical cables from one tower block to another. He's incredibly humble about the whole thing considering how quite how much Kool FM has touched people's lives. I really can’t quite express how grateful I am for what he and Kool FM did for me growing up. My life would certainly be very different without them. In my eyes he certainly is a legend but he is so incredibly humble about the whole thing - it’s really very grounding. Kool FM started in 1991 and are still going. It’s without doubt London and the UK’s most iconic pirate station. There’s a great interview he did on Uncle Dugs Rinse FM show which I recommend you go and check out for details about setting Kool up but I wanted to dig in a bit deeper and find out about some of the studios they used and his recollection of the classic phoneline number . . . 0860 395 262 Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Beatport⁠⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠⁠0860.fm

In this episode we have artist and avid Kool FM listener Eddie Peake. As an artist his work includes performance, video, photography, painting, sculpture and installation. Across many of his works he has included Kool London, most recently in his 2018 Show ‘Concrete Pitch’ at the White Cube Gallery where he actually had Kool London set up and broadcast a live stream. His love for Jungle and Kool FM runs deep and he also recently reissued Gappa G and Hypa Hyper’s Information Centre - which was a Kool FM classic - on his label Hymn. The listeners were as important to pirate radio as anything else and we discuss the feedback loop between broadcaster and listener that went on to create the rich culture of Pirate Radio. It was fascinating hearing his ideas behind working with Kool and we delve a little deeper into his relationship with the aesthetics of Pirate Radio and how they subliminally help to inform his work. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠Bandcamp⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Music⁠, ⁠Beatport⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠0860.fm

Today on 0860.fm we have Dextrous. A proper goosebumps one for me this - his Jungle tracks in the early 90s were always some of my faves. Including Kings Of The Jungle, Selector Roll and Time To Move. We talk about how Pirate Radio gave him insight and exposure to Rare Groove, a genre that he took influence from to create his Jungle tracks that would then go on to get rinsed on Pirate Radio and influence younger generations such as myself. We discuss his relationship with communities from Kool FM, to Music House, through to his work on the documusical ‘Feltham Sings’ in 2003 for which he won the prestigious Ivor Novello award. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠Bandcamp⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Music⁠, ⁠Beatport⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠0860.fm

This time we have the one and only Scratcha. He’s had a career in radio since 2001 on stations such as De Ja Vu, Rinse and currently NTS. He’s worked extensively with Kode9’s Hyperdub and is now setting trends with his undeniably UK take on Amapiano. We talk about his history on Pirate Radio and how it differs from his current show on NTS. He recounts many funny stories and anecdotes but we also talk about his love for radio and how he still has it on all the time, literally all the time. He somehow manages to make music with the radio on in the background. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠Bandcamp⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Music⁠, ⁠Beatport⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠0860.fm

DJ Flight is an award-winning DJ, broadcaster and radio producer. DJ Residencies have included Metalheadz and Swerve and she’s been a favourite DJ of mine going way back to the end of the 90s. We speak about her journey from Pressure FM and Rinse FM to BBC 1xtra presenter to British Podcast Awards nominee for her amazing Windrush Stories podcast. We explore the common theme of community that ties all her projects together and how she continues to search for music that gives her a unique sound as a DJ. Be sure to check out her work with EQ50, a collective of women working towards fairer representation in dance music. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠⁠Astrophonica Discord⁠ Follow Fracture on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠Bandcamp⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Music⁠, ⁠Beatport⁠ For more information on the project, visit ⁠0860.fm

I am extremely honoured to present to you V Recordings owner and Kool FM legend - Bryan Gee. We talk about his time on pirate radio in the 80s, his time on Kool FM in the 90s and his V Recordings podcast that still runs today. As of the date of this new upload, he is back on Kool FM. This man lives and breathes radio and has a deep running passion in sharing music. Come and discuss the episodes and much more on the ⁠Astrophonica Discord Follow Fracture on Instagram, Twitter, Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Beatport For more information on the project, visit 0860.fm