Photo by Ed Miller
Sam Moir is not your average Broadcast/Journalism graduate. Both his academic accomplishments & extra-curricular activities have set him apart from the pack – having recently received his diploma from the University of Sheffield and gaining some priceless experience from working under two of the most predominant names in U.K. Radio (Mary Anne Hobbs + MistaJam) along the way. Moir is now poised to make some (air)waves of his own with a handful of upcoming projects centering on the ever-growing Bass Music scene. Last week, I got a chance to catch up with him for a quick Q&A concerning his past, present & future…
1.) For those who aren’t up to speed, can you give us a little rundown of your background and current projects?
My final year of student radio threw up some exciting opportunities such as working with Mary Anne Hobbs at Sheffield Students’ Union and having Rusko as a live guest on the show which recently gained me a nomination for Best Interview at the 2011 Student Radio Awards. Last year my show picked up a nomination for Best Specialist Music Programming.
Earlier this year, I recorded a pilot for BBC Radio 1Xtra and now building on feedback from that, I’ve just started my new show on Birmingham’s Rhubarb Radio.
I’m also deputy editor of Radio 1/1Xtra DJ, MistaJam’s website, MistaJam.com, contribute to the Independent Blogs section.
2.) The experience gained from working with such broadcast greats as Mary Anne Hobbs and MistaJam was surely invaluable. How do you believe it has shaped your own career/outlook? and What lessons learned did you find to be the most important?
Before she came to the Union, I was lucky enough to have her review one hour of my radio show from second year. So going into my final year of radio I was able to really work on taking my show to the next level.
With her at the Union during last year, we worked track transitions.
I always believe my show wouldn’t sound right all mixed together. I liked the idea of playing tracks with minimal transitions or show idents throughout, very much like her shows. We spent a lot of time chatting about how to improve broadcasts and I’m aware it was a unique opportunity. That would be the biggest lesson I’d take away from
I speak to Jam more through e-mail but he’s been great offering any help I’ve needed for work on MistaJam.com. I actually spoke to him earlier this week about a new project I’m going to be working on with him.
3.) We are all familiar with the ongoing challenge to explain the ‘bass music’ realm. How would you describe it to an outsider? and What does it mean to you?
In short, the main aspect of the tune is bass driven. This can be really tear-out, jump-up bass or even sub, chilled out bass.
But what I love about the producers making bass music is most of them are young and really enthusiastic about the music they’re making. When you’re looking for fresh music to broadcast, there’s nothing more exciting then working with someone who’s really keen to get their music out.
4.) We are currently seeing the genre grow at an alarming rate. To me, the ongoing evolution is one of the most exciting aspects of the scene. Where do you see this particular sound heading in the next few years?
Well dubstep’s exploded now and it’s fantastic to see it explode but for me, my show and tastes have evolved in the other direction. I’m always looking for something new and fresh, just under the radar. I like to think of my show as a ‘Introducing’ show but for bass music.
Which brings me to the second part of your question, the connection that bonds them together is bass that is quite a generic term, really. There’s so much music you can coin ‘bass music’ so it’s hard to say where it’s going because it encompasses so many genres and sub-genres.
5.) Who’s at the top of your playlist at the moment?
Starkey’s new EP for Ninja Tune is fantastic – I got sent it the week before last and keep going back to it on my iPod. It sounds more musically influenced and there’s fantastic grime beats running throughout.
Joker’s album is phenomenal. It’s been the release I’ve been most looking forward to for nearly two years and every single track on there is fantastic. My favourite track on the album would be the collaboration with William Cartwright, called On My Mind.
SBTRKT’s album is probably going to be my favourite album this year – it’s been out months now and it’s still sitting high on my Most Played.
What else, let me check my iPod…
I got sent Two Inch Punch’s debut EP (http://soundcloud.com/twoinchpunch/tracks) – I’d play every single track on my show if I had time too. It’s been on Soundcloud for a few months now and got a crazy amount of plays. I’m already looking forward to what he releases next.
6.) What forthcoming releases are in your most-wanted?
I guess that would be producers I’m pestering for tracks on e-mail or Soundcloud.
Sam Frank’s getting some hype with Simple Life and I’ve been chatting to him so looking forward to his other releases. I’m liking the mix between production and crossover. He gave away a track for Annie Mac’s Music Monday (http://soundcloud.com/annie-mac-presents/sam-frank-my-number-one) that’s completely different to anything I’ve heard recently.
EVM (http://soundcloud.com/evm128) has just released a fantastic EP and I’m waiting for some exclusive bits off him for my new show.
Who else…
Jason Burns (http://soundcloud.com/jasonburns/either-way) has just dropped a really house/garagey vibe track called Either Way and I’ve been chatting to him trying to get the track. He’s one to watch for sure.
I’m also pestering a producer called J-One (soundcloud.com/j-one/day-1) for some tracks. He’s just uploaded a track called Day 1 which I’m really feeling. I love the minimal vibes of it.
One more track to make it 5…
I’m about to take delivery of some fresh music from Bwana. He’s a producer from Canada and I think he’s studying in Leeds so I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot of him in the coming months. There’s one great track on there that’s called Baby, Let Me Finish and got like 18,000 listens. Great track and a great talent.
7.) Where do you hope to see yourself in the next few years?
1Xtra have asked me to re-submit a demo at the end of the year but there has to be significant improvements which I’m completely cool with. Everyone’s been fantastic at the BBC in terms of feedback.
So, within the next year, I’d want to be on national radio. I’ve told them I have fresh, up-front music that needs broadcasting but I also accept I have to get my head down and really work on raising my presentation.
But I’m not in a rush. I’ve just graduated from uni, managed to get a full-time journalism job so I’m just working, saving up money to invest in a club night and enjoying being on radio again. It’s a corny line but the radio is a hobby and to broadcast on national radio would be a fantastic bonus.
8.) How large of a factor does radio play in the development of ‘Bass Music’? What lengths are you going to in order to properly expose this once heavily veiled scene?
A massive part – everyone always say that dubstep wouldn’t be where it is if it wasn’t for Mary Anne’s Dubstep Warz show. Then there’s respected tastemakers such as Benji B who you can always expect to find a new track or producer from on his show.
MistaJam and Annie Mac have really played a pivotal role in pushing bass music to a wider audience. I don’t listen to Rinse FM as much as I probably should but I’m definitely aware of how much fresh music they push.
But the internet’s just as vital – you can find really fresh music without the radio and I guess that’s what I’ve done with my show. I always try and dedicate a couple of hours a week to just sitting at Soundcloud, speakers up and searching for new music. It’s a fantastic pool for new music.
That’s the beauty of it too – producers are more open to sending music online so it’s quite easy to get the music to broadcast/DJ out. You just need to look in the right place.
9.) Who has inspired you most? Artists, broadcasters, labels?
I don’t like to use the word ‘inspired’ – I went into radio just wanting to have a laugh and it’s all taken off from there. But Annie Mac’s show a couple of years ago was the inspiration behind doing a radio show and obviously as my show’s evolved, Mary Anne has been a massive influence, in terms of really pushing exciting emerging music.
10.) Thanks for sharing some time, Sam. Before we sign off, do you any shout outs?
Just check out the new show – Sundays, 4-5 on http://www.rhubarbradio.com, like the Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Moir/140558556030332) and then follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/sammoir)
Shameless, shameless plugging from me.
It’s funny how sometimes it takes someone widely renowned, a famous musician or celebrity per say, to bring light to an already existing piece of art. Such is the case with the title-track off Drake’s new album “Take Care”. There’s no doubt you’ve heard “Take Care” at least once since the album dropped about three weeks ago. The hype surrounding this track is well deserved, it showcases a beautiful instrumental cleanly paired up with the voice of Rihanna & Drake’s ability to sing & rap simultaneously. But back to the point, the beautiful instrumental that drake keenly snatched up for his title track is actually a song that was released back in February, produced by none other than Jamie XX. Jamie makes up one third of the critically acclaimed band “The XX”, but over the past year he has grown into an underground hero with his steady supply of quality remixes & original songs (It would be disrespectful to call them “tracks”). To sum this all up, Drake once again proves he is a pioneer in the hip-hop scene by doing something pretty much unheard of among radio-rappers: going to work over a little known underground UK-Bass song. The question is, would Jamie’s track ever of gotten a fraction of the hype it has now had it not been for Drake? Scope Jamie XX’s original beat used in Drake’s “Take Care” as well as some of his other top-notch productions after the drop.
