Behind The Scenes Of Ed Banger

Folded Wing’s next documentary ‘D.A.N.C.E.O.N – The Story of Ed Banger Records’ is aired next Monday 17 September at 9pm on BBC Radio 1.

Before then we thought we’d let you see behind the scenes of the making of the documentary. We went to Paris to meet Ed Banger’s founder Pedro Winter, aka. Busy P, to find out the real story behind the label.

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At the offices we also met Ed Banger’s DJ Feadz who let us in on some secrets about his ex-girlfriend and label mate Uffie.

Ed Banger’s Art Director So-Me drew a great piece of artwork exclusively for the programme in his usual colourful style.

Then to round up the visit in true Ed Banger style, we went to a club night called Reverie where Ed Banger DJs Mr Oizo and Feadz battled it out with Boys Noize Records.

The next day we caught up with Radio France’s Laura Leishman to find out her anecdotes from the club night.

The Story of Ed Banger Records is presented by Annie Mac and produced by Andrea Rangecroft. It also features interviews with Erol Alkan, Todd Terry, A-Trak and Sebastien Tellier.

As well as the documentary, Annie Mac has an Ed Banger minimix from Busy P on her show this Friday.

You can also listen to clips from the documentary below.

Nick Otter Delves Into Hip Hop With KRS One

Nick Otter shares one of his inspirations after a recent work experience placement at Folded Wing…

During my time at Folded Wing one thing I was asked to do was to write up a KRS One biography for a Red Bull Music Academy Radio Fireside Chat show with the rapper. With an incredibly sporadic knowledge of hip hop which jumps between J Dilla, Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest and not much else, KRS One I knew little about.

Thanks to the power of Google I found a wealth of facts about the man behind the voice of ‘Sound of Da Police’ as well as this – a recording of when he came on Tim Westwood’s BBC Radio 1 show in 1997.

 

As well as being eloquent enough to lecture at universities, charismatic enough to create hip hop’s first ever religion, KRS One is also highly opinionated. What plays out in the seven parts of audio could be deemed as a producer’s worst nightmare as he derails the show turning on Westwood and remonstrating him over his lack of radio play in the UK, as well as declaring Westwood’s show governed by commercial values, unpopular and redundant in the progression of hip hop.

In the face of KRS One’s tirade during the course of the show, Westwood tries to protect the reputation of BBC Radio 1 as a station as well as protecting the credibility of his show and reputation as a DJ all whilst still trying to carry on with the show and its features! All in all it makes for interesting listening in which the only thing that’s missing (but certainly not needed) is a hip hop Jeremy Kyle to mediate.

Aisling Creedon: The Right Place at the Right Time – BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra’s Hackney Academy

It is a very rare thing to be in the right place at the right time. I know this because when you’re trying to get into the radio industry, as I am, the right place and the right time so rarely coincide, no matter how many times people tell you they should.

But in June, it finally happened. The right place was Folded Wing, an independent production company in London who were kind enough to take me on for two weeks’ work experience. The right time was when I had been there almost a week, researching, editing and learning. Caroline from the Radio Academy called the Folded Wing office looking for a young presenter. My ears tingled but I kept my eyes on my screen.

Then,

“Ever done any presenting Aisling?”

I had. Lots. Folded Wing’s Jim sat me down and talked me through the job – I was to host the Radio Academy’s ‘Getting Into Radio‘ session as part of BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s Hackney Academy. I would introduce the day and each of the speakers. Jim sounded confident in me and I knew I could do it.

The next day I arrived in Hackney, rattling with the nerves of knowing that I would soon be introducing Ben Cooper, Radio 1′s controller and the man everyone wants to work for, to a group of people I would usually be sitting amongst.

My voice and my fingers shook through my introduction, but I took deep breaths, remembered Ben’s name and from then on the links got easier and I relaxed into what was a great day of advice and knowledge delivered by some of the industry’s most successful people. Howard Hughes talked about the lucky breaks that made him a star, we heard how Radio 1′s Hackney weekend came into being, and Andrea Day proved to everyone that travel news is far from dull.

It was a chance for me to meet professionals in a professional capacity, and that is invaluable experience. I was able to practice my public speaking, something that does not come easily to anyone (does it?!) and best of all, hear all the talks and take on all the advice.

If it hadn’t been for Folded Wing, I would never have had the opportunity to even go to the event, let alone host it. Everyone was right, there is something special when the right place and time come together. I just wish Ben Cooper had been a little further down the bill!

Listen again to the Why Make Music? documentary on BBC iPlayer

Last night our documentary ‘Why Make Music?’ presenter by Daniel P Carter aired on BBC Radio 1 as part of Radio 1′s Stories. You can listen again on BBC iPlayer till 23rd January.

Musicians are often asked how they make music – but rarely asked why? In this one hour documentary, musician and Radio 1 Rock Show presenter Daniel P Carter tries to find out the answer, or indeed, as it turn out, the answers.

He starts off with hardcore band Gallows, rehearsing down at Maida Vale, before heading out of the mosh pit to meet a wide variety of musicians – from up and coming grime MC Dot Rotten to The Drums – to find out why they do what they do.

Daniel asks whether or not people make music because they’re in the right place at the right time, like being in Seattle when grunge kicked off, or being young in London at the start of punk. We hear from Wade McNeil (Gallows) on how hardcore band Razor Eater inspired him; and Roll Deep’s DJ Target talks about growing up with the roots of grime in Bow, East London.

He quizzes Toddla T, J Davey, The Drums, meets journalist Miranda Sawyer and listens as head music therapist from The Barchester Nordoff Robbins Initiative, Stuart Woods, explains why music transforms lives.

Next we meet a range of artists from Emmy The Great to Wild Beasts to find out why they make music, before heading down to south London music project Felix’s School of Rock to meet young teenagers who are just starting out.

Scientist Dr Harry Witchel drops by to explain why humans have such a powerful relationship with music and Dot Rotten explains how making music had a powerful impact on his life.

Daniel then turns his attention to two musicians with a purpose: gospel rapper Guvna B who makes music because of his faith; and Riz MC who explains that socially conscious music is having a renaissance. And finally, there’s a look into the future to find out how technology is changing the way people start making music.

In the clip below Gospel rapper Guvna B and singer songwriter Emmy The Great explain why they make make music.