Updated: Feb 22, 2021
Introducing... Rhiannon! Rhiannon is an amazing individual who is extremely hard working and motivated. I had the pleasure of going to The BRIT School with her and am still blown away by her talent. In this interview we discussed her show on Wizard Radio, her proudest achievement and more. Super excited for you all to read so here you are.
Hi! So could you introduce yourself, how old you are, where are you from and what area of the music industry are you aspiring to be in?
Hey I’m Rhiannon I’m 19 years old living in South London. I’m currently a indie/alternative presenter for W!zard Radio. I present every week from 11am-12 UK time and you can tune in via www.wizardadio.co.uk if you fancy hearing some of the latest indie and alternative music. I’ve interviewed some amazing people so far for example: DEVON, Josh from Larkins, Holly Humberstone and Phem. I also do photography and videography in my spare time. Before the pandemic I was going to gigs every other night and taking photos of bands and artists. So I can’t wait to get back to doing that in the future. In terms of what area I’d like to go in. I’d love to keep pushing Radio and see where it take me. I’ve always had an interest for working in telly so that’s something I’d love to delve in at some point. A dream of mine is to work for MTV. I have so many areas of interest. This means I’m very much flexible with whatever path comes my way. However, all I know I’d that I want to stay in the music industry because I love music but I am also super interested in learning more about the business aspects of the industry.
Rhiannon's most recent photography of Saara Kaldma
The music industry is know for its challenges and hurdles along with rare opportunities. Does the music industry intimidate you?
1000%! It still does. For me I’ve just been trying to let go of the fear that comes with wanting to get into the music industry. I think this stems for whenever I was vocal about wanting to get into the music industry I was met with “really? You do know it is very hard to get into the music industry” or “You should probably have a back up plan.” This is very hard to hear and quite terrifying in itself. However. I think it is really important you pursue what you want to do. Of course the music industry is hard to get into but that doesn’t mean it cannot be done by you or I. With the music industry there is never a path that is linear, which in my opinion makes things more exciting but also quite daunting. You just have to keep jumping over those hurdles like you said until you find your path. As well as trying your best to see rejection as redirection.
What is your best piece of work that you are particularly proud of and why?
In the past I’ve found it really difficult to be proud of my work - being a perfectionist. However now, I think it’s really interesting to look back at my journey and see how far I have come.
I interviewed Holly Humberstone not too long ago. Who is one of the fastest growing artists at the moment. It was so inspiring to speak about her journey as an artist before being spotted and going on tour with Lewis Capaldi. I think it’s my favourite interview I have done so far because it felt so natural. I’ve linked it below if you’d like to have a peek. I also would like to share a film I made about toxic masculinity, mental health and feeling more confident about yourself. It got screened at Better Bankside in London to raise money for men’s mental health too. So it’s one I am super proud of.
Holly Humberstone Interview - https://www.wizardradio.co.uk/news/interview-with-holly-humberstone
Toxic Masculinity Film - https://youtu.be/ohZuwaYsh58
How did you discover what area you liked of music?
I discovered radio through being super inspired by Helen Skelton as a child. So when I found out she started her career in radio. Of course I wanted to follow in her footsteps. Therefore, at the age of 14 I joined my local hospital radio station called Sunshine Radio on the Isle of Wight. Then after completing my GCSE’s I wanted to take radio a step further and study film and media at a college in London that would have more opportunity available. After applying for a range of different colleges I got into the BRIT School, where I fell in love with radio and music even more. From making music videos and being a presenter on the colleges radio station. I was able to find my true passion music and media. Coming from the Isle of Wight I had never gone to a gig before. So when I got to London all I did in my spare time was go to gigs (photos below). Which is where I’d say I truly fell in love with music and knew I wanted to work within the music industry. This made me want to delve into and learn about the industry. As well as hopefully in the future get a career in.
Being a Radio presenter, do you get nervous before going on air and how do you overcome that fear?
Yes of course! Even though I have been doing radio for so long now it is super nerve racking at times. However, I try and turn my nerves into excitement. I used to get extremely nervous before ever single show, however after presenting every week since January 2020, without fail it has really helped me build up my confidence. So by presenting regularly on the show has of course helped. However, what helps me overcome that fear when it creeps up every now is taking a few deep breaths and just telling myself I’ve got this and it will all be alright.
What is something you wish you could say to someone high up in your profession?
I’d love to ask Annie Mac how she prepares to go on air. Whether she does anything specific. As before I go on air I have a list of bullet points of things I want to talk about and go from there. So it would be really interesting to see if she scripts her show at all. I think it would be reassuring to ask her if she ever gets nervous before or during show too. I’d also be curious to find out how she discovers brand new artists herself. Something I struggle with when it comes with radio is that if I’m having a particular tough day or just not feeling like being jolly on the radio. It can be tough to get yourself into that zone. So it would be really insightful to know how Annie gets in the zone if she’s not feeling like it one day.
I know everyone is so over being in lockdown! How have you made lockdown into a positive thing and how has it helped you in terms of progressing your area of work?
Yes lockdown has been so tough for everyone! I’ve tried my best to stay productive during this lockdown, but this of course hasn’t been easy at all when motivation and morale is pretty low amongst us all. I’ve tried not to put too much pressure on myself. Over lockdown, I like so many people have delved into knitting and random things to keep my mind busy. However, having so much free time has enabled me to push the radio even further. Due to everyone being stuck at home. Radio was one of the few constants that kept going thoughout lockdown. So I felt I had a true responsibility to keep people going. Giving so many people a space to relax away from everything and listen to their favourite tunes. Due to so many people bored out of their minds and not having much to do. It was the perfect time to grow the show and expand my audience. Since January 2020 I’ve been able to more than double the amount of listeners who tune into the show every week. Now I have developed over 100,000 people who tune into the show every single week, which is insane. I doesn’t seem real to be honest because to me it is just me in to studio or in my room under my duvet recording. So to me it feels like it’s just me and my microphone.
What are three songs you want everyone to hear ASAP?
That is such a tough one because there is so many artists and songs people need to know about and listen to. However, if I had to narrow it down. I can’t choose out of these four:
The One That I Wanted - Joe Weston ft Cerys Eless
The Horror - Lotusbliss
Nothing Else - Tenacity, Tim Burghaus & Daniel Lazenby
I Don’t Need Somebody To Love Me - Eleanor and the Dream
Do you think music has become an aesthetic, so if you listen to Indie music do you think it influences you to adapt to that style such as what you wear and how you act?
Yes I would say what music you listen to has become an aesthetic to some degree. Some people find it “edgy” or “cool” to listen to certain genres and follow the stereotype of a particular fashion style in terms of that genre of music. For example, you have the classic soft boy and skater boy aesthetic that are deemed to listen to indie/alt music and e-girls who listen to more emo rap. However, in terms of myself I just listen to whatever I like listening to and wear whatever I fancy wearing that day. Whether that’s a flowery skirt or baggy jeans the next with a beanie. I’m not fussed about aesthetics in all honestly I just do my own thing.
"honestly I just do my own thing".
Trends are a huge thing at the moment, but do you think they happen too quickly these days? Do you think this results in new artists having 15 seconds of fame?
I’d say they happen quickly yes. As one day one thing is trending and then the next it’s something else. It’s really a hit or miss and down to luck a lot of the time. Of course some artists will get short lived popularity but it’s about taking that popularity and keeping the hype high if you can as an artist. Keeping the new stuff coming out I’d say. However, I think TikTok has enabled so many artists to launch their career for example, Still Woozy, BENEE and Girl in Red also who have had much more than 15 seconds of fame as their journeys are still going strong.
Do you think Gen Z will drastically change the music industry? What areas in the industry do you think will change the most?
Hands down Gen Z will change the industry. I think playlists are actually more popular amongst our generation than albums. Due to streaming service like Spotify coming out with tonnes of playlist you can listen to no matter what mood your feeling. For example, if your feeling a chill mood. You can quickly put on a chill playlist and it will hit the vibe. I think there will be a shift in popular music as indie and alternative music has already increasingly became more popular. It’s so great to see indie/alt artists getting top spots in the charts. For example Billie Eilish who even topped the charts with her James Bond themed song “No Time To Die.” I also think bedroom pop is massive for gen z and will rise up in the future. As it has got popularity from gen z artists making music in their bedrooms like Kamal, Clairo and Beabadoobee. I think live performances will be turned up to the max and people will want to see live music more than ever. Especially after lockdown is over. I think there will be much more appreciation for music also. Not just because something sounds nice but the realisation of the effort, time and energy put behind that music. I also think our generation will make the music industry a better and more accepting place for everyone also, which gives me so much hope.
Thank you for answering some questions! I wish you all the best for the future, is there anything else you’d like to add?
No worries at all. Thank you so much - likewise! I think that’s groovy. My socials are @rhiannonnevada on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Then again if you fancy listening to some amazing tunes you can catch my radio show via https://www.wizardradio.co.uk every Saturday from 11am UK time. Or you can catch it on repeat in the repeats section. Thanks so much :)
Rhiannon's Links:
Welcome to the third post of this series! Today we are talking to Joshuah who is an aspiring music producer/artist. He will talk on how he found out his love of music, how he thinks the music industry has changed and his most pointless talent he has. We hope you enjoy this and take some inspiration from the interview.
Hi! So could you introduce yourself, how old you are, where are you from and what area of the music industry are you aspiring to be in?
Hey! My name is Joshuah, I am 16 years old, born in London but originally from Cape Town, South Africa.
My dream and goal is to grow being a music producer/artist in the Christian Music Industry. Which include’s working and making music for various artists (rappers, singers), but also getting artists on board my beats/instrumentals.
How did you discover what area you liked of music?
When I started making music in 2019 I made EDM style beats, but after some months passed I started leaning more to hip hop & pop music. Through that I built a love for cinematic music and bringing in orchestra and piano into almost everything I make. One of my inspirations Tommee Profitt (who makes cinematic music and works with christian artists) has inspired me in that area and has helped me form my sound and what I want to be know for making.
I know everyone is so over being in lockdown! How have you made lockdown into a positive thing and how has it helped you in terms of progressing your area of work?
Lockdown has definitely been hard I would say! When it first started I took it very negatively and honestly came to a point where I was depressed. I didn’t know how to handle it, but when I noticed we won’t be coming out of this situation anytime soon I realised I couldn’t stay in that depressed state. I started focusing more on making beats, putting together beat videos for instagram, trying to stay creative in any way possible. Lockdown has helped me connect with people all over the world, making music with people in different countries, learning more about the music industry and focusing on what route as a music producer I want to take! Its given me a different view of the music industry and how during this time we are able to keep going and make things work even when we aren’t in person! If it wasn’t for lockdown I wouldn’t be where I am now.
Do you think the music industry has changed a lot over time? Have you noticed anything specifically?
Absolutely! When we compare music from the 1960s to now there is definitely a big change in how the music is made, the quality of it and technology we use to put it all together. We also have so much more creative opportunities outside of just releasing music. I feel like it’s really helped welcome people who’s new into the industry with so many options and choices of what they want to do. I feel like the music industry has definitely grown and still is growing over time in many areas. Genres have expanded (still expanding) and there is always something new coming out!
What is something you wish you could say to someone high up in your profession?
I would probably ask a Music Producer where they find inspiration and how they manage collaborations and the time put out for each project.
What is the most useless talent you have?
Ooh hmm probably having a double jointed thumb which I use sometimes to press an extra note on the piano haha!! LOL
I feel like there is a lot of expectations on where you should in life at a certain time. What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone younger wanting to do what you’re doing?
My advice would be to just go for it. Don’t let anything or anyone stop you from pursuing your dreams! Put in the time to make & create music as much as you can, learn from YouTube videos, and by just having fun! Start small and grow from there, challenge yourself and set goals to reach each month. Connect with other musicians and seek advice from people who are in the music industry! The more time you put into it the more you get out of it!
Vinyls and physical copies of music have been really popular over the past few years. Do you have any vinyls and what is your opinion on physical copies of music?
I used to have Vinyls but when we moved we gave them way sadly! There is nothing like having a physical copy of an Album I believe. Yes we nowadays have (Spotify, iTunes, Deezer, Amazon Music, etc), but there is nothing like having a physical copy instead of having everything on devices. I still use and listen in the car, with my family, to some CD’s on road trips. It's something I hope won’t die out!
Do you think music has become an aesthetic, so if you listen to Indie music do you think it influences you to adapt to that style such as what you wear and how you act?
I definitely believe that music nowadays does influence and affect you in some sort of way! I will give myself as an example. So I’m a massive fan of NF’s music, his music is very (dark, dramatic, cinematic, piano) but it hasn’t changed my style or how I act. Its definitely influenced me when it comes to creating music and the style I make though! So for me the type of music I listen to can influence me in some sort of creative way to make the same style music. For others it may be in a different manner, it might be in how they act, what they wear, the style of songs they write, what they post on social media, etc. So music does for sure play apart in who we are, just in different ways!
What is your biggest achievement?
My biggest achievement would probably be working on my EP Project! It’s still needing a lot of work and things to be finished but I’ve found that definitely a good challenge! So as the producer artist I need to find the right artists (singers & rappers) to be onboard the project and what song. It’s getting there, the process is long but I’m seeing everything come together which is great! Hopefully everything will be finished by May and then released in July.
Thank you for answering some questions! I wish you all the best for the future, is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you I enjoyed it! I hope the best for you too..
One thing I want to add is, stay creative even during lockdown! It may be hard to find things to do but keep pushing yourself, setting goals and challenge yourself!! You will definitely see a difference if you do!
God Bless
Joshuah Wiehahn (J1W)
Joshuah's Links:
Updated: Feb 22, 2021
Welcome to the second post of the series!
Starting off this post is Rhea, Rhea is 18 and finishing sixth form. I met her online and have been in contact since, so thank you to the internet! I choose to speak to Rhea to talk about her area of professionalism she wants to go into, which is journalism, this gives us a different area of the music industry to look out for. So that is all from me and enjoy the interview.
Hi! So could you introduce yourself, how old you are, where are you from and what area of the music industry you are aspiring to be in?
Hiya, I’m Rhea, I’m 18 and studying in my last year of sixth form in London, and then I will be studying Journalism in Liverpool in September! I’m very much interested in any style of indie, alternative genres, and a bit of contemporary rap/R&B. Although, I do generally struggle categorizing the type of music I aspire to delve into because I listen to way too much sometimes; it’s so all over the place.
The music industry is known for its challenges and hurdles along with rare opportunities. Does the music industry intimidate you?
I’ve never actually thought about it but now you ask, I guess yeah it actually does. I think because it’s such a big industry filled with so much competition it can be daunting, especially trying to be different from others but I’ve always loved a challenge so at the same time I’m glad there’s so much to fight for because I feel like whatever I’m doing I do my best to be unique. The thought of being offered a big, rare opportunity like travelling somewhere and having the experience of a lifetime sounds so fun to me. I’ve always been up for doing anything and I’m very spontaneous so that part of the music industry doesn’t really phase me because I’d just make the best out of any nervous situation by having fun.
What are three songs you want everyone to hear ASAP?
Ooh that’s a hard one because I’ve recently discovered a lot of new songs, so I’ll go with my top three on repeat right now, which definitely portray my top styles of music, and say: Lavender by Dreamer Boy, Robbery by Lime Cordiale, and 1992 by Rejjie Snow and Loyle Carner.
Do you think social media such as TikTok, Spotify etc is changing the industry, if so how?
Yes, 100%! It really is both negative and positive to be honest. On one hand, TikTok has allowed so many people to discover new artists and great songs that they might’ve never of discovered without it, but also I know so many songs that get a lot of backlash now because they’re just seen as trendy so people just assume that it’s mainstream and too generic just because everyone knows it now. However, apps like Spotify I think are massively positively changing the industry. I love the app because my love for music has grown so much since having it and using it daily. Me and my friends make playlists for each other and constantly talk about any new artists, which is so cool and I know so many others that feel the same too! It’s actually crazy because some accounts on TikTok actually spend their time making specific playlists for people, so at the same time sometimes you really can’t go wrong with social media; it just depends on how each person uses it.
Do you think music has become an aesthetic, so if you listen to Indie music do you think it influences you to adapt to that style such as what you wear and how you act?
Definitely, which I actually find kind of frustrating because nowadays people just assume you listen to a certain type of music to fit in or copy others when the majority of the time that’s not even the case. Personally for me I’ve always been into fashion, and getting into Indie/Alternative music has allowed me to further venture into trendy, vintage and streetwear style of clothing too but I wouldn’t say I’m doing because it’s a trend, I wear what I want because I love it. On the other hand, there are people out there who now think it’s cool to skate, listen to indie music and fit into that aesthetic without genuinely appreciating it. It’s not a trend but because certain types of videos may blow up, people just try to hop onto it and be like them for the sake of joining in.
Trends are a huge thing at the moment, but do you think they happen too quickly these days? Do you think this results in new artists having 15 seconds of fame?
Yeah, of course! So many songs have blown up through all these trends which leads to them very quickly being forgotten about, and majority of the time people don’t even go to listen to more of their songs or try to appreciate the rest of their work. Sometimes songs just blow up for the wrong reason and completely changes the meaning of the song. For example, Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles has a quite explicit meaning about love and relationships but it blew up on TikTok by people showing themselves before/after getting high, which just took the whole meaning away.
What is your best piece of work that you are particularly proud of and why?
It would have to be my interviews with two X Factor: The Band finalists and musicians, Harrison Cole and Fred Roberts from the, now broken up band, Unwritten Rule (photos below). I needed some proof of my journalistic skills for a university application so instead of sending my blog I thought I’d do something from scratch; an interview. I constructed a sort of magazine style interview from them both after sending over some questions and putting it all together myself. It was my first official interview, which was both exciting but also kind of nerve racking, as I had no idea how it’d turn out, as well as having a deadline too. Although I wish I had more time and it’s not completely professional and to the best of my abilities, It turned out better than I expected it to so I’m just proud of forming my own work which is giving me some insight into my future. Nevertheless, I’m happy I can see myself improving and that It’s something I can look back on and be proud of.
Who is your biggest influence or inspiration?
For the past three years I’ve been massively inspired by Spencer Elmer. I was about 15 when I first discovered him and he’s never failed to make me feel motivated or inspired to do anything and just make something out of my life. He’s just a constant support through his YouTube videos, and he’s recently delved into the music industry too which is so cool. I appreciate people for speaking up about certain situations in their life that are difficult, and Spencer touches on them through his freestyles and songs that I’ve really found encouraging and reassuring. Although I want to do journalism and his industry of work is different to mine, I still find his beliefs and morals to be what I go by too. If I think of what he believes in, then I think of just being original, being yourself as well as being true to yourself, and not fitting into society’s expectations of a correct role model. I could talk about so much more but these are a few things that I would like to stick with me for my future. I look up to him in a way that a lot people would see as maybe undesirable or a bad example to others, but that is just a viewpoint formed by what society doesn’t idealize, so it doesn’t bother me.
Do you feel any social pressure from the industry? Do you feel like you have to be a certain way or promote yourself in a certain way?
Yep totally, society is just always constantly evolving and it’s not always positive too. Everyone just makes up their own rules half the time, and declares what is bad and good. Everything we do is socially constructed which creates this pressure of trying to be presentable and right for every audience but it’s impossible to be liked by everyone. There definitely is a pressure to be biased and not speak your own truth, but I definitely won’t be sticking to society’s rules of what I should write or how I should act because then I wouldn’t be me. So many people talk about how it’s okay to not fit in and be your own individual but then when people do stuff that doesn’t fit the norm of society, they get laughed at and ridiculed, so I feel as so many people preach about being yourself but then contradict their own words. Basically proving why this social pressure can be so intimidating because no matter what you do it’s always there, and leaves certain people conforming to the ‘correct’ way of doing things. How do you engage with your audience?
I’ve never had that big of an audience with my blog as I literally trialled it for a few weeks but I just made sure to interact with my comments and DM’s as much as I can. I think it’s important for small journalists, or anyone to be honest, to pay attention to who supports you and helps you get your recognition.It’s also very important to see what your followers seem to like because if I’m posting about a rap artist but most of my followers are into pop, then it doesn’t make sense to focus on rap. Therefore, I would say to listen to people and always pay attention to what will help you.
Thank you for answering some questions! I wish you all the best for the future, is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you so much for interviewing me, I had a lot of fun answering these questions! To anyone that needs it, I always stick to three life mottos: You only live once, everything happens for a reason and instead of saying ‘what if’ say ‘oh well’ because what’s in the past can’t be changed so don’t dwell on it. You only live one life so follow your own rules, don’t just be content but happy doing it too. See you later and look out for me sometime soon in the future :)
You only live once, everything happens for a reason and instead of saying ‘what if’ say ‘oh well’
Rhea's Links;
Instagram - instagram.com/rheeaa.xx
Her Blog Instagram - instagram.com/musicuncensored
