Running out of Bristol, Daniel Crossley promotes his excellent experimental radio station Fluid Radio through two 24 hour broadcast channels; one which focuses on experimental acoustic frequencies, and the other on vocal music. The station’s website features piles of interesting reviews and features on experimental artists, labels and films, as well as links to their most recent shows.
Placing 5th on our Top Cloudcasters of 2009 list, we caught up with him to find out more about this unique project, and how he uses Mixcloud to get it out to listeners.
Who are you and what do you do? How did you first get into what you do?
Who am I? How long do you have 🙂
My name is Dan and I run the online radio station Fluid Radio based in Bristol, UK.
I first got into radio many moons ago when I was involved in running a pirate Drum and Bass station broadcasting from the tower blocks of Bow, East London. That was a great experience for me and kind of got into my blood if you like. The natural progression has lead to the Fluid Radio project.
Why do you think Fluid Radio mixes have been so popular?
I think this has a lot to do with the direction in which we are looking to take each mix instalment. By this I mean that we try to focus on music that leans more towards experimental underground structures and we encourage artists and labels to express this within each musical journey they create.
What do you think makes your mixes unique?
It has a lot to do with diversity…
As I already mentioned we encourage artists/labels that get involved with Fluid Radio to express a musical freedom with no limitations. I think this becomes evident when you browse through the Fluid Radio mix catalogue: From Modern Classical through to experimental acoustic structures the range of mixes has no limitations and strives to express a freedom in musical expression.
What are your musical tips for 2010?
Get more sleep and drink less grade 5 coffee!
Why has Mixcloud been useful for your project?
Mixcloud has been a breath of fresh air for Fluid Radio…
We have been broadcasting mixes on Fluid for almost two years now and quickly discovered a huge problem:
It was all very well playing mixes at select times on the station but many listeners missed out on the broadcasts due to time zone differences, etc. Then Mixcloud came along and we were able to upload the mixes once they had gone out on our main broadcast. This allowed listeners who may have missed out to listen at a more convenient time.
Mixcloud has so many great features I could go on and on and well…We love it!
From social networking, widget functionality, web site stability, promoting new artists, etc, Mixcloud really has it all from our point of view, and is a very powerful tool for promoting and sharing great music.
What do you think the radio/podcast industry will look like in 10 years?
Well if I get my crystal ball out it looks a lot different to what we are all currently experiencing…
FM radio is very restricted at the moment and the diversity is next to zero and we are almost forced to listen to X Factor type crap. This is why there are so many ‘pirate’ stations constantly springing up especially within main cities. People want to hear alternative genres and this just will never be fully seen through FM/MW transmissions.
I personally think that FM transmissions will be a thing of the past and the whole radio experience will be completely web based/digital interaction. With the rise of gadgets like the iPhone and now the iPad all radio listening will come through a web based ‘wifi’ media interaction. This is already starting to take shape on the mainstream ‘commercial’ radio stations as most offer online live listening with previous shows available as Podcasts.
In ten years time you will get in your car, turn on your ‘wifi’ installed radio and tune in to Fluid Radio or any other web based station allowing the listener much more choice.
What music do you listen to while you work?
I love my folk music to be honest and it is often heard in the background whilst doing things around the house.
In saying that though the majority of my listening experience is based around the music that is played on the main channel on the radio station. I have this compulsive need to tune in every 10 minutes or so when I am near a web based application so that I can check that the two broadcast channels on Fluid Radio are streaming and there are no server issues!
That along with the fact that many hours each week are taken up by listening to CD submissions for our playlist. This means that I live and breath experimental ambient, abstract and modern classical music most days.
When did your interest in ambient/experimental music first begin?
From as early as an 8 year old I have been drawn to alternative music. I remember around 1984 when all my friends seemed to be obsessed with pop/commercial music I was the one trying to tune into the early experimental pirate electro radio stations.
To be honest whatever musical phase I have been into you will always find that I lean heavily towards the abstract/experimental side of the specific genre.
It is never done intentionally. It just seems to happen and probably has a lot to do with my father who was a sound engineer. He would often come home and play abstract sounds on white label 12’s when I was a child and I would think to myself…’This is sooooo cooool’.
What were (in your opinion) the best Cloudcasts you posted in 2009 and why?
Damn that put’s me totally on the spot!
There are so many great mixes we have added recently and to pick a few out is very tricky, but if I had to chose my top 3 it would go something like this I guess purely as they really are looking to raise the bar in experimental frequencies: Aaron Martin Exclusive, Richard Skelton Exclusive, Solo Andata Exclusive
What inspires you?
Ah that is simple…
Family.
Then…
Promoting new upcoming artists/labels.
There is nothing better than watching new artists come onto the scene and slowly develop and become recognised and respected for their contributions.
This is the simple reason why Fluid Radio exists!
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