Interface is probably the oldest and biggest pirate radio station on the web today. Their daily broadcasts reach thousands of listeners all over the world. For all of you who don't know, here's a small FAQ-ish interview Pan did with Interface staff members Jo and Eezee-E. |
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Alright, could you tell us briefly how things got started with InterFACE? Who's involved and what is the goal behind it.. IF: interFACE started six years ago, first as Hart FM then Face FM, originally set up by Mad Ash. It started off as the usual pirate station in some hidden flats in a tower block. As a result of the regular busts, soon we started using microwave transmitters, which made it impossible to find the studio and only left the DTI to come and pick up the ariel when they found us. The goal behind it is to spread true and original underground party music without any commercial interest. At present, interFACE is mainly run by a close team of five friends, being Mad Ash and his his wife, Jackie, Steve, Phillipa and Eezee E. However, it wouldn't be possible without the existing team of Djs, and an ever-growing team of voluntary studio managers. Could you give us some statistics about InterFACE listeners? IF: When we started in February 1997, we had 50 listeners. These days, the average lies between 10-12.000 simultaneous listeners at any one time, for almost any show. The locations vary from month to month, but about 40 percent is in the States or Canada, 50 percent in Europe and the other 10 percent spread round the world. The only area we don't seem to cover is India. Why did you want to do a internet-only radio station, and not a regular pirate like Kool or Rude FM or others? IF: We did London FM for five years, got fed up with the DTI game - hiding and running - and then we were given the opportunity to go on the internet by the companies who voluntarily still support us, also for us the new technology was and is fascinating and the way to go, we think.  IF: Because we cover the whole world now, instead of just one area, and no-one else seems to do this in a pirate style. Could you tell a bit about what radio means to London club culture? IF: Most club culture sprouts from underground music, which is usually first played on the pirate stations in the UK. Also, pirate stations plug all the other underground events, which later grow into club culture. How does a regular InterFACE week look? IF: The DJs are scheduled, so we have no problems there. We only need to sort out replacements if they can't make it for a show. The bunka usually gets occupied round noon by Phillipa and Steve, to do the office work, and be there for contacts, visits and interviews, etc. Then round 5pm, the studio manager on duty turns up, switching on and booting up all the systems, starting off the usual interFACE evening, being there for shouts and talking to people in our chat room while the Djs turn up to do their slots. How do you select the people who play on InterFACE? You have both fairly unkown talent as well as people representing recordlabels and shops. IF: Most of the people playing at interFACE at the moment have been with us for a long time, and originally joined us at the pirate FM stations, and bit by bit introduced friends and labels, who supported them. New talent and Djs are welcome to send us tapes to check out. If we are interested and have free slots, we first give them guest shows to see how it goes and then take it from there. You seem to be busy on all kinds of live-events being transmitted through InterFACE. With which clubs have you worked so far and what are the good and bad things about these cooperations ? IF: Bar Rumba, 333 club, The Complex, Happiness Stans and The Junction are the main ones. Good things: it is a chance for our Djs to play out in clubs. Local publicity for interFACE. Bad things: lots of energy and work go into these events, that could go into organising international events and PR, focusing on broadcasts from the studio. Are there any plans of taking InterFACE overseas? For example, InterFACE Europe, USA or Japan? IF: Yes indeed, we are always looking for more servers to mirror our music, but for the moment no physical move has been planned.  IF: InterFACE will start offering more and more extra channels, being special events, festivals, parties, etc. Music and video quality will improve and soon we hope to have a leased line, so we can broadcast 24 hr a day during the week too. In a year's time, we hope to be all round the world on satellite, offering many channels, many styles and maybe make it all interactive, so people can take it a step further and mix different Djs and hoperfully also graphic entertainment, which we intend to include. Who knows - the sky's the limit - we have the motivation and the music. How can people from the dutch breakbeat-related scene contribute to InterFACE, except from listening all day long ? IF: Spread the music, spread the word, spread the vibe, invite our Djs to come and play over there, organise parties and events together with us or even get involved and help us out with the website, e.g. by surfing the Net and collecting information on record labels, good URLs and links, etc, etc. Supply them to us, so we can make valuable databases which many other Net users will be able to enjoy. Also use your imagination and tell us what you think we should or could do and give us a hand. InterFACE is all of us. Any last words you'd like to say here? IF: Eurm..yeah!..plot..and rizlla's for the moment..;) E and Jo |
For additional info ICQ them on 4810232 or mail them on interFACE@eezeecope.demon.co.uk. |