FEATURE:
Station to Station
PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
I need to get out of the way before moving onto pouring praise over the subject of this feature. I started this feature a while ago. It is designed to highlight amazing D.J.s, presenters and broadcasters. I did number each feature but, as I have sort of lost count, I am going to abandon the number bit of it! I also have been quite negligent when it comes to broadcasters across BBC Radio 1’s sister stations. BBC Radio IXtra is a station that is very much up my alley! Cutting-edge, contemporary, cool, but with a hint of the vintage, throwback, and decades-spanning, one D.J./broadcaster I am very fond of is the amazing Fee Mak. Her Sunday breakfast show is such a treat! Alongside station colleagues like Nadia Jae (BBC Radio 1Xtra) and Sian Eleri (BBC Radio 1), she is one of the finest presenters in the country. One reason why I am highlighting Fee Mak is that I think she will be a radio legend of the future! Kicking things off at 7.am. on a Sunday, I guess many listeners are recovering from the Saturday night and need something soothing and uplifting. Rather than it being a show to fit in with the assumed demographic of BBC Radio 1Xtra, it is such a wide-reaching show! I think BBC Radio 1 and its sister stations is a lot broader than it has been for years when it comes to the music played, the target audience and the range of D.J.s there.
BBC Radio 1 Xtra (or just 1Xtra for short) is a station I have tuned into a lot more because of people like Fee Mak. So infectious and passionate about the music she plays, I do predict that she will D.J. at festivals around the world next year. She’d be awesome at Glastonbury 2023. Like titanic D.J.s such as Honey Dijon, I wonder whether Fee Mak has an album in her. Maybe a compilation series that she curates. I know her colleague Trevor Nelson is prolific when it comes to these compilations. Fee Mak’s eclectic tastes and undeniable knowledge for the music she spins would create demand and curiosity if she ever were to consider an album of her favourite Sunday morning jams – or a broader album of her choice tunes from across the years. I am going to snatch from an interview she gave this year, as it is always fascinating knowing more about young and exceptional broadcasting talent. Alongside peers like Nadia Jae, Joelah and KeKe, and Snoochie Shy, there are these extraordinary women who are changing the game! I love listening to Fee Mak as her voice is so warm and friendly - but she has this charm and enthusiasm that makes the listener feel like they are a mate of hers! You tune in and, without needing to read the room and get a feel of what the show is about, she is there to (metaphorically) throw her arm around you, give you a hot brew and welcome you to a Sunday morning or brilliant music, humour, and this incredible connection. Such a natural broadcaster, D.J. and future icon, go and invest some time exploring Fee Mak’s work!
In the course of researching, I have watched videos of Fee Mak, and there is the odd podcast she has appeared on. I personally would love to hear more podcasts with her on. Maybe she will do a weekly one down the line where she plays music, chats to guests – musical or otherwise – and we learn more about her beginnings. A one-on-one interview would be great to, as Fee Mak is such an immense talent and someone who enriches you the minute you hear her speak and play such stunning music! A strong and hugely talented broadcaster who is going to inspire so many other people to get into radio, I can’t wait to see her career blow up. Thinking ahead, but I can see her doing T.V. – if they ever do another music show to rival Later… with Jools Holland – and more radio shows too. Prior to coming to the interview I mentioned earlier on, I want to bring in some background and biography. First, go and follow Fee Mak on Instagram and Twitter. It is clear that the awesome and enormously promising Fee Mak is someone with a very long and golden future:
“Fee Mak is a Radio and TV Presenter based in London. She is the host of the BBC 1Xtra Breakfast show on Sunday's, 7-11am.
Fee started her presenting career at CSR 97.4FM, the student station for the University of Kent. Alongside her BA (Hons) French and Business Administration degree, Fee presented a weekly show showcasing the best up and coming new talent. Her shows included early music from the now established Ramz and Zone2.
Fee was picked up from her university radio shows by Westside Radio 89.6FM in London. And after only a few demos, Fee began to cover shows, followed by a permanent weekend slot on Saturdays. Her skills developed at Westside under the mentorship of the then breakfast show presenter Shayna Marie (Capital Xtra) and drivetime show host Rebecca Judd (Apple Music 1) leading to presenting the drivetime show ‘The Jam’, Monday to Friday. During Christmas 2019, Fee hosted Drivetime on BBC Radio 1 after being selected through their Presenter search. This led on to a month of Early Breakfast on Radio 1 alongside daytime cover shows. Shortly after, Fee made her debut on BBC 1Xtra where she deputised throughout the daytime schedule before landing the Sunday Breakfast show, 7-11am in July 2022.
During Fee's career in broadcast she has done many projects for digital platforms such as hosting the music show 'Hype Right Now' on Kiss TV (4Music) and interviewing a number of established acts and performers online, which includes comedian and broadcaster Kojo Anim, Ray Blk and Loski.
As a host, Fee has presented a variety of live events which includes the Urban Talent Show at Westfield London, Earls Court International Film Festival, live in-game for London Lions, London's oldest carnival 'Hanwell Carnival' and the inaugural Young Ealing Foundation awards.
Music has always played a predominant role in her life and from a young age, Fee has appreciated all music genres through various creative avenues. At the age of 8, she was a junior associate at The Royal Ballet School as well as a ballet girl on the Westend musical, Billy Elliot at 10 years old. Likewise, she expresses her creativity through fine art and was invited to showcase her work at an exhibition in London.
Having come so far, in such a short space of time the future looks increasingly bright for Fee. She is one of the UK’s most exciting young broadcasters”.
I would love to chat with her one day! A brilliant and adored presenter on Westside Radio, and one of the jewels in the crown at BBC Radio 1Xtra, she spoke to Fourth Floor earlier in the year about her work on Westside Radio, a prized BBC Radio 1 moment, promoting and saluting terrific new women in music coming through, and what happens next. Here is someone that everyone needs on their radar!
“AT WHAT POINT DID YOU REALISE THAT YOU WANTED TO BE A PRESENTER? AND HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN SOLELY RADIO THAT YOU’VE BEEN INTERESTED IN?
I never really planned on being a radio presenter but radio and music have always been a part of my life. I remember listening to Ricky, Melvin and Charlie every morning on the way to school and loving their vibe and chemistry on air, I also danced competitively for over 10 years (ballet, tap, street etc) and was exposed to different genres of music. But it wasn’t until I discovered Soulection Radio in 2015 that I really wanted to pursue radio. Their weekly radio show changed my life by introducing me to new sounds and artists from all 4 corners of the world (Goldlink, Masego, Kaytranada, Sango etc) and I would think, ‘Wow, Joe Kay has the best job ever’.
COULD WE HAVE SOME INSIGHT INTO YOUR JOURNEY UP UNTIL THIS POINT? HOW DID THIS ALL BEGIN?
I started my weekly university radio show, #LowkeyWithFEE at CSR 97.4FM (University of Kent) to showcase the best up and coming talent. I had little to no radio experience prior to creating my show so I was winging it 97.6% of the time but it was the perfect distraction from uni stress. I enjoyed discovering new artists and sounds, so my shows included music from the hottest artists in the scene right now like early Ramz, Knucks, DC, Zone2, Scribz Riley and more.
Using the advice of my best friend, I uploaded my shows on mixcloud as a way to put my content out there for people (whoever they were) to consume. Sometimes I would forget people were actually listening to my shows until the station manager of Westside Radio scouted me. This is was the push I definitely needed because my presenting style at university was 2 packs of ass (garbage)! I recorded demo after demo to develop my presenting style, then covered shows, followed by a permanent weekend slot. I was gassed and grateful. After a few months of presenting my weekend show, I was given the drive time slot which is BIG especially when taking over from Rebecca Judd (Apple Music 1 presenter).
THAT IS A SICK JOURNEY YOU’VE HAD! IT’S EASY TO FORGET THAT STUFF ONLINE CAN FIND ITS WAY TO ANYONE IN ANY INDUSTRY. SO NOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN DOING THE DRIVETIME SHOW FOR A WHILE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT BEING A PRESENTER AND IS THERE ANYONE THAT YOU LOOK UP TO FOR INSPIRATION?
My favourite thing is that I can wholeheartedly be myself and people love me for that. The one thing I knew I wanted to do in life is to get paid to be myself! I’m too stubborn to wake up and do something I don’t care about day after day. Presenting allows me to bring my personality and my love for music to my shows and you can’t learn that.
I have so many inspirations like Rebecca Judd and Shayna Marie who both came from Westside Radio too! I spent a lot of time shadowing their shows and learning from them, as well as covering their shows. Other inspirations are Clara Amfo, Sian Anderson, Henrie and Nadia Jae. Black women who are all different but absolutely killing the game in their own way!
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS THAT YOU ENJOY PLAYING ON YOUR SHOW?
I am LOVING the girls in the scene right now, so my shows definitely include artists like Miraa May and Bree Runway. You can’t go wrong with Victoria Monet and Snoh Aalegra too! Scribz Riley is new to some but real ones know he’s been mashing in work from time, so I’m currently spinning his new track too. There’s too many!!!!
YEAH MIRAA IS TOO COLD. THE UK WOMEN ARE DEFINITELY KILLING IT RIGHT NOW.
YOUR ENERGY ALWAYS RADIATES THROUGH THE SPEAKERS AND I THINK THAT YOU DO A GREAT JOB AT KEEPING YOUR AUDIENCE ENGAGED WHILST ALSO MAINTAINING PURE POSITIVE VIBES. I REMEMBER OVER CHRISTMAS YOU WERE ABLE TO COVER SOME SHOWS ON BBC RADIO 1, HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW EXCITED WERE YOU WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY AROSE?
Awww thanks!!!!
Mate, that experience is honestly a testament to God’s faithfulness. For ages I was applying for work experience at the BBC, as a producer or presenter and every time I never heard anything back. This time around I had no expectations, I told myself, ‘If I don’t hear anything back, it’s not that deep, something better will come along’ but at the same time I was thinking, presenting on Radio 1 would be lit! I applied anyway and left it. When I got a call back, I thought ’Naaaaaaaaaa! Are you dumb?!’ And the rest was history.
I was gassssssed and grateful because my journey isn’t how the average radio presenters career starts off. I had just graduated before taking over drive time at Westside and now I’m hosting two drive time shows at BBC Radio 1?! Please bear in mind that I also had NO CAREER PLAN following university. Mad mad mad word to Afro B.
I GUESS THAT LEADS PERFECTLY ON TO ASK; WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PROUDEST MOMENTS IN YOUR LIFE AND CAREER SO FAR?
Graduating at university is up there. For one, I don’t consider myself an academic at ALL. I was the average student at best, so graduating with a 2:1 reassured me that I really can do anything I put my mind to. It was 4 years of pure madness but I learned so much along the way, discovered myself and my career path too!
Another proud moment is obviously hosting drive time BBC Radio 1 too. Absolute scenes!
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO BREAK INTO THE RADIO INDUSTRY AND BECOME A PRESENTER?
Do it for the right reasons. When you’re passionate about something it shows and people see/hear it. Clout is killing my people and it’s so obvious when people are doing things because of trends or to be popping.
Start NOW! When I speak to other aspiring presenters, I always encourage them to just start. Use whatever resources you have, however you can and just do it. People spend too much time planning and day dreaming and less time being practical.
Networking is super important! I used to hate the term but it has enabled me to build genuine relationships with clean hearted people in the industry not just because of what they do but for who they are! I guess that kind of links into my final piece of advice, BE NICE.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRUGGLES THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED ON YOUR JOURNEY, ESPECIALLY AS A BLACK WOMAN IN A LARGELY WHITE, MALE DOMINATED SPHERE?
A lack of representation at bigger radio stations is a struggle for a black woman like myself. For example, over Christmas I received nasty DMs from strangers regarding the way I speak on air (e.g. not pronouncing my t’s like the true East Londoner I am) and I realised that a lot of listeners on certain stations are so used to hearing a particular type of presenter that a new voice rattles them. So I think it’s super important that young, fresh talent is introduced to bigger stations not just to tick a box but to genuinely diversify the talent.
THEY DID WHAT?! PEOPLE GENUINELY HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS IN TERMS OF REPRESENTATION WITHIN RADIO AND THE MEDIA AS A WHOLE?
Small small. Although, it shouldn’t take a man dying at the hands of the police and global protests to happen for big corporations to wake up and fight for change.
I know things won’t happen overnight. However, it’s going to take a lot more than removing the term ‘urban’. I just pray it’s not performative and that real change is taking place and being implemented behind the scenes.
AMEN!
ON THE TOPIC OF SOCIETY & ITS DOWNFALLS, HOW HAS COVID-19 IMPACTED THE INDUSTRY AND HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT SURFACED WHEN THE PANDEMIC CAME ABOUT?
I believe it’s made a lot of people reevaluate their priorities and work smarter instead of harder.
With everything in life, I approach it in a calm minded manner - panicking doesn’t change anything.
I was advised to buy a mic, which was the best investment I made because I could still do VoiceOver work and record my radio show from home. Even though pre-recording from home can be so long, it meant I was consistent in presenting which is helpful in the long run.
AND FINALLY, WHAT CAN LISTENERS EXPECT FROM FEE MAK OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?
You might see me on your tv screens or on a national radio station again but one thing’s for sure is that big tings a gwarn!!”.
Such a loved and infectious broadcaster, presenter and D.J., the pure love and passion Fee Mak exudes through the airwaves for her listeners is wonderful to hear! I have mentioned her in the context or her Sunday morning show on 1 Xtra, because that is where I discovered her. Not to overlook her essential work on Westside Radio, but this is someone primed for bigger roles on national radio. I have speculated what 2023 can bring. Maintaing her roles at the moment but, who knows, some huge D.J. gigs and a few cool interviews. Maybe cover slots on BBC Radio 1 or some screen time. Sky’s the limit when it comes to this exceptional human! There was a lot of curiosity when BBC Radio 1 shook up the schedules back in 2020, and how people like Fee Mak and Sian Eleri would fit in – and whether they would be loved and make an impact. Two years later, Fee Mak can look back with huge pride on all she has achieved! Someone who will be in radio for decades more, check her work out. I especially think she adds something unique and unforgettable to Sunday mornings…
PHOTO CREDIT: Richard Gray
ON 1Xtra!