FEATURE:
Station to Station
Jess Iszatt (Magic Chilled, BBC)
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THERE is no doubting the fact…
that Jess Iszatt is one of the best broadcasters in the country. An incredibly passionate and amazing talent who is also one of the best interviewers in radio, she is someone I predict a huge future for. At the moment, you can hear her on Magic Chilled (It's #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and the theme this year is anxiety, she hosts the perfect show to keep you chilled. I suffer from anxiety hugely, and the music she plays is very soothing and useful), and BBC Music Introducing (on BBC Radio London). She also presents Radio 1 Relax at the weekend. For someone so young, she has accomplished so much already. A motivational speaker and host of The Record Club, this is someone who is going to win a load of awards and success. A D.J. at London Spirit, the amazing Jess Iszatt is someone everyone should know. Such a professional, warm, incredibly personable, funny and compelling voice, it is no wonder that she is in such high demand! You can follow her on Twitter, and Facebook. You can also find her on TikTok. I cannot find an official website but, with such a broad and exciting portfolio, I wonder if that will come in the future. One of the busiest people in radio and music, I can well see her being in broadcasting for decades more. She will definitely get a flagship and huge show on BBC Radio 1 soon. A dedicated and fervent champion of new music, I wonder if there is a Spotify playlist of her favourite new artists. Iszatt definitely has a terrific sense of which artists are going to make a big splash! I will try and drop a few videos/podcasts in here, just to give you an example of why Iszatt is so respected and exceptional. Go and listen to her amazing programmes - as each offers something different in terms of her talent and personality.
Not that she has much space in her diary, but Iszatt is a talent I can see translating to T.V. soon. I have always argued that we need a new music T.V. show. One that can readily sit alongside Later… with Jools Holland. I could see Jess Iszatt and maybe Clara Amfo hosting that. The BBC has tried to launch an alternative a while back but, with a great concept and something fresh but eclectic in nature, it could be something that has legs and lasts for years. She is incredible natural in front of a camera, and her experience and clear passion is a big reason people would tune in and watch a music T.V. show. I think that Jess Iszatt is someone who should be a career-spanning interview. Someone filming an interview with her. She has interviewed plenty of artists, but there are so many people who would love to know more about her. Undoubtedly she is influencing others thinking of getting into broadcasting. I will come to an interview soon. Before that, here is some background and biography about one of the country’s broadcasting queens:
“Exciting new talent Jess Iszatt is the presenter and producer of the BBC Music Introducing show every Saturday night 8pm-10pm on BBC Radio London, showcasing the best undiscovered and under the radar musicians from London. Jess also presents weekdays 4-8pm on Magic Chilled, playing fresh, laid-back hits from the 90’s, 00’s and present.
She prides herself as a tastemaker at the forefront of the new music scene in the UK, and has strong links with AIM (the Association of Independent Music), presenting for their annual awards 3 years running.
For BBC Radio 1 she can also be heard covering frequently for Jack Saunders Future Artists Show on as well as having hosted their Chillest Show for the most recent Christmas Presenter search. Jess has also covered the BBC Introducing Mixtape with Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music) and has featured on Jamz Supernova’s Tuesday night specialist show (BBC Radio 1Xtra) and Radio 1’s Introducing show. She was nominated for Best New Talent at the Frank Gillard Awards 2021, for local BBC Radio.
Jess has presented for The Hook, one of the largest media groups online for entertainment, viral videos and news, interviewing Hollywood stars such as James Franco and his brother Dave Franco, Scarlett Johansson, Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Relishing her passion for music, Jess often DJs at festivals and events.
Outside of music, she regularly hosts the short film night: Shorts on Tap, supporting emerging London film makers, and plays hockey competitively for Broxbourne hockey club, and is often found out on the London gig scene.
Jess graduated with a 2:1 BA Honours degree in Psychology, Sociology & Media and Communications from the University of Newcastle, and has previously worked at BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC Essex, Secret Garden Party, MEATtransMISSION radio, Rinse FM, Capital North East, ITV Tyne Tees and Spark FM”.
Unlike artists, broadcasters are mainly stationery. In the sense they work from particular studios and do not travel a great deal. As D.J., Jess Iszatt has ventured fairly far and wide, but I can also see her broadcasting in America in the future too. She strikes me as someone who could get a footing in the U.S. and syndicate there. She is an exciting and enormously promising broadcaster who is essential listening! I want to reference a Headliner Magazine interview. They spoke to Iszatt about her role with BBC Introducing London and how it felt to be at the forefront of championing the best new music around:
“Jess Iszatt started out working on student radio stations, and has now made a real name for herself as producer/presenter of BBC Introducing London. We chat about her route into the business, the importance of BBC Introducing as an initiative, and some of her musical highlights to date.
What was it that drew you to BBC Introducing and why?
Well, my initial steps into radio were uni radio experiences - Newcastle Student Radio, followed by leaving uni and thinking ‘what do I now?’ Then I joined Sunderland’s Uni Radio, Spark FM. My knowledge of music back then was basically just The Killers, Busted, and Avril Lavigne, so when it came to presenting, they decided it was best to put me on the new music show, ‘Spark Undiscovered’, which is where I was given my first taster of discovering new music! Grass roots up. Fast forward to the next year, I moved home to Hertfordshire and, just like aspiring musicians, I joined the ranks of BBC Music Introducing (back then just known as BBC Introducing – not quite such a mouthful) in Beds, Herts and Bucks as a volunteer on the show at BBC Three Counties Radio.
In answer to your question though, the reason I stuck with the ‘new music route’ - as vague as that sounds - was mainly because it was so much more exciting to meet these emerging musicians, just as passionate as I was, all in the same boat together learning about the industry and the world of music at the same time. It was cool and exciting to meet these talented artists who are so grateful, and genuinely happy to be where they are at. And it was cool to be in a position to help that, and say we genuinely heard them first.
Why do you think BBC Intro is so beneficial to up and coming artists?
I think it is so great because it allows artists a way to get their music heard by a platform that can make a difference. It means that an artist with nothing other than pure talent can make a real relationship with people just as passionate as they are about getting their music out there! It provides opportunities, completely free of cost, such as radio play at a local level, a route through to national airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music, Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Asian Network, interviews, live sessions, sessions at Maida Vale, recording sessions at Abbey Road studios, the chance to play at stages and festivals across the UK (such as our monthly gig at the Lexington, and festivals like Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury, Latitude, The Long Road, plus loads more) and also across the world as well - for example, New York Jazz Festival, SXSW, and Reeperbahn. Not to mention the backing of your local show! True fans of your music, regardless of how many or how little followers or Spotify plays you have.
Are there any plans underway in development of BBC Intro?
I think the main initiative across the country is to get more female voices on air aiming for a 50:50 split. Thankfully at BBC Music Introducing in London, this is not an issue at all! We have some wicked female musicians and guests on our show! Not to mention our team is mostly female behind the scenes as well.
PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
If you could have any other role at BBC Introducing what would it be?
[Laughs] If you had asked me that a couple of months ago, I would have said to present the show – I now have the pleasure of my dream job… plus I get to produce the show as well. I am not a control freak, promise!
How and why is it that BBC Intro stays at the forefront of new music?
Well I guess that is up to us making sure we attract the best new music, and be the best at our jobs. The new musicians coming through have so many avenues of getting their music out there these days, we have to ask why they would want to send their music to us, and why it is worth their time and effort. The job role is just to play music on our show - we are proactive in going to gigs, organising sessions, educating ourselves on the local scene, inviting in guests who are not just music makers, but people who work in the industry to provide advice, we make sure all genres and styles of music get played, and we adapt the show where necessary!”.
I am going to round it off there I think. Maybe I have got ahead of myself regarding the predictions and career trajectory of Jess Iszatt! She does inspire that sort of imagination and praise. Iszatt represents London hard…but this is someone whose potential and promise is worldwide. One of the key voices across the BBC and Magic Chilled, she is a phenomenal D.J. and tastemaker (and motivational speaker). I am a big fan of her work with The Record Club – and she recently interviewed the phenomenal Jessie Ware -, and I think that there is going to be this very long and bright future for Iszatt. She clearly adored what she does. Whether she is spinning some much-needed weekend chill vibes or showcasing some phenomenal new artists (I have discovered many a new favourite through her shows), this is someone that is a jewel in British broadcasting. Check out her shows and follow her on social media. If she is not on your radar already, do make sure that she is soon enough! It may be relatively early days for Jess Iszatt, but you can guarantee that she will be a huge name…
SOONER rather than later.