Zane Lowe

Hello and very nice to meet you Zane, thank you for sparing us some time I know you must be busy today.

Na, glad to be here man.

So a few quick questions for you… Who is your favourite radio 1 dj to listen to when you’re off air?

Who I listen to? Omg, theres so many, that’s a hard one… I’m a big fan of Nick Grimshaw, I think he’s a great broadcaster. I’m also a massive fan of Annie Mac… You know every one, I cant really boil it down to one person. Traditionally though, probably the Dj I listen to most growing up was Giles Peterson. He’s moved on now to 6 music, but as a kid growing up it was definitely him that influenced me in a big way.

 You are famous for getting new bands/music out there listening to EP’s and playing them on the radio, what do you do with the bad ones? Do you give feedback or is it a ‘don’t call us we’ll call you’ situation?

Haha It’s not like that. The way we look at it on our show is that we want to play what we think will sound amazing on the radio. Records that don’t nessessarily connect for us or for the audience or for the show as a whole, theres always other outlests for people to play them… I mean a record never just blows into the atmosphere and never gets played anymore, theres different tastes everywhere. We never get too caught up in “oh this records good because of this, this and this’ It’s just not to our taste but, maybe next time. Sort of thing.

Very cool. So what is ther best thing about being a radio 1 Dj and what is worst?

Well for me the best thing about being at Radio 1 is having the freedom to play what I want to play. I’m in a situation where I get to play for 8 hours a week in a really good time slot, is something that none of who play on the show take for granted for any second of the day. The worst thing about it? … That one day it will probably come to an end.

So what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you see yourself as you are now?

I wanted to be a producer and musician. I wanted to make music primarily and I get to do that, so I’m lucky in a sense that I have a job that gives me the flexibility to do that. I didn’t knbow I’d be a Radio broadcaster, it wasn’t something I had a specific aspiration to do as a kid all I wanted to do was make music… but seeming as I don’t make it all the time, music that is, what I do is the closest thing to that id doing what I do, playing other peoples music.

Do you play your own music? (on the radio)

Not on the radio, but I do in my DJ sets yeah.

Cool. And what is your summer anthem this year?

Oh! My gosh… To be honest… Probably fundamental, feel the love.

Good choice. Last one… Bit of a curve ball.

Ok…

Were having a riddle competition for everyone we interview… I’m going to ask you three riddles and we’ll compare your scores with everyone else we interview. Ready?

1)   What gets wetter as it dries?

Um… No idea…

A towel.

Ahhhh.

2)   What has roots that nobody sees, is taller than trees, up up it goes and yet never grows?

What has roots that nobody sees…

That’s the main clue…

… Air?

I’m afraid not. It’s a mountain. They say that they have roots.

I was trying to be clever there, saying air, but it actually makes no sense haha!

It’s a tough one. Ok last one, you ready for this? Mentally warmed up?

Go!

3)   What has four legs in the morning, two at midday and 3 in the evening?

Oh my god… I wish my friend Zed was here! He’s the dude with this stuff, the crossword king.

Pffffttt I give up what is it?!

It’s a human. Four legs: crawling as a baby. Two legs: Walking as an adult. Three legs: Walking with a kane.

Ah yeah! I remember that one now!

Well thank you so much again and have a good one!

You too.

Annie Mac

Hello! Very nice to meet you Annie. A few quick fire questions for you.

Uh-huh I’m ready.

What is it like living the dream as a radio 1 DJ?

Life is good. Life is busy, but it’s great. You do a show every week and then you get situations like this where you really remember the power of radio 1. You get to see your colleagues and catch up with people and… do your thing representing radio 1 and feels really good.

What is the best thing and the worst thing about working at radio 1?

Best thing: Being able to play music of my choice to a huge audience and hopefully… Turn people on to music that I love.

Worst: Probably the toilets…

Yeah theres a really big queue….

No not here! In the office, they’re terrible!

Haha would never have thought! So what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you see yourself as you are now?

When I was little all I wanted to do was be an actress… Erm… and then I basically discovered music and dance music and started listening to radio 1 at 17… 18. And as soon as I heard it I was like, ‘that’s where I want to be’.

Who is your favorite radio 1 dj to listen to when you’re off air?

I always listen to Grimmy, because he’s a mate. And I always listen to Zane because I specialise in dance music and its really nice to catch up on bands.

Now, the riddle game. Everyone we’ve interviewed we’ve asked three riddles and we’re comparing scores…

Ok… Don’t know how good I am at riddles.

1)   What gets wetter as it dries?

Is it a towel?

You got it! Next ones a little harder…

2)   What has roots that nobody sees, is taller than trees, up up it goes and yet never grows?

A building or something…?

A mountain…

No way! I’m going to wikipedia this…

3)   What has four legs in the morning, two at midday and three in the evening?

… Dining table? Or something…

Ah it’s a human. Crawling, walking and a walking with a cane. The clue is in the abstract metaphor for time, morning, midday, evening. Of your life, sort of thing…

Oh that’s ridiculous!

Very punny haha! Thank you, have a great set.

Bye!