Tell us a bit about Mode and its origins and how long you’ve been operating.
Matteo: Mode London is a community radio station based in Tottenham, North London. Founded in 2013, Mode represents music from across the UK underground and beyond, with a focus on UK Bass genres such as Grime, Dubstep, Drum & Bass & House. Over the past 13 years, Mode has been a place for artists from across London and further afield to come and hone in their skills, develop and improve through collaboration and acted as a place to network and meet like-minded artists.
What does longevity mean to you in the online radio space?
Matteo: Longevity to us means being able to provide a safe and consistent space for young people to come and hone their skills, meet like-minded people and experiment. Longevity also means creating a sustainable ecosystem that can continue to pay, support and inspire people for years to come.
Jason: Being able to provide a platform that helps usher new talent into the scene across the board from DJ’s, Producers & MC’s. Some of the cream of the crop in the UK Bass/Grime scene have come through and earned their stripes from their time at Mode amongst different generations and we want to keep being able to provide a platform for these talents.
What motivated you through the ups and downs over the years?
Matteo: Our biggest motivation over the years has been the fact that we are one of the few spaces in London that provides such an open and welcoming space for people representing UK Bass music and in particular Grime music. Realising that many spaces often require high financial investment from patrons or a strong social media presence has motivated us to continue providing a space to all, regardless of these factors.
Jason: Understanding how helpful and impactful we have been for many careers within Bass/Grime music has been a big motivation for us to keep going over the years. There aren't many spaces like ours and we’ve had to push through adversities and challenges no matter what because without us there would be a big void in the scene and many people who aren’t as established will have great difficulty trying to get on radio.
What was your closest call to shutting down? What kept you going through that moment?
Matteo: In 2019, just before the pandemic, our original studio was shut down. We had to move all of our equipment within a span of 12 hours and had nowhere to set back up. We were left offline for 9 months but staying down was never an option for us, we had so many residents and artists that used our space that we felt we had to work towards reopening.
Jason: When our studio got shut down it was a very dark time for us but I always saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Even during the darkness and uncertainty I knew we had no choice but to keep going as we’ve put in too much work, money, time and effort to stop at that point.
How has your vision for Mode evolved since day one — what’s changed and what’s stayed the same?
Matteo: Our vision has always been one of supporting and developing the next generation of talent, however over the years we have been able to refine our aims and goals into more substantial projects and plans, such as our DJ workshops with the Art’s Council in 2023 and our current project with Youth Music.
How has the online radio landscape evolved, and how have you adapted while staying true to your identity?
Matteo: With the rise in importance of social media presence over the years, the landscape of what is expected of us has changed massively, things like visuals, social media posts and “viral” content have all become things we must consider when reviewing the station's operations and goals.
Matteo: As a station that strives to service the community we are a part of, we have had to evolve with the times, providing our residents with the resources and access that has widely become standard. Ensuring that everything we do does service our direct community is how we ensure we stay true to our identity
How has Radio Cult contributed to your sustainability and long-term growth?
Matteo: Radio Cult has been instrumental in creating a sustainable future for the station, allowing us to clearly and with intention, adjust and adapt our programming. It has helped with developing “artists pages” giving our residents a platform to build their portfolio. Automated features such as Pre Record shows has also allowed us to have confidence in our long term growth in bringing in more residents without putting too much of a strain on our existing infrastructures
How has your community shaped Mode over time?
Matteo: Mode is defined by our community, as new genres or sounds become more popular, we see a rise in shows showcasing said sounds. By giving all of our residents and community members a voice, we ensure that Mode really feels like it belongs to our community rather than being an outsider. Creating a space where open expression of different genres and sounds is encouraged has meant that our residents feel confident in bringing forward new ideas, in turn shaping the future of the station.
What advice would you give new stations who want to build something that lasts?
Matteo: Focus on your immediate community, listen to their needs, stay true to your own values and block out any noise. Never feel disheartened by something someone else is doing.
Jason: Stay true to yourself, your audience and the ethos. Don’t conform to fit in with other people/radio stations and what they're doing. Concentrate on the community you're trying to build and cater to them.
What’s next for Mode?
Matteo: Continuing to build our community and bringing more people into the fold. More support and resources for the next generation of DJs, artists and creatives. Lots more collaborations and partnerships with other organisations and brands that share our core values.
Jason: As well as growing and developing the station we want to also focus on the record label Mode Recordings and building our catalogue. We also want to build our club nights “Party Ah Keep” and “Circuit”.
