Refuge Worldwide radio launches in Berlin

Refuge, the Berlin-based fundraising series, have launched a new community radio platform this month: Refuge Worldwide, a home for music, conversation, and a blog. 

Refuge Worldwide’s programme combines internationally recognised and promising local artists, as well as offering a platform to marginalised communities and amplifying grassroots groups. The station will have shows from magazines and collectives, journalists, venues and activists, DJs, live acts, spoken word artists and community leaders. Topics covered by show hosts range from sustainability, identity, music, art and culture, sexuality, decolonisation, politics, human rights, migration and intersectionality.

Resident DJs announced on the radio roster include Kate Miller, Resom, Monty Luke, Stem, Cromby, Sally C, Telephones, Double Dancer, Steve Bicknell, Nathalie Capello, Golden Medusa, Gramrcy, Nazanin Noori, AfroOankali, Yuko Asanuma, Aver, Friendly Fires’ Jack Savidge, Mother from Rubadub, and Hardwax’s Jesse Gravina with Johanna Wenzel.

Featured collectives and platforms will include shows from female:pressure, an international network of female, transgender and non-binary artists; Berlin-based crew Climax, as well as CO:QUO, Black Brown Berlin, Daisychain Podcast, Warning, Femme Bass Mafia, Face The Music, Open Music Lab, and Creative Sustainability. 

Magazines involved with monthly slots on the station include long-running electronic music publication Truants, International Orange, and new Berlin publishing house SOFT EIS. 

Record labels with residencies at Refuge Worldwide are Love On The Rocks, Beats Of No Nation, Mansions & Millions (Best German Label at the VUT Indie Awards 2020), Concentric Records, Partisan Records, (home of Fela Kuti's back catalogue), and Berlin-based party crew/imprint Raiders.

Further notable shows will come from Tom and Finn Johannsen (Paloma), Ecodisco, and a talk show from Nathan Micay, producer behind HBO’s hit series ‘Industry’. Kemoy Jemmoy will present a monthly hour for The Queer Black Therapy Fund, while Phoenix Chase-Meares and Naomi Bah's Soul Sauna Symposium, also monthly, focuses on Black and queer communities with an hour of discussion and music about political, social and economic activism.

The station kicks-off it's broadcasting across four days per week, with more shows, features and extended hours to be announced in the coming months. There is an open door policy for show pitches. Guest shows in the opening weeks include Daisy Moon, Akirahawks, Ciel, Lucy Railton, Laura BCR and Benoit B.

Refuge founder George Patrick said, “Since 2015 the Refuge collective has been working in solidarity with NGO, non-profit and grassroots groups. This year we launch a new radio station to amplify the music and issues that we care about. The new Refuge Worldwide website will not only be a community platform but it will help to connect people with grassroots organisations and improve our fundraising efforts.”

“We are really excited to present a broad range of shows ranging from 100% music-focused programmes, to some that incorporate interviews and debate, to programmes completely dedicated to discussion. The music policy is diverse, from hip-hop to house, new wave to northern soul, reggae to R&B, ambient to IDM. All of our hosts have freedom to do what they like with their shows and programme structure, with a key aim behind the platform being to allow discourse to flourish, while delivering varied and high quality music.”

Supporters can contribute to the radio station’s running costs via a Patreon page. Patrons will receive exclusive content including videos, mixes and podcasts, as well as merchandise and more.

The station will operate remotely before safely moving into a physical studio in Berlin during 2021 (COVID regulations pending).