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No Signal Radio 10v10:
A Quarantine Tale of Enjoyment
Having wrapped up its second season of 10v10, I thought it’d be appropriate to discuss No Signal Radio and how vital it has been in this season of lockdown.
When lockdown began, I felt that a little part of me died and the enjoyment I’d begun to taste once again was being ripped away from my life. As an extrovert who’d taken a break from all things bars, clubs and parties, only to return just before the COVID hit, lockdown to me felt like a death to enjoyment. Of course, I’m being dramatic and understand the importance of minimising the risk to everyone, but I feel human things such as disappointment and it’s okay to say that. At the core of this disappointment was the idea of not being able to link up with friends and go to spaces with good music and good vibes. It was a lot to take in, however, that is where No Signal Radio came in and changed our lockdown lives.
The idea of clashes started floating around on Instagram and we were provided with some sound entertainment from celebrities sharing what they thought to be their best tracks, over shaky internet connections and with dodgy technical knowledge. The Instagram celebrity clashes were followed by the birth and death of redacted bloodclart rapper’s quarantine radio, which allowed people to feel as if they were in the club, but due to breaches of the rules and guidelines, and the wasting of almond milk, Instagram had to shut it down.
The blessing that has been the No Signal 10v10 clashes came about in April. I'm actually not someone who listens to radio, never really have been as I've always enjoyed being the curator of my own playlists. However, the clashes provide something that most radio stations aren’t providing, and that's competition. But it's the healthy and hearty kind, where we get to explore the catalogues of great artists, genres or labels etc.
The premise of the show is simple: one presenter, two DJs and a theme to be represented. Each DJ chooses a song for each round in attempt to win over the heads and hearts of the listeners, who will have a set time to vote for each round via twitter. This very interactive format for these clashes is what brought the masses in. I went from avoiding my Twitter timeline, to specifically tuning in at 9pm so I could enjoy the tracks that the DJs had to offer, the banter, the vibes, and the musical and cultural conversations that the show was starting up.
The first season provided us with Mariah vs. Beyoncé, Drake vs. Rihanna (a very biased clash), Giggs vs. Skepta, 80s vs. 90s and many more other memorable clashes. Season 2 then came back swinging with even more categories, more structure (but still some confusion, they’re still ironing out some kinks) and a lot more entertainment – personally, the Death Row vs. Bad Boy clash gave me the most life. The entertainment has been endless and there’s something special about this form of entertainment.
There is a great pride in hearing the selections of the DJs and what they think is going to be good enough to combat. As an audience we are always hoping or expecting certain songs by artists to be played and we feel so strongly about our musical opinions, however the DJ has the control and when they make a different move, it generates hilarious conversations on the timeline (Skully is an opp, you can’t tell me different). These clashes are opening us up to more music and allowing us to reminisce and be nostalgic. There's so much good music out there are, and this time is allowing us to look back and fall in love with it all over again, as well as uniting us together to express our opinions and feel a part of something greater, because we are.
There has been great representation of different forms of black culture in music. From the variety of genres showcased, the scope of artists etc. No Signal Radio have made it clear that they are representing black folks from all around the world and uniting everyone through music. NS10v10 has been very vital for the black British community in lockdown. There is something about music that is intertwined in community and it shows in the success that No Signal Radio have had over the past few months. The continuous participation shows that they are offering something we were missing and through the internet and participatory culture, more of us have access, which we otherwise would have been denied as a result of location (not all of us Black Brits live in London).
Additionally, I applaud No Signal Radio for not only being a platform that serves to entertain the masses, but also it has served as a platform for black voices to be heard. From providing history lessons about the music to the listeners, to talking about the Black Live Matter Movement and even providing networking opportunities, No Signal Radio are ensuring that the community is looked after as well as entertained.
No Signal Radio is welcoming everyone black person out there and saying: Here is your home. Now kick your feet up, bless your speakers and enjoy the music that we have to offer as unapologetically black as you can. Enjoy the banter, enjoy the laughter, but also know that this is a place of love and respect, a place where you don't have to feel othered.
Culture, celebration and unity – those are the three words I would use to describe No Signal Radio.