DKFM: Where the wild Shoegaze and Dreampop are!
If you like shoegaze, you like DKFM. No way around it. Since 2011 DKFM Shoegaze Radio is a not-for-profit venture established to spread the sounds of reverb and tremolo around the world. It is the most listened-to radio station solely dedicated to shoegaze and dream pop sounds.
In 2017 they won the best single stream webcaster award.
Noise Artists has spoken to a few members of the team about their passion and their DJ life.
Amber Crain
Why shoegaze/dreampop etc…?
Because I love the music, first and foremost. The music being made by shoegaze/dream pop artists is exciting to me. There’s always something new to hear and there’s a lot of variety in sound. People tend to think of shoegaze as one particular sound, but it’s not -- it’s more of an atmosphere. Sonically, there’s a lot of room for exploration within that atmosphere, and so many great bands are tapping into that.
What/who made you want to be a dj? Do you have any dj heroes?
I don’t have a DJ hero in radio. I was a bit of a club kid, so club DJs probably had more influence on me. I was always chasing the perfect song, the perfect set. I take a lot of joy in sharing music and supporting artists, and radio DJing offers the best platform for doing that.
Tell us about the artists you have worked with? Any good/bad surprises?
No bad surprises -- everyone I’ve worked with has been cool. Artists in this scene are some of the nicest around.
What are you trying to achieve as a DJ?
My goal is to make sure good music gets heard.
Which guest would you like to have on your show? Why?
I don’t know – probably no one, haha. I spend a lot of time curating songs and hunting for new bands. It feels like I’m bursting at the seams every week with awesome stuff to share, and my show is only an hour long! There’s no time for guests. Unless it’s Robert Smith.
What sets your show apart from the others on DKFM?
I think all of our shows are very different, and I love that. Everyone curates their shows carefully according to their own unique and personal tastes, and that’s what sets our shows apart.
What would be your ultimate goal for DKFM?
I don’t know; I feel like we’re already achieving our main goal. Sure, you can always cultivate a bigger audience, win more awards, put on more festivals, whatever, but stuff like that is just icing. If the music is getting out there, goal achieved.
You are dealing in a niche sound, is it still possible to evolve within that niche? Who is doing something new?
It’s completely possible and happening all the time. For the most part, shoegaze and dream pop bands aren’t driven by marketing, record labels, or a paycheck. They are making music because they’re passionate about what they’re doing and have complete artistic freedom to do whatever the hell they want. Freedom and passion keep things interesting, always.
What are you trying to avoid as a DJ?
Boredom and repetition.
In 2018 there is no new or old music to a 16 year old on the internet. Discuss.
Ha – I could write a book on that topic.
Who do you think would make a good addition to DKFM and why?
Robert Smith?
Greg Wilson
Why shoegaze/dreampop etc…?
Because it’s a living, breathing form. Usually ambitious, often epic, reaching for something other than bar chords and 4/4 time. Plus, as Robert Smith is fond of saying, “I hate rock and roll.” I’ll subscribe to that worldview.
What/who made you want to be a DJ? Do you have any DJ heroes?
I come from a radio family, so I have my own faults and preferences, wasn’t entirely shocking I’d end up building this …monstrosity. The presentation is as awkward and cringeworthy as I am, but slickly packaged and produced. My radio heroes have all been either tastemakers, comics, or news presenters. DKFM is a twisted amalgam of all three. Top-of-list, however, would have to be John Peel: find the music you love, and stand as its champion. If you love and believe it, and can defend it, you’ve done the bands AND the audience a service. In the end, that’s all that matters.
Tell us about the artists you have worked with? Any good/bad surprises?
Happy to have stood behind Miniatures since first EP release, and they only kept growing and perfecting their imprint. Same goes for Chicago’s Lightfoils and Panda Riot. Expecting big things from Austin’s Blushing, perhaps the next great standard-bearers for the sound.
What are you trying to achieve as a DJ?
World peace, or at least an end to Russian intervention in Western democracies. Barring that, the whole premise is to help great musicians spread the word about their creations to a wider world. Sometimes as an artist, you just need someone to stand up and yell on your behalf: “This is incredible, you REALLY should check this out!” I’m happiest when a new fan connects with a band they’ve heard pushed on our air.
Which guest would you like to have on your show? Why?
I personally prefer guests in print, relatively minimal chatter on air. Worldwide attention spans have dropped drastically in the last twenty years, so asking someone who’s NOT a fan of the band to fall in love based on radio banter? Statistical odds are poor. It’s like the old axiom: talking about art is like dancing about architecture. If you have to work too hard to TELL the audience WHY it’s great, it may not be so great standing on its own.
What sets your show apart from the others on DKFM?
Ultimately I built the foundation for all the shows currently on DKFM except one. Really only brought in Amber Crain of When The Sun Hits because the platform she built her radio on was faltering, and there was simply no way that her brand should fall away due to neglect. She’d perfected the passion and presentation years ago, and we presented her a complementary platform to continue her public sparkle.
What would be your ultimate goal for DKFM?
Picked up two radio awards last summer, so the recognition is nice. Competing with dubstep, country, R&B and others, we had to pick up our game if we wanted to compete on equal footing with some of these powerhouses. Much as anything else, we wanted to be certain that THIS sound could be taken at least as seriously as these other (lesser) genres.
You are dealing in a niche sound, is it still possible to evolve within that niche? Who is doing something new?
So many credible offshoots and crossovers, if you’re not hearing something new on the daily, you’re probably listening to another station. Would point to artists as varied as Kraus, Voices from Deep Below, Pinkshinyultrablast, The Stargazer Lilies… everyone charting their own course through texture and sound.
What are you trying to avoid as a DJ?
Repetition kills. And given that I’m responsible for how this ship is constructed, I have to listen more than most. So it’s important to try to freshen up the overall, before we appear stale.
In 2018 there is no new or old music to a 16 year old on the internet. Discuss.
Certainly Spotify would have you believe that. But a properly curated platform will always win out, as it is staffed by “true believers” and sonic evangelists. That’s the joy of working WITH fans, FOR fans, and supporting independent artists.
Who do you think would make a good addition to DKFM and why?
When we’ve got ducks in row, we’re hoping to rope in Sheila from San Diego for a psych crossover show, and Dean Bromley from Stoke, just to do the things he does so well. Both of those are just in discussion stages however. We still miss two shows we couldn’t keep due to host attrition: Terra Australis (Australia & New Zealand), and Shoegaze Classics and Rarities (underheard classics from first wave artists). Hoping to rebuild those two key pieces, in the public interest. Stay tuned!
JASON LAMOREAUX
Why shoegaze/dreampop etc…?
Well, I’m a latecomer to Shoegaze and Dreampop. I mean, I’ve always been a fan of The Cure, Cocteau Twins, and those 80’s bands but the bands of the 90’s weren’t on my radar until the early 2000’s. Then I encountered the Divebomber EP from The Lassie Foundation and I was sold. This lead me to Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, Lush, Highspire, and so many others. It was like this whole world opened up to me sonically and I never listened to music the same way again.
Like most music, it became the soundtrack of my life during the 2000’s and on and the community has also been incredible. I started writing for Somewherecold in around 2001 and really got an education in Shoegaze/Dreampop and ambient music. This music was my salvation through a lot of stressful times and I’m grateful to all the bands that worked with the site and me in interviews, etc.
What/who made you want to be a DJ? Do you have any dj heroes?
Once I started writing for Somewherecold, I always wanted to find ways to share bands with people. My whole ethos is about getting listeners connected with great bands and, hopefully, growing a band’s fanbase.
A while back, I had played with the idea of doing a podcast but then some copyright laws passed and there was this whole thing that basically shut that whole idea down. So, I had always wanted to play music in some format for folks.
Somewherecold went down, I was doing graduate work, and then ended up without work. So I started the site back up and low and behold got connected with a ton of new people in the scene including Greg at DKFM. I had offered to maybe do a special hour show or something as a guest on the station. Greg told me to send him some voice sample drop ins and I did. He then asked me to do a show and the rest is history!
Tell us about the artists you have worked with? Any good/bad surprises?
Most people have been super cool. It’s a very rare situation where someone is difficult. I have a tendency not to remember much about the folks that are negative and, frankly, I remember instances but not names.
There are some artists whom I now consider friends. So, I’ve built relationships in the scene and it’s been pretty awesome. But you asked about surprises. I think what surprises me sometimes is when you run into someone you consider “famous” and they are very cool and down to earth. Those are great moments, especially when you’ve listened to their music for years.
What are you trying to achieve as a DJ?
As I said above, I just want to expose people to new bands and their music. If I get a person to buy an album, become a lifelong fan of a band, or just get them into the genre, I think I’ve succeeded.
Which guest would you like to have on your show? Why?
If I had carte-blanche, I would want to have Simon Scott on the show. I’m a huge fan of Slowdive and I love Simon’s ambient music. Getting him to sort of help with track selection, getting his insight into recording, and so many other things would be fascinating to me.
I would also love to do a show with Krissy Vanderwoude because, well, it would be incredibly fun and total chaos.
What would be your ultimate goal for DKFM?
To rule the world… what else is there? Father Shoegaze must overtake all the airwaves.
You are dealing in a niche sound, is it still possible to evolve within that niche? Who is doing something new?
Well, I think of the two genres we cover at the station, Dreampop really is the most elastic. I mean, it’s hard to nail down and define. But so many bands come along and end up blowing us away at the station. I don’t really find it necessary to look for “different” but rather to look for those who are stretching the boundaries of the genres and really doing it exceptionally well.
What are you trying to avoid as a DJ?
Disappointing Father Shoegaze. I do it daily.
In 2018 there is no new or old music to a 16 year old on the internet. Discuss.
This suggests that they’ve found it all. They haven’t. 16 year old know-it-alls should get off my lawn.
Who do you think would make a good addition to DKFM and why?
Marc Dooley. His knowledge of the genres is vast.
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS
DKFM is a superb project, made possible by the passion of its members, but also the support of the listeners. You can become a patron for the monthly price of a cup o coffee and help the radio continue and grow.
So Shoegaze and Dreampop fan, joint the patrons’ list and share DKFM glorious name around.
