Jack Saunders

If there is 1 person you want in your corner championing you, it's Jack Saunders.

From being a Radio Presenter and DJ on BBC Radio ane'southward Hereafter Artists program to hosting the MTV Rocks Nautical chart evidence, to say Jack Saunders is busy would be an understatement. It's something he's warmly embracing afterwards the pandemic kickoff hit last twelvemonth when his in-studio show swiftly became something he recorded in the confines of his bedchamber. Itching to go out from under his makeshift recording studio under his duvet, Saunders, who is known for having a pulse on exactly what and who is about to pause out, leaned on new avenues to connect with his audience. Whether it was directly duetting with rise musicians on TikTok, creating a Discord server to chat about anything and everything, or using Twitch to create a welcoming community of music lovers, Saunders became reacquainted with those feverishly listening to his show.

Although he'southward at present dorsum in the studio, Saunders hasn't stopped his new ventures. Instead, he's seeking out even more ways to build his customs, a thread that ties all of Saunders projects — from his alive prove to his underground 'Hopscotch' gigs — together. All of this is to say Saunders is doing what he does best: being the tastemaker that every creative person, big and pocket-size, wants on their side.

In conversation with 1883, Jack Saunders speaks about his start in broadcasting and community building, his inherent need to champion rising artists, and how he'southward navigated everything from workplace pressure to toxic masculinity.

What was information technology well-nigh dissemination that made a young Jack Saunders decide to pursue information technology equally a career?

Information technology stemmed from the fact that I had grown up in a space where you could be a doctor, a lawyer, pursue finance or get an office job where you tin can rake in the cash. I would sit down in the motorcar every twenty-four hours with my mum and dad as they drove me to schoolhouse and I'd listen to the radio and hear how much fun they were having on-air and they were getting paid for it . I knew I wanted to do that. I didn't want to detest my job, I didn't desire to be bored, I desire to do what I love. I loved listening to the radio and being a part of it in any way, so that was the first initial reason why. Then, I realized the power of connection with the audience; being able to connect with so many people and experience like y'all accept this customs around something so specific is special. Over the lockdown period, I feel like I've harnessed it — I feel like I empathise and know them on a personal level.

While you were saying that it just fabricated me recall about how often fans say a certain artist helped them during rough times, but information technology's so truthful — someone that wakes upwardly every morning and has a routine where they play the radio, information technology's likely the aforementioned presenters every single day. They are inviting you lot into their lives and routines, yous become a fixture.

The best texts yous tin become are the ones where listeners say they've been listening since the beginning. When you're doing the show, y'all can forget that people are listening and have you right by their side. I've had a few letters over the last year telling people that they were feeling really depression, they were on their ain, and the prove saved their life. I haven't been at that place intentionally for them only knowing they switched on the radio and felt a connection… it's humbling and motivating for me. I effort my best to tap into whatever it is that's going on with them to effort and build that 2-fashion relationship you'd accept with a friend.

Right before we had this telephone call I was speaking to my friend because nosotros both started listening to the radio while in lockdown because it's nice to hear people around you speaking.

I get that though! BBC Radio is so tapped in and agreement of what their audience is and what they are going through, so it's been an absolute privilege of being at Radio Ane and broadcasting during this time to connect with people like you who needed that social interaction.

I know you lot got your start on student radio — how would you say that environment helped shape you as a broadcaster today?

It was integral to my career. It taught me the necessary basics I needed to get to where I am. I was an overly keen teenager who knew exactly what he wanted only didn't know how to get it. I'd beg anyone the chance to do it. Ironically plenty, making those relationships was really, actually important. In that location was this time I went for a job as a Station Audio Producer every bit a second-year university student! [Laughs] They gave me an interview and I couldn't believe information technology…. Until I went in for the interview and it did not go well so, but in a roundabout way information technology all worked out. The person who conducted the interview was impressed with my enthusiasm and wanted me to practice work experience only I had to tell them I didn't want to produce — I wanted to be a presenter. Luckily, the lovely Rebecca Frank didn't kick me out and she made me understand I needed to grind to get to where I needed to go.

God anoint Rebecca Frank!

[Laughs] Correct! She introduced me to a few people so I could get coffee with them and I had this epiphany where I realized it's but about beingness a nice person and seeing if people can help y'all and then render the favour. Never take no equally the end of the world, it simply took me a different way to get to my goal.

How have you seen the impact of radio — the community attribute of it — modify over the last twelvemonth due to the pandemic? Have you seen youth gravitate towards the radio more over the final yr because they are looking for that community?

I had to stop broadcasting the bear witness from the studio for 3 months considering of lockdown and it was horrific. I had no connexion, the live surroundings was taken from me, I couldn't even hear the music I was playing! I was just recording what I was proverb and it felt so soulless. To try to counter that, I tried to connect with the audience in another way so I started a Discord server. There are over m members on there at present connecting with me on diverse things and there's a "Future Artists Listening Party" where we have people hanging out and chatting and giving each other energy. It's helped me get closer to my audience considering I'm so interested in the new moving ridge of immature people and how they are pushing things forward because how they engage with things shapes how I volition have to adjust in the future. People shrug and scoff at TikTok and don't sympathize the relevance of it to radio, only they don't understand how to connect with young people; it would be criminal of me to ignore them when they are such a big function of my audience.

I think nosotros're similar in age — you're 28, right?

Yeah, 28.

Yeah, me as well. You must've grown upwards in the MySpace era as well and so?

MySpace and Bebo and all that.

I feel like that's where I discovered a lot of my favourite artists growing upwards and how social media opened up a new way for artists to promote themselves, and then it's been interesting to see how TikTok has done that for gen-z.

Information technology has, I never thought nigh it like that.

Now, probably more than ever in music, we don't need to take labels or music executives telling usa what we should be listening to. Information technology'southward ridiculous someone is saying it's not relevant to the radio when that'southward where the viral hits are beingness made.

There'south a total role reversal that people don't realize. People are in control on the internet and those big boss characterization execs have no control whatever. They can put coin in and boost the promotion as much as possible but at the end of the day, it's usually the raw talent of an artist that shines through. It's why I honey TikTok and so much. I've had a few meetings with them and they tell me people ever ask them how to go viral and they have no thought. [Laughs] They genuinely don't know and it's the greatest matter.

Now, when you are on TikTok, are you actively seeking things out, reading DMs and things like that, or are you lot just seeing what comes upward on your for you lot page?

I've sacked off the DMs, it'due south besides much. The all-time way for me to notice is to collaborate with that audition. I have a hashtag called #JackSaundersListenToThis which I'll rifle through and duet stuff I like to try to bring some attention to it. If information technology's actually good, I might even play it on Radio 1. On Twitch, it'south a similar affair; nosotros do Feedback Friday every Fri and I open up a chat and a discord server and information technology's mental — at 5 pm the chat opens and it's but an influx of people and songs on there. It's expert because it's not just me feeding dorsum my thoughts, information technology's a constructive community giving their thoughts and viewpoints. We might heed to a song and nosotros don't beloved it and we've had a few occasions where bands take gone back, made changes, and they've progressed. I've played three or 4 bands from in that location on Radio One because there's some sick stuff that but goes completely under the radar.

I listened to your chat with YUNGBLUD on his podcast when he compared you to John Peel and I like what he said well-nigh what sets you autonomously from others, which is the direct human relationship you make with the artists you spotlight on your prove. How does information technology feel to be compared to John Peel?

It was lovely but feels unnecessary because radio is an entirely new landscape now. It does mean a lot and I always appreciate information technology when he says stuff like that because John Pare has legendary status in championing new rising artists and was a gateway for so many new bands but radio has changed and music has changed so much, besides. John Peel used to be the showtime person to play things and now no one plays anything 'commencement' anymore. Now, information technology'southward very much from a champion standpoint and request practise we believe in this artist ? YUNGBLUD is a great example; no one was playing him on the radio, he didn't accept people who believed and backed him 100%. When I got my show it was articulate as day that he was an artist we had to get behind. He was my 2d session on the show, we debuted 'Loner', he's come for a million interviews, sometimes nosotros just call him up to chat. That's what happens when you lot get behind someone.

How does it feel to know artists like YUNGBLUD, someone who is so creative and loves to push boundaries, really cares near your stance and what you have to say?

Information technology comes back to what we were maxim earlier — I feel like I've got an ear and an understanding of what a younger generation is looking for and what sounds expert and what doesn't. I've known him for a long fourth dimension before we were both in a heightened position and then there's a very natural friendship betwixt us. He will send me stuff and enquire me what I call back and it'due south humbling to know I can give feedback to ane of the about exciting new artists on the planet. The relationship with artists is really important and information technology's something I strive to do, but it's non a situation where I feel like I need to be friends with everyone. It'south an I fucking love your music and I'd beloved to back up you and if we can accept a beer while doing it, why not? type of state of affairs. Most bands are receptive to that and it creates a movement and energy that just feels so good.

You and I share something in common, which is championing ascent acts and shining a light on those who are just breaking it into music. For our weekly playlists, it'southward important to me to highlight rising artists rather than giving spots to artists like Justin Bieber or Ariana Grande who don't exactly demand a playlist spot. Why is information technology of import for you to give honey to lesser-known acts?

Considering the more than established bands and artists volition respect you lot more. If you gear up out with a mindset of merely existence there for the big bands, that'due south fine, simply you lot'll gain more than respect from those people by being a champion of the newer stuff and helping the new acts come through. For me, I just want people to succeed. I'g interested in the younger generation, how they are thinking differently, and how they engage with artists differently. It'due south helped give me new ideas which is exciting and motivating. In the end, information technology'southward just a natural love for supporting new music.

Yeah, I know for me it'south always dainty to see smaller artists see 1883's playlists and get excited about having a feature. For me, information technology'due south just another Friday playlist. For them, it's just another stride in the right management.

The real large moment for people similar you and I comes when the band has a big moment—they become a #1, they get signed to a label, or something else—and you were at that place from the commencement. Artists don't forget that stuff.

Although the music industry has made a lot of changes, I still feel similar toxic masculinity exists in some aspects. Yous're very free with your epitome and not befitting to any sort of societal standards. When you first started pursuing music dissemination as a career, did you have to deal with whatsoever situations where you felt like y'all needed to box yourself in?

I don't call up anyone has been outright offensive to me, just it was definitely within my head and what I perceived other people to potentially think of me. Before in my career, I never had the confidence to be equally free as I am at present because I was stressed about what people would remember of me or what it could practise with my career in the future. A lot of this stuff is downwardly to timing and I would never regret not doing information technology because you take to go on a journey and learn. At present, nosotros're living in a time where everyone is open to be who they are. I love doing photoshoots and looking more than feminine and dressing differently and showing off a new side of who I am. I'grand a straight white guy in the music manufacture—it's difficult for me to be offended and there'due south a privilege at that place. I demand to exist aware of the people who aren't so lucky, support them, and elevator them. Using my platform to highlight women in music, transgender artists, and everyone else who isn't a straight white man.

Seeing someone embrace who they are helps other people embrace who they are, besides.

I know what yous mean. I'one thousand non old, simply I volition exist at some point, and there's ever going to exist a abiding catamenia of xviii-year-olds who I'm broadcasting to. How they live their lives and how open they are is going to alter constantly so I take to make an effort to both practice the aforementioned and understand them. I'g a role model equally a broadcaster; people listen to you and look upwards to you lot, sometimes without even realizing it themselves. You take to exist switched on with them equally much as possible.

Is the label 'role model' something that stresses you out?

The opposite — I love it. I've looked at people in similar positions and I don't retrieve they've given it as much attending as they should. That is not good if y'all're trying to connect with your audience, peculiarly a immature one that craves connection and stimulation.

Lastly, what's coming upwards next for you that you're excited nigh and who are the 3 acts we should be paying attention to?

Hopscotch will be returning afterward this yr—engagement and format to exist announced—but it's going to exist bigger and meliorate than ever. Information technology's going to be an epicentre of culture and new music. It'll retain the same idea of bigger bands performing as a way of paying information technology forward past playing an undercover secret headline slot somewhere. In terms of three artists… Shygirl and the vocal 'Siren', absolutely amazing. She's one of those acts that are very genre-fluid, like Charli XCX and Sophie. So much grit and attitude. Police force Car Collective, a band from Liverpool, who I'm obsessed with. They are dandy because their sound is a very new moving ridge tapped into the 80s like The Cure and The Smiths, simply what they talk about in their music is so relevant to the kids of the day. Information technology feels similar a vortex mix of cultures from different decades. And the last one…. Take you heard of Cassyette? The perfect blend of hyper popular meets gothic metal.

I dear the genre-blending so much, there is no need for genre labels anymore.

There'south no need at all! I adopt that because it allows me to describe it in this crazy way and that's always fun.

Well, thanks for such a lovely chat. I really enjoyed myself. Anytime you want to talk about The Mandalorian, let me know.

I loved information technology, thank you. And I'll definitely take yous up on that.

Interview past Kelsey Barnes

Jack Presents Future Artists weekdays on BBC Radio 1, click hither for all episodes.

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Source: https://1883magazine.com/jack-saunders/

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