Don’t touch that dial – Radio 1 tunes into the University of Northampton

The University of Northampton was represented on national radio this week – for three evenings running.

Popular Music graduate and associate lecturer, Yoshe Watson, can be heard presenting on the BBC Introducing Northampton programme, which showcases the local music scene each weekend on BBC Radio Northampton.

But this week, Yoshe and her fellow Introducing DJ, Lal Muttock, enjoyed a three-night run on Huw Stephens’ Radio 1 show, with guest slots on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Their aim was to showcase the very best music Northampton has to offer, and two of the six artists they featured have close associations with the University.

On Monday, they played the latest single from hotly tipped Northampton grunge-pop band OhBoy!, whose frontman Jay Brook used to work at the University, and guitarist Meg Amirghiasvand is a recent Graphic Communication graduate.

Hugely talented singer-songwriter, Jordan Mackampa – an alumnus of the Popular Music course – was also one of artists featured, when his track Colours was played on Wednesday.

“It was great to have the chance to showcase some of the brilliant musicians from our local scene on the legendary BBC Radio 1 this week, and also to have a taste of presenting on a truly global station,” said Yoshe.

“We’re very lucky to be surrounded by such fantastic music here, and I’m excited to see what happens next.”

Dr Nathan Wiseman-Trowse, the University’s Associate Professor in Popular Music, said: “Stories like this show how our students and graduates are already working not only at the heart of our cultural life regionally but nationally and internationally too.

“The Music department prides itself on producing motivated, creative and hard-working graduates who are already shaping the tastes of the future.”

Listen to Monday’s show, featuring OhBoy! (starts 2:24)

Listen to Tuesday’s show (starts 2:22)

Listen to Wednesday’s show, featuring Jordan Mackampa (2:29)