Huw Stephens
I was in a band called PicNic and I was the rapper. I don't want to talk about it.
Lovely beardy Huw, with his lilting Welsh accent and gentle ways is the right man to speak to if you’re after something fresh for your ears. His passion for new music has encouraged hundreds of musicians to go for it as a career, and his support for BBC Introducing has meant it’s easier than ever to get noticed by those who matter in the record industry. He got a job with Radio 1 when he was just 17 and hasn’t looked back since. I spoke to him about John Peel, Latitude and that time he was a rapper.
So you were the youngest ever Radio 1 presenter when you got a job at the age of 17! How did you go about getting that job?
I was a DJ on Hospital radio in Cardiff when I was 15, and got involved in reviewing bands, local radio and going to gigs. Radio 1 were looking for a young Welsh presenter at the time and I was in the right place at the right time.
How did your passion for music first start?
There were a lot of great bands in Wales at the time who I loved! It was escapism, listening to amazing songs and bands on the radio at night sparked something in me that I couldn't shake. I couldn't play music very well but I wanted to get involved so I started organising gigs, DJing, writing and doing the radio show.
Have you ever made music yourself or been in a band?
I was in a band called PicNic and I was the rapper. I don't want to talk about it.
Was it terrifying getting your first national radio slot as one of the replacements for John Peel?
Doing all radio shows can be very exciting, and equally terrifying. We were all so sad when John Peel died. He was a one off. So none of us felt we were replacing him, as he was irreplaceable to be honest.
You speak Welsh fluently and use that skill on both radio and TV; why do you think it’s important to keep the language alive?
It's my first language so I will always speak it and always love it. It's very close to my heart.
Can you tell us a bit about what BBC Introducing is and how it can help musicians?
It's a great way of sharing music. With new audiences, radio shows, festivals, other musicians and music industry people. We play great new music across the Introducing shows on the BBC, and that network can find something new, share it and give it a huge new audience. It's grown as an idea over the years, and gets better and better.
You curate the BBC Introducing stages at loads of festivals including Reading & Leeds, Glastonbury, and T in the Park; how do you go about choosing who will play at each festival each year?
Well I'm one of the people who gets to help decide who plays. We all listen to loads of new music, and come up with our favourites, independent of each other. You're looking for artists who are awesome live, would suit that particular festival well and who really deserve that prestigious festival slot.
Which group or act have you been most proud to discover?
There's so many every year. Last year it was great to see Slaves break through.
Can you tell us some of the big names that came through uploading their music to BBC Introducing?
Well I'd say Florence and the Machine, Jake Bugg and George Ezra is a good place to start. We released an album recently of some live music highlights from BBC Introducing stages and the track listing is ridiculous, just really impressive!
You also curate the Lake Stage at Latitude, which is of course Norwich’s most local festival. What do you love most about Latitude?
It's a wonderful festival that as well as having an awesome music line up every year, always brings amazing comedy and poetry and different things to it. I always have a great time and see something new at Latitude.
What record can’t you get enough of right now?
The new Everything Everything album is brilliant!
Have you been to Norwich before? What do you think of it or what have you heard about it?
I have been to Norwich to DJ a couple of times and I had a great time. I know the local music scene is healthy and there's loads of dedicated people who support the scene.
What can we expect from you and the BBC Introducing stage at the Big Weekend in Norwich this month?
It's a big part of Radio 1's Big Weekend, so you can expect nothing but incredible new music talent! See you there!
Huw will be a part of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend Norwich 2015 on 23rd & 24th May, on Radio 1, online, on mobile and via the BBC iPlayer Radio app.
Lovely beardy Huw, with his lilting Welsh accent and gentle ways is the right man to speak to if you’re after something fresh for your ears. His passion for new music has encouraged hundreds of musicians to go for it as a career, and his support for BBC Introducing has meant it’s easier than ever to get noticed by those who matter in the record industry. He got a job with Radio 1 when he was just 17 and hasn’t looked back since. I spoke to him about John Peel, Latitude and that time he was a rapper.
So you were the youngest ever Radio 1 presenter when you got a job at the age of 17! How did you go about getting that job?
I was a DJ on Hospital radio in Cardiff when I was 15, and got involved in reviewing bands, local radio and going to gigs. Radio 1 were looking for a young Welsh presenter at the time and I was in the right place at the right time.
How did your passion for music first start?
There were a lot of great bands in Wales at the time who I loved! It was escapism, listening to amazing songs and bands on the radio at night sparked something in me that I couldn't shake. I couldn't play music very well but I wanted to get involved so I started organising gigs, DJing, writing and doing the radio show.
Have you ever made music yourself or been in a band?
I was in a band called PicNic and I was the rapper. I don't want to talk about it.
Was it terrifying getting your first national radio slot as one of the replacements for John Peel?
Doing all radio shows can be very exciting, and equally terrifying. We were all so sad when John Peel died. He was a one off. So none of us felt we were replacing him, as he was irreplaceable to be honest.
You speak Welsh fluently and use that skill on both radio and TV; why do you think it’s important to keep the language alive?
It's my first language so I will always speak it and always love it. It's very close to my heart.
Can you tell us a bit about what BBC Introducing is and how it can help musicians?
It's a great way of sharing music. With new audiences, radio shows, festivals, other musicians and music industry people. We play great new music across the Introducing shows on the BBC, and that network can find something new, share it and give it a huge new audience. It's grown as an idea over the years, and gets better and better.
You curate the BBC Introducing stages at loads of festivals including Reading & Leeds, Glastonbury, and T in the Park; how do you go about choosing who will play at each festival each year?
Well I'm one of the people who gets to help decide who plays. We all listen to loads of new music, and come up with our favourites, independent of each other. You're looking for artists who are awesome live, would suit that particular festival well and who really deserve that prestigious festival slot.
Which group or act have you been most proud to discover?
There's so many every year. Last year it was great to see Slaves break through.
Can you tell us some of the big names that came through uploading their music to BBC Introducing?
Well I'd say Florence and the Machine, Jake Bugg and George Ezra is a good place to start. We released an album recently of some live music highlights from BBC Introducing stages and the track listing is ridiculous, just really impressive!
You also curate the Lake Stage at Latitude, which is of course Norwich’s most local festival. What do you love most about Latitude?
It's a wonderful festival that as well as having an awesome music line up every year, always brings amazing comedy and poetry and different things to it. I always have a great time and see something new at Latitude.
What record can’t you get enough of right now?
The new Everything Everything album is brilliant!
Have you been to Norwich before? What do you think of it or what have you heard about it?
I have been to Norwich to DJ a couple of times and I had a great time. I know the local music scene is healthy and there's loads of dedicated people who support the scene.
What can we expect from you and the BBC Introducing stage at the Big Weekend in Norwich this month?
It's a big part of Radio 1's Big Weekend, so you can expect nothing but incredible new music talent! See you there!
Huw will be a part of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend Norwich 2015 on 23rd & 24th May, on Radio 1, online, on mobile and via the BBC iPlayer Radio app.
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