Over in Denmark, Pana Radio is putting the local music scenes on the map. Broadcasting out of Copenhagen and Aarhus, the station was born during the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn’t looked back since. All of the weird and wonderful nuances of Electronic music have a home at Pana Radio, which aims to build a community around unheard and underexposed genres, from Dub Techno to Footwork. With shows curated by their listeners and friends, the station is never short of alternative, eclectic and exciting music.
We talked to one of Pana’s co-founders, Andreas Dahl Trankjaer, about how the station came about, its devoted team of volunteers and their dreams of starting a record label.
What’s the story of Pana Radio?
Andreas: Pana Radio was born from the confinements of the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2021. Myself and my co-founder Thomas wanted to create a platform where we could shed light on lesser known genres within the spectrum of electronic music, and help promote non-commercial artists and their music. It started in Thomas’ living room where we would record mixes and eventually livestream. Today we have two studios, one in Copenhagen and one in Aarhus, and we are not only streaming but also engaging in our local communities, creating events, releasing music and more.
As a radio station, what are some of the things you stand for?
Since the beginning it has always been important to give a platform to those who are lacking one. Everyday we see the great amount of talent within our small country, and we are passionate about sharing that with people from all over the world.
What are some of the things you guys have done that you’re most proud of?
We’ve achieved a lot since the beginning of the Pana journey. Going from being only two people running the platform to a team of 13 volunteers and two studios is wild. I think we are proud that we have managed to create a community that is growing organically and people enjoy connecting with.
Tell us about Copenhagen and Aarhus where you broadcast – what’s happening culturally in both cities?
The two areas are very different when you compare them. Aarhus is quite a bit smaller than Copenhagen, and here you feel the community spirit a lot and everyone knows everyone. Over the past four or five years the city has experienced a growth in DJ crews and cultural actors that are doing a lot of cool stuff. In Copenhagen the scene is bigger and more established. You see more international bookings and there is a higher concentration of venues with a focus on dance music.
How do you engage with your local community?
We’ve hosted raves and events over the past years. On 28th February, we’re reviving an old event concept called Real Friends. It will be a mix between a community market featuring local artists, designers and small businesses, and a club night with four acts. We want to rethink the way we host events and parties and this is one way we are doing it.
What has satisfied you the most about building your community?
Being able to contribute to putting local DJs on the map and promote their talent is definitely something that has kept us motivated throughout the years. Being able to create space for new connections is something that we find very satisfying and will keep working towards.
What are some of your top tips for those who want to build a community?
Engagement is key. For us, engaging in our local community has fostered some valuable connections. Make sure to support your friends and colleagues in the local scene. Reach out to people you admire. Ask them for advice. Keep an open mind.
Who are members of the Pana Radio community that we should be looking out for?
There are definitely a lot of cool people and we would love to mention them all. In Aarhus it’s worth keeping an eye on a label called Lightweight Electronics. They put out some amazing music varying from Dub Techno to Ambient and Electro. In Copenhagen the producer and DJ duo Dirty Plates is worth looking out for. They make some nasty Bassline music and are still finding their sound which is a fun journey to follow along. Lastly it’s worth shouting out Taxi Trax Records. A relatively new label that has been putting out a couple of heavy Jungle and Footwork EP’s.
What are Pana Radio’s plans for 2025?
Besides making consistent streams from both our studios, we want to do more events this year. We want to make some connections with communities from outside of our country. Going on a trip visiting other stations is a big dream for us (give us a shout if you want to host us!). Lastly we are looking into starting a label releasing music. Big plans, and we can’t wait to realize them!