Few people embody the spirit of community radio quite like Matthew Pape (left). A lifelong music obsessive whose journey began in small-town Wisconsin with stacks of Melody Maker and NME, Pape has built a global following through his eclectic shows on The Face Radio and ThamesFM. From late-night DJ sets in New York’s Lower East Side to broadcasting straight from his café, Atlas Obscura, he’s turned his passion for discovery into a celebration of connection — blending warmth, wit and “music without borders” on his flagship show, ‘Worldy.’
We spoke to Matthew Pape about his thrilling musical journey and how he continues to be a conduit for music and community.
Give us a breakdown of your journey with music and your journey to radio.
Matthew Pape: It’s been a long one. Before the internet, I would scour Melody Maker and NME. Amazingly, they stocked them at my small-town library in Wisconsin. But it was still nearly impossible to actually hear the music I was reading about. Sometimes it took months to track down an ‘import.’ At 12, I got an under-the-table job at a local record store. I wasn’t paid in cash but in promo records and posters, which was more than enough to fuel my obsession with music and discovery. Later, I started a band. The only problem was I absolutely couldn’t sing and since I had made myself the lead singer, that didn’t help. I switched to bass, but I wasn’t much better there, though I’ll always love playing the line in Modern English’s ‘I Melt With You’ when the bass slides into the solo.
So, by default, I became a DJ. Sometimes it worked; more often people yelled at me. I started my own nights in Seattle and New York just to make sure I’d have gigs. The late nights eventually took their toll. I never made money but I had a lot of fun. Through my friend Tony Fletcher, I met Kurtis Powers, who had just started The Face Radio. Tony had come to one of my French Nights in the Lower East Side, and the introduction followed from there. Since then, I’ve hosted as many as three shows a week. Now I’m also on ThamesFM and honestly, radio has become my favorite kind of DJing. These days, I broadcast straight from my café, Atlas Obscura.
What attracted you to radio at first?
The hours were kinder than late-night club gigs, for one. More importantly, Kurtis gave me space to grow. Radio is a very different skill set from DJing in a bar, and honestly, I was terrible at first. But Kurtis encouraged me to keep going and my love of music gave me the drive to improve.
As you host multiple shows on The Face Radio, are there any principles or themes that tie them all together?
For me, it always starts with the music, and from there it’s about community. My show ‘Worldy’, which I co-host with Dom Pearce, is subtitled ‘Music Without Borders.’ It’s eclectic, joyful and full of laughs. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we do try to stay professional. At the heart of it, we want to spread love, discovery and joy.
Has there been a turning point for you in your radio journey so far?
I’m an analog guy, so I mostly play vinyl. When I started, I was simultaneously a DJ, producer and sound engineer, which meant a lot of growing pains just getting things to work. I’d spend the week setting everything up at home, then pack up my turntables and mixer for weekend gigs, only to have to reassemble it all again on Sunday. Things often went wrong and it was stressful.
With Kurtis’s help, I got through it. Now, five years and around 600 shows later, I finally have a system that works and it’s become my favorite way to DJ.
How do you prepare for your shows?
I’m always gathering music in my head throughout the week. Sometimes I try to be topical, answering the news or mood of the day with a track.
What is one radio show that you think defines you?
That’s tough. I don’t think there’s just one. But I’ll say my first show on ThamesFM felt special. I packed it with favorites just in case I got run over by a double-decker bus afterward!
What are some of your proudest moments in your career so far?
Playing a New Year’s Eve gig at the Knitting Factory and somehow moving the whole crowd afterward to a loft in Brooklyn. That party didn’t end until January 3rd! But really, my achievements are personal ones. When someone tells me it was the best night of their life or when a listener thanks me for introducing them to a song, that’s the most rewarding thing. I’ve never needed anything flashy beyond that.
With your presence in radio, what have been the most satisfying parts of building the community around you?
Meeting the other Face Radio DJs and listeners has been incredible. We’ve got a Discord where people tune in, share jokes, send GIFs and over time they’ve become like family. If someone doesn’t check in for a week, I find myself thinking, ‘I hope they’re okay.’ Folks like Nicholas in Philly, Kate in NYC, Matt in New Orleans and of course, my mom.
“When a listener thanks me for introducing them to a song, that’s the most rewarding thing.”
If someone asked you how to present and put together a radio show, what would you say?
The show starts before the records spin, and the records won’t spin unless the turntable is plugged in. Beyond that, I’d say always be grateful for the time you get to do what you love.
What in your view does the future of radio look like?
I think radio has huge potential, especially for community. The idea that shows are broadcast live and simultaneously around the world excites me. I hope radio has the same kind of cultural explosion that podcasts did.
What do you think you’ve learned about yourself through your radio career?
Plenty of life lessons. just with the best soundtrack running underneath it all.