Few figures embody the spirit of musical curation quite like DJ Gilla. As a radio host for Bandcamp Radio and Rinse FM, as well as the Artist and Label Relations Lead at Bandcamp, he’s built a reputation for championing music that spans Jazz, Soul, Hip-Hop, Electronic and beyond. His journey with sound began in childhood, when his dad kickstarted his record collection with stacks of 7” singles, and it’s grown into a lifelong passion for discovering and sharing music.
From founding First Word Records to hosting shows that connect the dots between underground talent and established greats, DJ Gilla’s story is one rooted in curiosity, community and the joy of radio as a space for connection. We spoke to him about his journey and why diverse and unique voices are the future of radio.
How did your journey with music begin? Why did you want to get involved in radio?
DJ Gilla: I’ve been a music fan for as long as I can remember. When I was four years old my Dad bought me every Number One single on 7” for six months or so. That was the start of my record collection and it sort of escalated from there! When I was at school I would buy every music magazine I could get my hands on, often learning about a band before I had any idea of what they sounded like. I went to university in Leeds and bought my first pair of turntables in my second year. By the time I graduated I was managing a band, running club nights and did the occasional radio show on Leeds Student Radio. A few years later I started my label First Word Records and we’re still going, over two decades later.
What led to you getting your radio shows?
I do two regular shows at the moment. As well as running First Word, I’m the Artist and Label Relations Lead at Bandcamp. As part of that role I host the Bandcamp Selects show, which is focussed on new music from across the Jazz, Soul, Electronic and Beats spectrum. Since June I’ve also hosted a monthly show on Rinse FM. They contacted me to be part of their relaunched daytime schedule. I think my previous work on Worldwide FM was most likely where they’d heard me, although I didn’t actually ask!
Has radio always excited you?
Yes, I love sharing music. From my teenage years being that kid who always wanted to recommend a new band, to DJing in clubs and running the label, all of it is grounded in wanting to share great music with open minded people. Radio is one of the most direct ways of doing that. I still have treasured memories of listening to John Peel and Gilles Peterson as a teenager on my headphones when I was meant to be asleep. There’s a special connection between a radio host and the listener that is unlike anything else.
What are some of the guiding principles of your shows?
For Bandcamp Selects it’s all about new music so it’s pretty focussed and easy to define. For the Rinse show it’s much more freeform. It’s just a chance for me to share what’s currently on rotation on my turntable at home. I try to tell stories wherever I can, linking tracks through trivia, personal anecdotes and other narrative forms. For example, I love playing sample sources of a well-known track and then finding another track sampled by them. Connecting the dots to take the listener on a walk through the nerdy information stored in my brain!
In your radio journey, what would you say is your key defining moment?
I think getting my regular show on Worldwide was a big one for me. Before then I’d had shows on a range of stations without really ever finding my ‘home.’ WWFM provided that and there are people I met in the chatroom there that I still stay in touch with now.
Tell us about how you prepare for your shows.
I’m constantly adding tracks and ideas to a note on my phone and laptop. For Bandcamp a lot of the music is pitched via labels and PRs so I dump the Bandcamp links into a doc and then set aside a morning to listen and pick out what I want to play. I’ve started sorting the links by release date to make this a bit easier. Last week I did my first show in six weeks and had well over 100 tracks to pick through! For Rinse an idea or concept will wander about in the back of my mind which I think crystalise in the run-up. So far it’s felt very natural which I think is a good sign.
Which radio show from your archive do you think defines you?
I’d say it’s a show that came out back in February 2022. Myself and my good friend Mr Thing did a series of shows for WWFM called ‘The Lesson’, where we’d dissect a classic record or artist, sharing the history and influences behind the music. This particular edition was about J Dilla.
What are some of your proudest achievements in your radio career so far?
Getting the Rinse residency is a big one. I’ve listened to Rinse for years so to be part of the team there is really special.
When it comes to building the community around you, what has made you the happiest?
I love that the audience for radio shows are often more knowledgeable than the hosts. I’ve discovered so much brilliant music through the listeners which feels like a genuine community, not just a one-way exchange.
“There’s a special connection between a radio host and the listener that is unlike anything else.”
What would you say to someone who wants to present and put together a radio show?
Be clear about what your show is and why it’s different to everything else that’s out there. Share information as well as the music. A good presenter will tell the story of the music as well as being a great selector. Make sure you have instrumentals to talk over. I once forgot to do this and ended up conducting an interview over the same loop for 15 minutes! Share your tracklists; listeners love this and it helps artists too.
In your opinion, what does the future of radio look like?
I think it’s an interesting point where there is so much indie radio out there and there’s almost a saturation. In recent years I’ve tried to do something a little different, leaning into my strengths rather than trying to compete with anyone else. I think that more diverse and unique voices are the future of radio – empowering people to be themselves makes for compelling radio.
What do you think you’ve learned about yourself through your radio shows?
I think I’ve learned to trust my instincts on what I play. I’ve definitely played stuff in the past that I’m ‘supposed’ to like, even if I was a bit lukewarm on it. That goes down the path of inauthenticity which is not fun to listen to. Staying true to my own tastes and understanding that they’re no more or less valid than anyone else’s is an important thing to remember.