Founded in Lyon in 2014, LYL Radio emerged as a meeting point for the city’s scattered music communities. A space where DJs, selectors and sound obsessives could gather, experiment and build something of their own.

Rooted in Lyon but reaching far beyond it, the station has grown into a platform that treats radio not just as a broadcast medium, but as a social, political and artistic project, one shaped by total creative freedom and a deep commitment to the margins where independent culture continues to thrive. We spoke to the LYL Radio crew about their mission, Lyon’s current cultural happenings and how they unite geeks and weirdos in equal measure. 

How did LYL Radio come about?

LYL Radio came about in Lyon around 2014 in an effort to represent the little crew(s) we had then in the city and gather all of its music geeks.

What values are important to you as a radio station?

For us it’s important to keep things experimental, not only experimental as a sound or a genre, but as a social, political and artistic project. We aim at developing while maintaining a total freedom of action.

Lyon has such a rich history as a creative hub – what makes the area tick? What’s happening culturally right now?

Lyon goes through waves and we’re feeling we’re now on the grind of a new one, with a fresh generation of DJs and selectors with strong identities to express. It feels promising. Culturally right now, as in many other big cities of the western world, independent culture is battling against an important push of conservative descent. The music and ethics we’re promoting we’ll always be there, in the cracks, at the margins, dancing in the dark. No big deal.

Do you engage with your local community? What does that look like?

Very much, we’re a physical studio before an international radio. It’s all coming from the city we live in, where we have our meetings, where we manage everything that goes through our webradio. We try to stay informed of everything happening in the city involving sound and music. We attend, we meet, we talk, we listen, we invite. The aim is to never stop looking for who’s doing what, and sometimes we collaborate!

What have been the most satisfying parts of building the LYL community?

Experiencing an alternative organization, building a system of our own, growing from the support and efforts of everyone involved, being constantly surprised by its generosity.

Who are some members of your community that we should be keeping an eye on?

It’s best if you choose where you put your eyes and ears yourself. Go to our page, cruise through the genres, scroll through, navigate, feel your luck, click!

What are some of your proudest achievements as a creative hub so far?

Besides the music we’ve produced and shared, we’re mostly happy about creating a versatile, always-changing space for people to connect with the music and each other.

Tell us about LYL’s plans for 2026?

LYL Radio is entering a new phase, the core, the spirit stays what it always has been, it’s just the formula that’s evolving. We want to work the details and the quality with more ease. Share the stories between the shows and the humans behind the decks. We want to broaden our community and open our studio to new faces, beginners, upcoming killers, discreet geeks, weirdos and anyone caring enough for the music and culture we’re sharing.

10 essential LYL Radio shows

1. The Reggae Show w/ The Reggae Archives
2. Tasty Love w/ DJ Dreamboy
3. Digital Sting Radio Hour w/ Shawn Reed
4. Gamut w/ saskia
5. Sentimentalism w/ Ike Zwanikken
6. Play Stupid Games Win Stupid Prizes w/ Judaah
7. Basta Now: LUCKY NUMBERS w/ Fanny Chiarello
8. Dreampage w/ Violeta de Mira
9. Instinctive travel w/ Byche
10. Ghost Dubs w/ Ghost Dubs

Follow LYL Radio on Mixcloud and Instagram.