Global Reggae Charts - Issue #19 / December 2018

COMMUNITY
RADIO
Germany
global reggae charts
featured voter
INTERVIEW
Two voters we feature this month. First we have Zoë
and P-Nut, who presents their show “Wha Gwaan -
Reggae & Dancehall” at radio Leinehertz 106.5 in
Hanover, Germany.
Global Reggae Charts: Please introduce yourself
and your radio show to our readers!
Thorben & Zoë: We are Zoë and P-Nut from Sound
System Frontward International, and have been
doing the monthly radio show “Wha Gwaan -
Reggae & Dancehall” broadcast by Radio Leinhertz
106.5 since 2009 from Hanover (Germany). We shall
soon celebrate the 10th anniversary of our show.
GRC: What made you fall in love with reggae?
Zoë: I have known reggae since childhood, because
my parents had some records of Jimmy Cliff and
Bob Marley at home. Later, a friend gave me a tape
recording of Steel Pulse, and thus I started listening
to more and more reggae. But I really got hooked by
the first parties I went to - dancehall by Mr. Vegas,
Beenie Man, Lady Saw …
Thorben: I grew up with hip hop. I first heard reggae
at the beginning of the nineties, when I gave a friend
a reggae record as a birthday present. Subsequently,
my friends and I kept recording tapes. I also travelled
to German cities, which had large record stores to
sample and buy discs, as there was no internet then.
What I particularly like about reggae is that it carries
a positive message.
GRC: How did you get into radio and what is your
motivation?
Thorben: I made a radio show about reggae as early
as 1998. I always wanted to pass on the positive
vibes of the music, present new songs, and share
with others the pleasure this gave me. I also enjoy
discovering and supporting new artists.
Zoë: I was intrigued by the medium of radio, the
peek behind the curtains. Besides which, I like to
learn new things. But I never thought that we would
stay for so long.
GRC: What spectrum of music do you play in your
show and which artists have you found most inspiring
lately?
Zoë: We try to include all genres belonging to
reggae in our show, ranging from ska to dancehall.
We place particular emphasis on presenting current
songs and new releases from all over the world.
Though we focus on the German and European reggae
scenes, we never let Jamaica out of our sights.
We also try to provide background information about
the music, and we conduct interesting interviews
with the artists. My favorite artists at the moment
are Shenseea, Razor B, and Javada.
Thorben: Of course we also give our listeners information
and tips on and about interesting events.
At present, I am fascinated by the new generation of
Jamaican women such as Aza Lineage, Lila Iké, and
Koffee. But Germany also has new artists such as
Rico, Jahfro, CARL, and the Berlin Boom Orchestra.
global reggae charts | issue 19 / dec 2019
4