Saffron Threads: Rema
Threads of Saffron shares the rich journeys of Saffron’s alumni and community members. Find out what they’ve been up to since participating in our projects.
Producing podcasts with the BBC to curating her very own radio shows on Noods and Reprezent – “all streams lead to the same river”. This week, we caught up with Rema, who enrolled on our radio broadcasting course, in partnership with Noods Levels, in 2021.
Interview and words by Caragh Jones
Works in radio by day, bedroom DJ by night – it was only about time that Rema got in touch with Saffron. This coincided with the launch of Saffron’s latest course – radio broadcasting – designed to equip participants with the skills to curate their own radio show, to be aired on local station, Noods. Despite already working for the BBC, Rema applied having heard lots about Saffron and the work we do.
A few months later, Rema started the course surrounded by “incredible people and a sense of community” beautifully held by the course mentors, who “eased us into things, teaching us something new each week, building to something bigger.”
Inspired by a guest workshop with Nabihah Iqbal and “equipped with the practical skills that can seem so daunting at first” for example, how to get started with studio equipment, Rema built the confidence to broadcast her show After we flex on em’, “and go to Pirate alone, haha!”
Pirate aside, “the course changed my life! It taught me how to carve out my identity – that you can do what you want! And to believe that.”
Rema has continued to carve out that identity – securing a residency at Reprezent halfway through the Saffron Radio Broadcasting course (go, Rema!), supporting KG, leading to a residency with UK funky label and event series, Club Djembe and occasional guest shows where it all started – Noods Radio.
And it doesn’t stop there! 2023 has been a “fun and exciting journey” for Rema with an invite to play at Ashton Gate, supporting Sean Paul (yeye) and hosting The Information stage at Forwards Fest – there have been some huge moments.
Juggling this alongside a day job requires discipline and for Rema that’s creating space by “removing social media from [her] phone” – a healthy boundary that we’re very here for!
Describing Saffron as a “safe space”, Rema thinks “it’s obvious why Saffron should be supported into the future”. In case it’s not already crystal clear for anyone, she explains – “Saffron has created a generation of incredible DJs and creatives. It gives people the confidence to do things they may not have done – thank you, Saffron”.
And what better way to show gratitude than to return to the radio broadcasting course this year as a guest speaker – Rema can’t wait to share her experiences with the current cohort. A true full circle moment that Saffron is really proud of.
Rema is one of our many threads of Saffron – the amazing people that make up our rich community. We’ll be introducing you to another thread in a few weeks time. Keep your eyes peeled!
Want to follow in Rema’s footsteps? Sign up to our Saffron for Sound mailing list for upcoming music production, sound engineering and radio broadcasting course announcements
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT REMA