ON AIR FEST | REVIEW
Online, Thurs 8-Sat 10 Apr
On Air is an innovative online festival that searches the breadth of audio culture and of storytelling, with a rich array of new and diverse voices dispersed amongst more well known ones. Francis Ford Coppola in conversation with the Kitchen sisters was a particular highlight on Fri 9 Apr, whilst other standout appearances came from renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and comedian Jenny Slate.
I have found that I have learnt so much more about managing my own use of language, in situations I would never have engaged with before lockdown. This festival broached topics which might be considered ‘difficult conversations’, as well as tackling taboo subjects in profound and problematic circumstances regarding the relationships we form with an audience as creatives.
Topics the festival looked at included: branding as designers and visualising intangible concepts; monetizing podcasts using and finding support services; building a community amongst women of colour and minorities as well as forming a creative platform specifically to raise awareness; conversations about using genre to display the content a creator has in the best possible way; learning about cacophonous sound; how to create show pitches; raising engagement; how showcasing diversity through our creative platforms is very necessary in our society; forthcoming performance development and much more.
The message I took away from the weekend has been to make as much noise as possible to engage an audience. There is a TED Talk-style podcast titled Lost Birds starting in June 2021 as a result of the festival; its hosts, Mona Chalabi and Julio Torres, held my interest for their full show and used relaxing background sound that functioned as ASMR.
As someone who’s relied on podcasts to relax before bed and calm my anxiety, I found a plethora of new voices to add to my list – including Switched-On Pop, which looks at the making and meaning of popular music, and NPR’s Code Switch, illuminating its audience on family, tradition, and race. They hit home about hard-hitting news topics that impact every area of our society by journalists of colour.
While the three I have mentioned come especially recommended, try something new today!
Info: www.onairfest.com
words BILLIE INGRAM-SOFOKLEOUS
