Two weeks ago marked the first radio broadcast of WSK.fm, Fete dela WSK’s (pronounced WASAK) own pirate radio. Friends and guests were free to witness their first shows at Green Papaya Arts Projects.
Before they opened the broadcast, their stream was filled with loops of synthesizer sounds and a robot voice saying: “Machines should do the work. Machines should do the work. Machines should do the work.” Then they started their first program, called Radio Free Robots, with Kraftwerk’s The Robots. It was quite apt.
They closed the broadcast with a live performance by Joee & I with artist-in-residence Gene Kogan.
Now, here are a few words from TENGAL, one of the masterminds behind WSK.fm.
What are the reasons for starting WSK.fm?
“We wanted to bring radio back as a platform for communication and use this as an opportunity to showcase non-commercial sounds and a necessity for an uncensored radio station. The gov’t doesn’t own the airwaves, it’s owned by the people who can access it.”
When was the idea of having your own radio station conceived?
“Back in 2008, during the first Fete dela WSK. Merv Espina, Filipino curator based in Vietnam, and I would exchange mixtapes of eclectic music, like Egyptian punk, and it started culminating from there. The only things that were stopping us were legal issues and funding, but after getting a grant from the Japanese Foundation this year, we were finally able to start. Hopefully by 2014 we get legal status.”
Are there specific genres that you would like to showcase on this station?
“Genre doesn’t matter.”
Lastly, where can we hear WSK.fm?
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wsk-freewaves
Fete dela WSK closed on Nov 17. For more information, check out: https://www.facebook.com/FetedelaWSK or http://wsknow.com/.
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