Project Description

Interview with

MADDY MAC

from

PBS 106.7FM

Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs

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“In Melbourne, we have a music scene that is the envy of the world right now, and I think PBS plays a big part by representing our music community so well. It is an absolute honour & privilege to be able to present two hours of the weird & wonderful music I come across every week with such an engaging & committed audience. The people who present the shows & the people who work behind the scenes at PBS are all music freaks, and I love everyone’s dedication to getting the music out into the world. Community radio really is the heartbeat of the wonderful music community we have here.” – Mike Gurrieri presenter Mystic Brew

“Since 2009, parents, caregivers and their little ones have been clambering up the Fitzroy Town Hall steps and into the baby-friendly cushioned mosh pit to hear great live local music. Growing a community of music lovers of all ages is what PBS does best.” – Dr Shelley Brunt, RMIT University.

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How did you first get into music? When did it become a serious concern?
I had a pretty musical upbringing, listening and dancing to my parents records. As a kid my parents did a swap with other local parents – my dad would drive their kids to school where he taught in exchange for piano lessons for me from their mum. Then in high school I picked up tenor sax, then baritone, and playing in a Motown band. Playing in a band, and playing and attending festivals, had a huge influence. The band and then festivals just had me experience music as a communal thing, that we need to look out for one another.

What kind of music did you grow up on? What artists inspired you early on?
Being a kid in regional Victoria in the 1990s meant rock and grunge were there, mostly via triple J. Then playing sax I was playing jazz and soul, and accessing this through PBS. I still love soul and Motown, and Marvin Gaye / Tammi Terrell duets will always have a special place in my heart.

How long have you been in your role at PBS Radio?
I’ve been announcing Homebrew, PBS’ Australian music program for over 10 years. I’ve had a stint on breakfast, and I was happy to return to Homebrew with co-host Paddy Furze.

How did you get the gig and what does it mean to you?
When I moved to Melbourne for uni, I continued listening to PBS and it was my companion as I found friends and venues and bands in this city. I decided to do the announcer course back in 2006, and my demo was for an Australian music program, mostly to give back to a community who had meant so much to me already. I quickly found myself in a Saturday night/Sunday morning graveyard shift. I loved it! Then in 2008 Homebrew moved into the daytime, on Mondays 3-5pm where it’s still at.

How did PBS Radio Festival start? What is it all about?
Radio Festival has been going for as long as I know, though it’s come a long way. It used to be manic and mad, we’d have all sorts of spot giveaways (though mostly an inordinate amount of DVDs of A Harder They Come and James Brown live) to get the phones ringing. These days it runs really smoothly, but the reason behind it remains the same. As a community radio station, PBS is community funded, meaning it is able to exist only because its big, wide community gets behind it financially by becoming members to the station. We try to consolidate that call-out for members to the two weeks of Radio Festival, where we aim to raise the bulk of the $$s for the next 12 months of broadcasting. 

How did you decide on the Work Your Magic theme? What does Work Your Magic entail?
Each year we think up ideas that play on to vocab we use to explain and communicate membership to PBS listeners. Previous themes have included love, ’Give us a ring,’ locomotion ‘Get on board,’ even the election ’Vote #1 PBS.’
If I was to define magic, it would be the use of potent yet under-appreciated ways and means of enhancing your life – think casting spells, brewing potions, cultivating curses, honouring voodoo. In this sense, PBS IS magical – in its funding model and its independence. Capitalism as it is today, and the commercialisation of everrrrrything, it is magical that PBS continues to exist, that the community continues to pay for something they can access for free. And without a doubt life is enhanced with the existence and soundtrack of PBS – as listeners, but also as musicians, as gig goers, as crate-diggers.

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What will you be asking of PBS supporters during PBS Radio Festival this year? 
We’re asking listeners and fans of the station to become a member, pay your annual dues, to ensure PBS can cover its costs for the 12 months ahead. Listening to radio is free, but it costs to keep it running. Those dollars come from the community, or PBS doesn’t exist. It’s a s black and white as that. We couldn’t become commercial and accept advertising money, not that we’d want to, but we would need a commercial radio license. And our listeners have arrived at PBS precisely because they don’t want commercial radio.

Rock-A-Bye Baby is back again for its 10th year – what is the event?
Rock-a-bye-baby is a music event for young children and babies, but with bands that parents, carers and adults will dig. It means PBS fans with little ones can catch some of Melbourne’s great live bands in an environment that is safe and supportive for families.  

How can people find out more about PBS Radio Festival? 
Call 03 8415 1067 and speak to one of our volunteers, ask them what it’s all about. You can head to the website pbsfm.org.au but so many friends say they love calling the station and speaking to someone real, having a chat. It’s kind of the beauty of radio, that personal connection, even in the membership transaction.

What does the Melbourne music scene mean to you?
It’s my oxygen.

How can listeners and music fans support their local music scene?
Encourage performers to become Performer members to PBS – they’ll have their name read out weekly which is great promotion, and they’re supporting a station that will actually listen to and respect their music. As a music fan, ensure your music scenes have healthy support. Is your scene represented around the traps? Maybe step up and become an announcer some that you can support that scene.

As a radio presenter and, I presume, a music lover, who are you listening to at the moment? Any awesome new music you can share with us?
I’m loving Mwanje’s latest single ‘Divine’. She’s Sampa the Great’s sister and features on Sampa’s track Inner Voice from the Birds and the Bee9 LP.

What are your major goals or milestones for the future?
– To see PBS move into its new premises at Collingwood Arts Precinct sometime next year.
– To see my radio students step into programs of their own.
– To play more live music myself, just because it feels so good.
– I’d love to interview Kev Carmody. He is one of my favourite, special people.
– To write a feminist track for my young, musical cousins – something they could easily play themselves, to encourage them in their music without worry. Music has too many perks to let anxiety and self-consciousness creep in and halt us.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVORITE:
Album – Adalita
Artist – Adalita
Movie – Blade Runner
Place to visit – Stevenson’s Falls
Venue to play – Old Bar
Food = Cake
Drink – A spicy bloody mary
Person in History – Poly Styrene
Tattoo –  (if you don’t have one, one you would get?) I have a few, all of which I love. One that gets a lot of comments is a figure by local legend Frances Cannon – a naked lady dancing – tattooed by local legend Jane Laver (former PBS) at Chapel Tattoos. I also have a gang tattoo with some other women from PBS – it was a personal way for us to acknowledge this unique thing we all do, and the friendship that we formed from that. 

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Prepare to be amazed – the most magical time of the year is upon us again, as PBS 106.7FM is in the middle of its  biggest membership drive of the year. The charmers of PBS invite you to Work Your Magic, to help them keep Melbourne’s beloved music station dazzling and astonishing audiences for another year with the magic of radio.
Behold, and be captivated by the spellbinding diversity of music that emerges from the station 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. Clear your calendar and dust off the old magic wand and top hat (make sure the rabbit’s well fed), and prepare to immerse yourself in PBS’ wondrous 2019 Radio Festival.

Beginning last Monday 13 May and going through to Sunday 26 May, PBS is asking its marvellous supporters to clear out the spare change from behind their ears and gaze upon the array of benefits of an annual PBS membership.

By renewing or becoming a first time member, your support will help the station to “Work Their Magic”, allowing its loyal volunteer presenters to continue to bring their transcending shows to airwaves.

The magicians behind the scenes at PBS have been hard at work conjuring up some of the most enchanting prizes to excite and encourage listeners to join up during this May’s Radio Festival. All those people who sign up or renew during the festival will automatically go into the draw to win one of the major prizes.

This year’s array of astounding prizes include:

–        Primavera 125 i-GET Vespa representing the quintessential urban commute in classic Rosso Dragon red with tan saddle trim, courtesy of Peter Stevens Motorcycles.

–        Golden Plains luxury package including festival double pass, luxury powered caravan, chartered transportation, food, beverage and gift shop pack.

–        A Clingan Guitar Tone handmade electric guitar with road case.

–        Gett by Funk turntable with AT cartridge courtesy of audiophile.

–        A year’s worth of PBS feature albums.

–    Plus exclusive prizes up for grabs for all performer, business, pet and junior members, as well as our Friends for a Decade and Friends for Life

All new and renewing members who join during Radio festival fun will receive an exclusive Sounds of Studio 5 Live recording featuring enchanting live performances from the likes of The Teskey Brothers, Mojo Juju & REMI.

For truly passionate or higher-level memberships, a limited edition 2019 Radio Festival T-shirt designed by local artist Annie Walter will magically appear in your letterbox…

PBS has been perfecting its mind-reading abilities for almost 40 years to bring you a spectacular variety of programs delighting audiences far and wide. The station’s powers continue to reach far beyond just broadcasting, transporting its listeners into the magical world of PBS Presented events including  Soul A Go Go, Disco A Go Go, Drive Live and the annual Record Fair. This year the City Of Yarra’s most rocking gig, Rock-A-Bye Baby will celebrate it’s the 10^th year of live music shows for adults and kids at the Fitzroy Town Hall.

The 2019 PBS Work Your Magic Radio Festival runs from Monday 13 May until Sunday 26 May.

So, be sure to bring a little bit of PBS magic into your home, office, car, and life during Radio Festival, and enjoy the best emerging, independent, specialist and underrepresented music on offer all year round.

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PBS Radio Festival 2019:
Work Your Magic
May 13 – May 26 2019
More details and to sign up here
Ph: (03) 8415 1067

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Like PBS 106.7fm on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

#PBSRadioFestival #WorkYourMagic

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AMNPLIFY – DB