Vanessa Maria: 'Until everyone feels welcome the work is not done'

Vanessa Maria: 'Until everyone feels welcome the work is not done'

Posted on: 04 Jan 2020

This article was first published in LOUD Magazine Issue One, released in November 2019. 

 


DJ, radio presenter and all-round girl boss Vanessa Maria has been booked up and busy for pretty much the whole of 2019 so far.

 

After work with Boiler Room, widespread support for her Level Up show on 1020 Radio, massive sets and an interview with David Attenborough, we had to find out more.

 

From her beginnings on university radio as the host of her own show 'Lone & Grown', Vanessa Maria's journey to the present day has taken her across Bristol's best-loved stations and catapulted her to the forefront of the city's most talked-about parties. "From my own show at university I started volunteering with Ujima Radio," Vanessa tells us.

 

Just over two years later and she's still hosting, swapping out the university studio for 1020 Radio's in Stokes Croft for her monthly show 'Level Up with Vanessa Maria'. Between hip-hop, grime, trap, drill and more, Level Up explores a wide range of topics in its hour-and-a-half slot, from Vanessa's day-to-day experiences to politics.

Vanessa Maria

Having spent so much time sharpening her skills in the studio, in early 2019 Vanessa decided to branch out. She started DJing through Mix Nights. "After completing the 6-week course, my life completely changed," she says. And that's no exaggeration, either. Since she began the Mix Nights course, Vanessa has won a Foundation FM DJ competition, played at Wireless Festival and an array of Bristol clubs.

 

A personal highlight, Vanessa says, was this summer's set with Club Djembe at St Paul's Carnival. "I've never drunk so much rum in my life," she laughs. "It was the first time I've pulled up the same track three times in a row – I literally stood in front of the decks at the end and put my hands in the air with the crowd. Memories were made!"

 

Vanessa's affiliation with Mix Nights also led to her being featured in Keep Bristol Weird, Boiler Room's short documentary on the Bristol music scene, released this summer to a mixed reception. "I thought the documentary was interesting, and visually it was captivating to watch," she told LOUD, "but I do think it only covered a tiny part of the music scene here."
 

 

"Personally, I think they could have done a better job of representing the city as a whole. There's a lack of people of colour in the film which is a shame as there are so many people making waves in the scene. But I'm glad they gave Bristol the spotlight and celebrated some really talented artists."

 

On the topic of platforms inclusivity, Vanessa strongly believes that the music scene would benefit from more diversity and that it should be a safe space for everyone. "Women, people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community – the list goes on," she explains. "Until everyone feels welcome, the work is not done." 

 

"For diversity and inclusion to work," she continues, "people from different backgrounds need to be valued, and they need to feel respected. People should feel welcomed in, they should be able to thrive, and they should be allowed to contribute to their field. Creative career paths, especially in music, must be open to everyone."

 

 

Originally from East London, Vanessa explains that her time at the University of Bristol enabled her to practice her skills to kickstart a career in radio. But it seems Vanessa's university experience peaked back in April when she was given the opportunity to interview world-renowned documentarian, Sir David Attenborough. He was in the city to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the university. We couldn't wrap things up without asking what it was like to sit down with one of the most iconic TV personalities of all time.

 

"I was approached by the Vice-Chancellor about hosting the awards ceremony, and about two weeks before the event, I got an email saying David Attenborough was going to be the special guest and I had been recommended to interview him. The rest is history! I really owe my Vice-Chancellor a lot - he put me on from the very beginning."


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Article by:

Hannah Moll

Hannah recently graduated with a degree in English with Writing. She is an avid writer, freelancer and creative. She is currently writing her first full-length novel and a collection of poetry. Always out and about in Bristol's music scene, she attends music events on a weekly basis.