Q&A with Gav Crossley, BRL Radio Host |
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Hi Gav, I know you’re a busy man, thanks for taking time out for this interview. So your radio show Beats, Rhymes & Life aka BRL will be celebrating its fifth birthday soon, congratulations! Tell me about the journey you and the show have been on in the past five years.
I guess it begins with a road trip with my fiancé, and she had some torrented Top 500 Hip Hop tracks playing. All the classics, Wu Tang, NAS, Tribe, etc. And on that road trip is where the comeback was launched. While she napped in the car, I dreamt up the return of BRL.
The initial idea was to do the show as limited seasons... like Netflix 10-12 weeks a time. Then the show was instantly pretty popular because of the old heads remembering the name and me dragging in my old scene pals. Timing was also my friend, because the show returned around the time of the final Robert Hunter Cup game, so I covered that and my return was complete.
After that “season” in 2014 (September- December), I brought the show back full time in 2015. Because it had some traction and I found my loved for the genre and the scene again. From there it’s been a slow climb to this anniversary but it feels like it’s been maybe 2-3 years. Time flies....
What inspired you to start the radio show?
The aforementioned road trip. Growing bored of The Caffeine Show (a different show I was doing at the time), and trying to get my life back together. 2014 was an awful year. My radio career was over, as a paid presenter anyway, and things outside of the show were pretty close a disaster. BRL was one of the very few things in my life that made sense. And ever since the show was taken out the back and shot in 2004, I always had a hole where that show was. I needed BRL, always missed it. No matter where I worked and how much I drowned it in commercial radio aspiration and nightclub debauchery. The best thing I’ve ever done on air is this show.
You always have great guests and great concepts for the show, what is your process for putting a show together?
Most of the concepts are re-hashed commercial radio nonsense and staples with a different label. The canned specials and Classic Album Challenge are pure nostalgia. I like the old stuff, especially as I’m not young anymore. I’ve always been a nostalgic guy anyway. As for the guests, well that’s purely on content, availability (especially with my FIFO roster) and opportunity. Otherwise I’m like every other rap show in Oz.
The BRL point of difference is the structure. If you’re paying attention, it’s the same show every week, with minor variations for multiple interviews and such. A busy show is: opening break, bunch of new tracks for 20 mins, interview, classic album, in studio album party or guest appearance for the entire second hour, midnight, overnight playlist. Rinse and repeat the following week.
I guess it begins with a road trip with my fiancé, and she had some torrented Top 500 Hip Hop tracks playing. All the classics, Wu Tang, NAS, Tribe, etc. And on that road trip is where the comeback was launched. While she napped in the car, I dreamt up the return of BRL.
The initial idea was to do the show as limited seasons... like Netflix 10-12 weeks a time. Then the show was instantly pretty popular because of the old heads remembering the name and me dragging in my old scene pals. Timing was also my friend, because the show returned around the time of the final Robert Hunter Cup game, so I covered that and my return was complete.
After that “season” in 2014 (September- December), I brought the show back full time in 2015. Because it had some traction and I found my loved for the genre and the scene again. From there it’s been a slow climb to this anniversary but it feels like it’s been maybe 2-3 years. Time flies....
What inspired you to start the radio show?
The aforementioned road trip. Growing bored of The Caffeine Show (a different show I was doing at the time), and trying to get my life back together. 2014 was an awful year. My radio career was over, as a paid presenter anyway, and things outside of the show were pretty close a disaster. BRL was one of the very few things in my life that made sense. And ever since the show was taken out the back and shot in 2004, I always had a hole where that show was. I needed BRL, always missed it. No matter where I worked and how much I drowned it in commercial radio aspiration and nightclub debauchery. The best thing I’ve ever done on air is this show.
You always have great guests and great concepts for the show, what is your process for putting a show together?
Most of the concepts are re-hashed commercial radio nonsense and staples with a different label. The canned specials and Classic Album Challenge are pure nostalgia. I like the old stuff, especially as I’m not young anymore. I’ve always been a nostalgic guy anyway. As for the guests, well that’s purely on content, availability (especially with my FIFO roster) and opportunity. Otherwise I’m like every other rap show in Oz.
The BRL point of difference is the structure. If you’re paying attention, it’s the same show every week, with minor variations for multiple interviews and such. A busy show is: opening break, bunch of new tracks for 20 mins, interview, classic album, in studio album party or guest appearance for the entire second hour, midnight, overnight playlist. Rinse and repeat the following week.
If you could have any Hip Hop artist, dead or alive, on the show, who would it be and why?
I’d say love to chat to Q-Tip... just because I named my show after one of his albums. Or someone like KRS-One, I’d let the teacher, teach. Content and dead-guy wise though, 2pac. Quotable, amazing shit talker and never held back with microphone in his face. Wind him up and let him go! That would be an easy hour of radio.
You’ve been involved in the Perth Hip Hop scene for some time now, what are your thoughts on how the scene has evolved?
The scene’s growth is beyond anything I could have imagined, I was around in 2001-02 as a rookie, annoying toy with a big ego and no social skills (nothing has changed btw). It was a MUCH smaller group back then. The same 30-40 blokes at every show at the Hydey or the Rosemount. And I was late to that party too. Now there are women at the shows and not just the girlfriends, or the chick who would come up to a sweaty 20 year me after a Clandestien show asking me “what the fuck happened during that show... because I don’t get it”. I guess in hindsight, Clan shows were performance art and screaming “GAHHHGGG CLANDESTIEN” was just a good way to release testosterone (for me anyway) and repel any chance of getting laid.
BRL has never been a big target demo for the ladies. Although you (Rappfox), Helen Earth and the Stimulate Your Soul crew, among other women in the scene and culture have made multiple appearances on the program over the journey. BRL is bro time...
Anyway, there is so much talent now, so many dudes putting quality stuff, like I had no idea about Knoe until about a month ago. I like to think I got my finger on the pulse, but some stuff gets through the keeper, more and more these days. Not to mention the trap style and the Hip Hop I’m not a huge fan of... the scene like the genre has exploded and it’s mostly a very good thing.
Who are some of your favourite up and coming Perth Hip Hop artists?
Greesy comes to mind. Young and hungry, very polished for his age, hopefully someone can give him the push he needs. Shadow in a different direction, he’s not just about the grime, that guy can murder any thing. I guarantee I’m forgetting someone important here. And someone like Complete is too qualified and already kind of a star.
What other plans do you have in the future?
The CBAA Awards are coming up in late October and BRL is nominated in the Contribution To Aussie Music category. An insane achievement to be a finalist in that category for the biggest awards in community radio. BRL is up against a bunch of much broader local/Aussie music shows from over east, and a niche show like mine... it’ll interesting to see how the selection panel look at it. It can either bad or really good for my chance of winning that little trophy.
The only other plan is too keep up the standard. My real life job means I’m away 50-60% of the year, so BRL is always in the can and presented, not as a DJ spinning tunes in a studio with some occasional rappers and guests. I enjoy making BRL a presentation on the week in new music, some nostalgic stuff and getting whatever guest I drag in with something to promote (otherwise why come in). Also the show, up until recently is one guy and a radio studio and finding good help for videos and extra online content is pretty stupid without the offer of money, and I’m not getting paid, they’re not. I’ve never received or taken a cent for myself from BRL. Any sponsor or donated coin goes to 89.7FM, plus you add my programming for the entire of 89.7FM to the mix. My time to knock out a show is normally reasonably limited.
Basically, I’ll keep making a decent radio show, you guys keep listening and everyone should be pretty happy.
Thanks again for your time! Peace.
Support Gav and BRL by following on social media: Facebook and Instagram.
You can listen to BRL by tuning in to 89.7FM, www.897fm.com.au or the 897 App every Tuesday at 10pm. Also re-stream online here.
The CBAA Awards are coming up in late October and BRL is nominated in the Contribution To Aussie Music category. An insane achievement to be a finalist in that category for the biggest awards in community radio. BRL is up against a bunch of much broader local/Aussie music shows from over east, and a niche show like mine... it’ll interesting to see how the selection panel look at it. It can either bad or really good for my chance of winning that little trophy.
The only other plan is too keep up the standard. My real life job means I’m away 50-60% of the year, so BRL is always in the can and presented, not as a DJ spinning tunes in a studio with some occasional rappers and guests. I enjoy making BRL a presentation on the week in new music, some nostalgic stuff and getting whatever guest I drag in with something to promote (otherwise why come in). Also the show, up until recently is one guy and a radio studio and finding good help for videos and extra online content is pretty stupid without the offer of money, and I’m not getting paid, they’re not. I’ve never received or taken a cent for myself from BRL. Any sponsor or donated coin goes to 89.7FM, plus you add my programming for the entire of 89.7FM to the mix. My time to knock out a show is normally reasonably limited.
Basically, I’ll keep making a decent radio show, you guys keep listening and everyone should be pretty happy.
Thanks again for your time! Peace.
Support Gav and BRL by following on social media: Facebook and Instagram.
You can listen to BRL by tuning in to 89.7FM, www.897fm.com.au or the 897 App every Tuesday at 10pm. Also re-stream online here.