Interview: Daz Furey & Paul Spectrum of FNOOB Radio

Paul Spectrum (left) Daz Furey (right)

Daz Furey and Paul Spectrum of FNOOB Radio, our current radio of the month, join us in a behind-the-scenes chat!

Volterock: When and how did Fnoob begin?

Daz Furey: Fnoob Techno Radio began in June 2010 (we're nearly 5 years old!) and was created as a secondary stream for the underground music community site on Fnoob.com. The original Fnoob stream was a mix of underground genres set up by the Fnoob Founder Ben Sonley in September 2009. He asked me, Daz Furey (My artist name), to set up the techno stream as the original stream was becoming overcrowded and we felt that it would be good to diversify in genre specific streams. The original fnoob techno only had 15 residents where as now it has over 300!

The driving ethos of fnoob techno over the past 5 years has been that there should be a radio station that techno calls home - simple as that. In recent years there has been a strive to ensure that the different varieties of techno are heard on the station and this has been done by employing a diverse range of technoheads to manage the station, each tasked with getting it what they believe the best techno djs.

Volterock: What is an Fnoob party like?

Daz Furey: Fnoob.com originally had 6 different streams of underground music catering the for most tastes. The first proper party they had was held at the Garage Club in North London in November 2011. It was headlined by The Orb and Gaudi but had about 20 different acts in 3 rooms. The techno artists on display that night were (now former) Fnoob Techno Radio residents Go!Diva, Dr Hoffman and 3Phazegenerator. Since then There have been Fnoob Techno Parties in Costa Rica, Scotland, Germany, Bristol and London. Currently The Butterfly Effect in London on 24/04/15 is an event promoted by the Fnoob Techno Management. Fnoob Techno Parties are unique, diverse and built on the premise - The people love techno.

Volterock: Who was the first DJ to mix on Fnoob?

Daz Furey: I was tasked with setting up Fnoob Techno Radio as I got on well with Ben the founder and I was the first techno resident on the original fnoob stream so I guess I could be considered the first dj on the radio - I am also the longest running resident with my EL EXILIO techno broadcast show - it's been running longer than the techno channel as it was on the original fnoob stream. However it's not about me and never has been, Its about the techno and the fantastic residents we have had and continue to have (and their guests) as we play our techno 24/7/365. Essentially that is why Fnoob Techno is what it is, a place for techno for techno lovers.

Volterock: Do you DJ and/or create music yourself?

Paul Spectrum: I do have a show which has been running for 3 years under my DJ name Nomad Spectrum and show called Distant Void. [I'll] skip the other personal [questions], like Daz says its not about us but more about our residents and listeners.

I was asked to lead the channel i think 2 years ago - Daz could correct me on that.

Volterock: What are some of the joys and challenges of having an online radio broadcast 24/7?

Paul Spectrum: My vision was/is to have fresh shows from unique residents from all corners of the world playing a variety of genres of techno, from Acid, dark, industrial more uplifting (not Tec House) etc etc etc

This is being achieved as we have 7 managers (for each day of the week) who do have different tastes in the styles and sounds they like, though they do not recruit exclusively new residents for the sound they like it does keep the channel fresh.

Our managers come from UK, Costa Rica, Netherlands and the US this way we have someone nearly 24 hours online to make sure if any server issues can be dealt with as most f us have real life jobs to pay the bills, feed our kids, etc etc

As I'm sure you are aware we are a non-profit making organization and rely on donations fundraising and live events to keep the channel going. You've done so much and we very honored and proud that we are this months Station of the month.

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