SYLVIA KENT'S READING & WRITING FORUM: MEET MICHELLE WARD - SUPER PRESENTER AT BRENTWOOD'S PHOENIX FM

Michelle Ward - popular presenter - Phoenix FM, Brentwood

I’ve always been interested in radio and enjoy having connections with many different forms from large BBC stations in the UK to local community and hospital radio. Voices are vital in this medium and the business of being a good radio presenter seems not an easy one. So, how lucky as I am in knowing Michelle Ward, one of Phoenix FM’s most popular presenters. When interviewed, Michelle outlined her professional life to date.

“I knew Paul Golder, (Phoenix FM owner) before I worked on Phoenix FM. At the time I was running a recording studio in London and our paths crossed because of music. After the studio closed I moved to Dublin for five years. When I came back I was not sure what I wanted to do. Paul suggested I come and do some advertising sales for Phoenix FM, so I did. After a few months the Saturday mid-morning show came up and I fell into it. I remember being so nervous, my voice was shaking on that first broadcast. I did that for a year and then Eat my Brunch, which was a five day a week slot, became available and Paul asked me if I'd like to be the new presenter. I said yes and I have been on daytime radio now since 2012.

"The show is a mixture of charts, classic tracks, independent music (which I am very passionate about being a musician myself), guest interviews, topical news, lots of interaction from listeners. It's funny, quirky, serious and everything in between. Phoenix FM Community Radio is now, in my opinion, one of the best Community Radio Stations in the Country. The amount of shows, presenters, content, guest interviews, website listen again hits are phenomenal. There really is something for everyone. We have all the regular features you'd expect from a BBC or Commercially run radio station, News, Weather, Travel, Sports Shows, Daytime Radio, Weekend Shows, Arts Show and many specialist music shows to name but a few! We have a fair share of celebrities, too, with Vicki Michelle (currently in Eastenders and of Hello Hello fame), Steve Davis (Snooker Legend and now festival DJ), Bell & Spurling who also feature weekly on Talking Pints (GB NEWS) and Ronnie Ronnie 'Sullivan OBE. Some of our presenters have gone on to shows on BBC Essex, BBC and Capital.

"I start the show at 10am. It's a three hour show, five days a week. I start preparing at 8am, I often produce a video for my socials, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok. Socials take a lot of time and endless tagging! You have to self promote continually. This lets people know what is coming up and if I am playing new music I tag in the artists. If I have an interview, I prepare the interview questions. I am always trying to ask interesting questions. It's been said that I keep the nervous guests calm. Everyone walks away feeling great after an interview. I talk to people off air first to relax them. When you're talking about a subject you're passionate about, the words flow easy. People are surprised at how quickly time flies by. If I interview writers, actors, local charities, local business, Council, musicians or a celebrity, each guest feels I have taken the time to get to know them and take an interest in what they do. It's connecting with people.

"I produce my show, there is only me in the studio. I edit all my own interviews and upload the Phoenix FM website. Most guests live in the studio although I do use Zoom depending on where guests are based.

MUSIC

I put out my debut EP DIRECTIONS, late last year and it was well received. I had some good reviews too. It's out there now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazing Radio and physical copies too (CD's available signed). I was surprised so many purchased my EP. I felt almost famous signing my name (not so much the trips to the post office).

I write soul, jazz, reggae, folk, neo soul inspired music. I love to duet on Tik Tok too. I spend as much time as I can in the recording studio with ED ROME (who is a talented Producer, Songwriter and multi instrumentalist). I met ED through THE CONDRIACS (who are doing incredible well as independent artists with over 116k followers, patrons, YouTube live shows). I met them at Phoenix FM, Their first radio interview was with me. We became friends and I have worked with them for many years on different tracks with backing vocal arrangements. They also appear on my EP on the track TWISTING THE KNIFE which is a duet. Tony, Pete and Ed feature in the video too. We work so well together.

My plan is to release more music this year, keep building my online presence and push forward with more content, more interviews and more music releases!

Radio changed my life, it gave me confidence to speak, it gave me a great social network and many amazing friends. It made me passionate about music again.

If you're reading this and you want to find out more, all my socials are here. A click or a like on any of my socials means a great deal and it helps me to continue to produce radio and music and it costs you nothing :)

As in the voice over sent in by listener Anver Anderson "I love local radio because its radio and its local". :)

HOW TO TUNE IN TO THE RADIO SHOW

Tune in weekdays 10am - 1pm www.phoenixfm.com/listen-live

Or shout at Alexa or Google "TUNE IN TO PHOENIX FM"

SOCIALS

Facebook MY MUSIC PAGE (3) Michelle Ward Music | Facebook

Facebook RADIO SHOW Eat my Brunch 10am - 1pm weekdays (facebook.com)

Instagram Michelle Ward (@michellewardmusic) • Instagram photos and videos

Instagram Michelle Ward (@eatmybrunchradioshow) | Instagram

Twitter Michelle Ward (@EatmyBrunch) / Twitter

Twitter Michelle Ward (@luckybitches) / Twitter

Tik Tok Michelle (@luckybitches) | TikTok