Baltic-based radio station relaunches to give a platform to Liverpool's diverse music scene

Svara, an independent radio station based in the Baltic Triangle, has been relaunched to give a wider platform to the diverse music coming out of Liverpool.

Svara wants to put the focus on local music scenes, communities, and grassroots DJs and artists that are thriving within the city but struggling to get heard beyond that.

Started in lockdown, the online station was born out of a frustration that there was a lack of broadcast opportunities in Liverpool outside the mainstream.

Now its founder, Mark Owens, is heading up a team of four including head of music James Young, Emmett Gallagher who’s head of production and head of digital Charles James-Turner in moving SVARA forward to its next phase.

After taking a break from the start of December for a full studio refurb with new tech set-up, SVARA’s going to be back on air from March 6.

James explained:

“When Svara began, ultimately it was heavily influenced by digital broadcast coming out of London and a need to have a platform to showcase talent in the North West and specifically Liverpool,”

“Our influences aren’t national or regional radio that have a bigger listenership, we don’t look to that for inspiration, what we’re looking at are self-starting operations like NTS Radio and Rinse FM in London which are community platforms built around particular sounds and innovative output.

“We haven’t got anything in common with existing radio platforms in Liverpool, where there’s very little in terms of sub-culture.

“What we’ve noticed from growing the listenership for SVARA is that sub-culture really matters to deep rooted city communities from various backgrounds.

“We feel like we’re well-placed to look at who is doing what in and around Liverpool and spotlight that.

“We’re trying to champion local sound and the feedback we get from artists is it’s a very saturated space, depending on what you want to do. The structures that used to exist and how labels used to scout talent no longer exist because there’s so much digital
saturation, so we have a responsibility to facilitate growth from the city.”

James says representing a diversity of music is central to what they do. In nearly six years since SVARA started, it’s built a space where established and emerging artists can share their talent with a global audience.

“I think there can be a misconception of Liverpool, or it can be misrepresented in terms of what’s going on here, but in and around various parts of the city are these thriving scenes.

“We have a New Residents Programme which we launched at the end of last year, and that’s designed to show different facets of what’s going on here; people who are maybe pushing the envelope beyond what’s conventional.

“If you dig a little deeper in Liverpool there are some really radical sounds coming out of the city. Sometimes it travels, and sometimes it stays put and acts as an incubator. We see that as something we can help with in both instances.’

“Rather than just saying we’ve got a local sound, we want a local platform that’s a heavyweight.”

Currently broadcasting on YouTube, the SVARA team is looking at the potential of digital radio and various live streaming platforms. It’s also collaborating with Liverpool BID Company to do six live shows towards the end of the summer in public spaces where artists may not have had an opportunity to perform in before.

James said:

“We’re looking at how we platform this meaningfully and be radical and be a bit of a disruptor rather than join what’s already existing in Liverpool,”

“Our aim this year is to develop our listenership into multiple communities, different sounds, cultures and messages, in a way that sheds light on people that are doing really cool things in and around the city.”