Alan Davey on new Radio 3 programme, Sound of Gaming
Alan Davey
Controller, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3 is about creating a space where people can discover new things, including things they may not have known they were interested in. They may come for one thing, but discover another. Keeping that sense of discovery and genre fluidity possible is behind some of the schedule changes we have made recently.
Radio 3 is a music and arts station with a pioneering spirit at our core. Though classical music remains at the heart of what we do, making sure we continue to showcase a broad range of musical genres and art forms is a top priority, as is consistently remaining on the front foot of what’s happening in the experimental and contemporary music scenes both in the UK and abroad. We don’t believe in keeping amazing things locked away and inaccessible - we want them to be found.
With that in mind, I’m aware that discovering new music is now no longer solely confined to the concert hall or the gig. All of us, often without even realising it, are being exposed to and are uncovering work in a wider range of places and spaces - whether that be online or through picking up a games console. Though it may be a newer avenue for musical creativity, some of the most cutting-edge, dynamic and expressive music being created today is being composed for video games. I’m so excited, therefore, to be completing Radio 3’s new schedule line-up this autumn by announcing our new show Sound of Gaming today, presented by the brilliant BAFTA award-winning composer Jessica Curry.
The programme will, in a sense, encapsulate the world of Radio 3 through the prism of gaming, aiming to explore a broader range of gaming music than any other show like it. The first episodes will reflect the gaming calendar through to BAFTA season, will look at games on vinyl to mark Record Store Day and will share the breadth and diversity of the gaming music score, lifting the lid on how this music is made and composed to enhance the gaming experience.
Whether you’re an ardent gamer or have never played, Jessica is sure to capture your imagination as she delves deep into the music behind the games, featuring classic scores, new releases and some of her personal favourites.
Sound Of Gaming will be a recurring four-part series and joins our suite of ‘Sound of…’ programmes, which has previously included Sound Of Dance and our regular programme Sound of Cinema. It will be broadcast in the regular ‘Sound of…’ slot (Saturdays, 3-4pm).
You can read even more about Sound Of Gaming in the press release, and I hope you’ll tune in, or find it on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sounds.