"Just do it yourself"

Katrin Kropf

Everyone has a different idea of what good radio should sound like. For 20 years, there has been a free radio station in Chemnitz that wants to stand out from the usual private and public programmes. According to the motto: If you don't like a programme, make it yourself. Now the volunteer radio makers are celebrating the 20th birthday of Radio T. Katrin Kropf, 28, is a committed member of the team. She is a board member and presents two to three programmes a week. She proudly wears her blue radio T-shirt and takes a seat in the radio kitchen.

When can you be heard on the radio?
Katrin Kropf: I host the Soundsplash programme, which presents the latest recordings and new releases. I compile very dignified sounds for the programme "Atmoäther - Sphärisches zur Nacht". From time to time I can also be heard on the programme "Rückfall", with music from yesterday.

What kind of music do you like?
Katrin Kropf: Originally I come from the hard and heavy sector, but my programmes include everything: singer songwriters, indie, folk, punk, rock. You can do a lot on an independent radio station. We broadcast songs here that you can't play on other radio stations: Sometimes song lengths of 20 minutes, especially with progressive music.

Your favourite track?
Katrin Kropf: A total of 45 minutes. Jethro Tull with "Thick as a brick". My record collection at home is well stocked with music from the 60s and 70s. I can dig out my own records for "Rückfall". Of course, I only play current music at Soundsplash.

How else do you get involved with Radio T besides editing?
Katrin Kropf: I've been on the board of Radio T since 2012. We take care of radio-related projects, such as the radio play island. We maintain contacts with other independent radio stations and regularly fight for frequencies and transmission fees, for example. As Radio T is financed by projects, donations, basic municipal funding and supporting membership fees, it's a lot of work. And, of course, we are preparing to move into our new home on the Brühl.

Radio T's new home is currently being built on the Brühl. In the Musikkombinat, the former Karl Liebknecht School, there will be twice as much space for the three studios and editorial offices. For example, there will be an extra room for the media education programmes. "The radio people have also personally lent a hand with the conversion so far. They've plastered walls and dragged fire doors around," says Katrin Kropf. The move is planned for autumn.

How did you get involved with Radio T?
Katrin Kropf: I got talking to radio producer Jörg at a living room concert. I had previously written reviews for online magazines. Over the years, I've learnt the basics of journalism myself. I want to support the bands and music that mean something to me. That's the fascinating thing: We have so many special interest programmes, whether drum 'n bass or singersongwriters, where everyone has their expertise, which concerts are worthwhile and which local artists have news to offer. There's also a programme called "Heimatmelodie" with Jörg, which specifically presents music from Chemnitz and the surrounding area.

Jörg Braune, an original member of Radio T, knows the 20-year history of the radio programme inside out. He joins us in the radio kitchen at the simple wooden table with a cup of tea. "There is so much good music that isn't played enough. That's the gap we see and we're happy to fill it," he says. In addition to carefully selected music, Radio T provides information on culture, politics and various topics from the city. 50 members create the programme: four hours a week from 7 pm and at weekends from 12 pm to midnight. "We really are local patriots here at Radio T, even if that is a strange term," Jörg continues. "We engage with our neighbourhood. Many of us come from a certain scene that has a connection to the city. And we're excited to see how the city develops."

Why is Chemnitz a good place for independent radio?
Jörg Braune: When I've been in contact with other independent radio stations, I've noticed that we never have a problem finding stories. Something is always being built or dismantled here or something is changing. In many other cities, things are at a standstill. As radio producers, we can report much better when something is moving and there is a debate. Here in Chemnitz, we have a lot of fodder. And it's fun to report on movement. I have the feeling that I'm there when something is happening. Last year, we broadcast over 40 times outside the studio. You realise that there's a lot going on locally. Whether at the Begehungen art and culture festival, the Küchwaldrauschen festival, on the Brühl and at many different locations. We like to come on site with our rolling studio.

The radio makers celebrated their 20th birthday at Atomino. Jörg fondly recalled the enthusiasm and excitement of the early days. "Radio T started out as a watershed project. Suddenly everything changed. Everything was supposed to be better. Everything was open to us. We had a well-running "radio event" and we wanted to turn it into a proper radio station. I can't imagine that it would still work like that today. But back then it was a logical step and it was possible. People fought for the licence and frequency for four years and got it." The background must not be forgotten. State radio ceased operations at the end of 1991. But some listeners quickly became disappointed with the new stations. "It wasn't the radio we wanted," says Jörg. "Nobody was making the kind of radio we wanted. So we just took it into our own hands." From then on, Radio T tried to be a radio for others rather than a radio for everyone.

The desire to be an alternative is more relevant today than ever. How do you see that?
Katrin Kropf: I listen to Radio T myself. If you can't hear what you want to hear, I have the opportunity here to change that.

When was the first Radio T programme?
Jörg Braune: The first broadcast was on 2 April 1995 at 8 pm. It was a two-hour "Yay - we're on air" programme. From today's perspective, it's amazing how Radio T has developed. In our programme "T - Historisch" you can regularly listen to our old programmes, 10 years old and older. Including the ones we recorded on cassette and played in pubs as background radio - so-called dry radio. Some of them are hilarious and bizarre. Definitely exciting contemporary documents.

How do you ensure quality on the radio today?
Jörg Braune: Today there is a beginners' course where you learn how to get across what you want to say. In the past, anyone could get started somehow. That's no longer possible today.
Katrin Kropf: We also have regular plenary sessions in which programmes are discussed and, if necessary, removed from the programme if they are not of sufficient quality.
Jörg Braune: The monitoring is there, but it's not super strict. We are still a volunteer radio station. We will never achieve a standardised level. There will always be people who are just starting out and people who have been with us for ages and have a routine.
Katrin Kropf: Incidentally, I noticed something linguistically in Chemnitz. There is the phrase "very much". It's just before the superlative and I hadn't heard it before. When someone from Chemnitz says they like something very much, that's high praise.

You studied in Leipzig. How did you decide in favour of Chemnitz?
Katrin Kropf: The job at the city library sounded good. And I thought to myself at the time: Chemnitz is not far from Leipzig. You can always travel there quickly to experience something. But in the end it turned out that I hadn't been to Leipzig much at all. I'm well culturally catered for in Chemnitz and I like living here. It's also very easy to get out into nature. My favourite way to explore it is by bike. I especially enjoy being in the Zeisigwald forest. It's unique, also with its history and the petrified forest. On the day it receives its long-deserved World Natural Heritage status, I give my colleagues from the Museum of Natural History a drink...
Jörg Braune: It's always a question of how big the jar is and how much is in it. What good is a big glass if you can't manage to drink it?

What are your cultural cornerstones here in Chemnitz?
Katrin Kropf: I think everyone has their favourite spots. I really like the atmosphere and the concerts at Aaltra. Weltecho is a good place to go dancing. Sometimes I go to the Atomino. And then there are small living room concerts that don't compete with the established venues.

How does a living room concert work?
Katrin Kropf: I invite musicians who mainly play acoustically. My circle of friends comes along and word of mouth fills the flat. People also come who don't normally go to concerts. Because it's a living room concert, it's a very quiet evening. People come to listen to the music. Nobody talks while the artists are playing. At the end, the hat goes round.

What does the radio want for its birthday? What are your goals?
Both: Full frequency!
Katrin Kropf: Broadcasting around the clock, that would be our dream.
Jörg Braune: And of course the move to the Musikkombinat.
Katrin Kropf: And this year we're celebrating the 10th anniversary of Hörspielinsel.
Jörg Braune: It's the second largest competition for non-commercial radio plays in Germany.

Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz?
Jörg Braune: I think so. Some people don't even bother to look at what's available, but they still complain. It's definitely not true that there's nothing going on in Chemnitz.
Katrin Kropf: In any case, you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz. The courage to be curious. Also to hear what's going on. And if you realise that there is a gap, then there is space, opportunity and the chance to do something yourself.