Uruguayan broadcasts for marathon 12 hours
Most people are nervous before their first marathon, but radio host Juan Martinez is excited at the prospect of 12 hours on the airwaves, promoting South American artistic expression.
A Uruguayan broadcaster is preparing for his first marathon: 12 straight hours in Hamilton’s Free FM studio, hosting a programme highlighting creative expression in South America.
Juan Martinez was more excited than stressed about the kick-off of ‘Expression The Latin American Way’ at 9pm tonight.
A night of Spanish with “a sprinkle of English” will follow on the local community radio station.
Martinez will aim to boost the profile of South American artists of all genres.
“There’s not much info out there.”
For example, Latin American films are not commonly shown in cinemas around the world, yet among his interviewees are Uruguayan and Chilean film studios which produced movies that made it to the Cannes Film Festival.
He also scored an interview with Chilean reggae sensation Quique Neira, who will tour Australia in September and October.
“It’s going to be a bit of a salad of expression, your ingredients will be music, will be painting, will be poetry, cinema.”
But 12 hours in the hot seat could be a daunting prospect, especially as it will be Free FM and Martinez’ first marathon.
When Martinez told Phil Grey, Free FM’s general manager, “I have an idea,” Grey stopped him.
“Don’t tell me. You want to do a 24-hour radio show.”
Martinez’s infectious enthusiasm won Grey over, the idea was shortened to 12 hours, and the hosts of other programmes in the time slot were happy to step aside.
Grey said Martinez consistently did a great job and was dedicated to the station, so he was looking forward to giving him the opportunity to realise the dream.
“He really wants to do it, we can make it possible, so we’re doing it.”
Plus the programme embodies access radio principles, in which communities speak for themselves.
Preparation was key for such a long show, and Martinez said he had been meditating, and planning for the past four-and-a-half months.
To make organising the show more manageable, he split it into sections, and planned them individually.
Several interviews had been recorded, while others would be live.
“Today and tomorrow is getting the parts all together and developing. I guess that tomorrow evening I’ll be freaking but, until then, it’s all good.”
Martinez, who has been with Free FM for two years, has a regular Monday night programme, Rock del Sur (Southern Rock).
Through it, he explores rock and reggae from South America.
“It’s a different view of South American music.”
The marathon broadcast seemed the logical next step.
And when Martinez reaches the end of the marathon, he will have one thing in mind: sleep.
To hear Juan Martinez, tune in on 89.0FM, or listen online between 9pm on Friday 5 April and 9am Saturday 6 April.
Martinez hopes to do more marathons in the future, so he would welcome feedback from listeners, either on the facebook page or via email.
