Nemone of BBC6 Music talks to StyleNest.
Working her way up from radio station receptionist to hosting her own show on the acclaimed BBC 6 Music, Nemone is one of Britain’s most successful female radio DJs. Mum of two, former athlete and self-confessed music junkie, we caught up with Nemone to get an insight into her life as a career woman and mum.
We’re big fans of your BBC 6 Music show here at StyleNest. Tell us how did you get into broadcasting?
I was working in psychiatric wards in Manchester towards beginning my masters in psychology. But I felt I needed more life experience before I had anything to offer in a career of the mind. I had always been passionate about music – playing in bands through my teens and collecting vinyl. Kiss 102 the radio station had just started in the city – once I stepped inside the building I felt so at home I knew I wanted to work there come what may. The only vacancy was on reception and I snapped it up, learning my way around the studios after my shift ended and soon being trusted to interview the likes of Ryan Giggs and Dani Behr (that ages me.) I also asked someone to pass me the Tippex one afternoon and he asked me to voice his programme promo and suddenly my voice was on air. Pretty soon they needed someone to cover the entertainments show and by then I had the skills and was in the right place at the right time.
How do you juggle a successful career with motherhood?
It’s all about organisation isn’t it? I try to organise me and the family to within an inch of our lives. And it does feel like I’m spinning plates much of the time and they don’t always stay up. I couldn’t do it without the 100% support of my partner. He’s brilliant in recognising when I need to take a break or even just sit down.
You must have a very eclectic music taste, what is currently always on your iPod?
White Denim – D
Laura Gibson – La Grande
Django Django – Django Django
Do you have an all-time favourite band?
That’s a tricky one for me and impossible to narrow down, it’s an ever expanding list but pretty much always in there are: Sly and the Family Stone, Prince, Radiohead, Nick Cave and female vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn – my daughter is called Ella.
Are your kids interested in music?
Yes anything if Peppa Pig is singing it. We’re often “all going on a seaside holiday” courtesy of the pig family. Actually my daughter really likes the XX – it was our failsafe fall asleep in the car cd for ages. And Django Django when I’ve played them recently. She very quickly says I don’t like this if I put on something which doesn’t pass muster. And she calls Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s cd the spider one because of the artwork. I like to think both the kids had a good introduction to music as I took them to White Denim, Sonic Youth, Grace Jones and Dead Weather gigs whilst they were bumps.
What’s your failsafe, mid-week meal you cook for the family time and time again?
My man is a fantastic cook and I’d be remiss in not crediting him with massive input into our meals. I think our favourite failsafe meal for the two of us at the moment is Jamie’s Pregnant Jools’s sausage pasta from his 30 Minute Meals Book – it’s very tasty and quick. And we’re big fan a big beef stew if we’re cooking for our two year old too – especially at this time of year.
You used to be an athlete, how do you keep fit and healthy now with a busy career and family life?
I’m just looking at getting back to some kind of sport or fitness having had my baby boy last summer. Throughout my first pregnancy I went to yoga and loved it and even did a yoga retreat at 8 months pregnant which definitely helped chill me out before the birth. I found I really missed those yoga classes throughout my second pregnancy what with looking after my toddler and work but I managed a few classes towards the end. I’m definitely signing up for a Pilates class to get my core strength back up again. And I’ve started gently swimming so I can get myself up to speed before I attempt anything like a Triathlon or serious run as I was doing before having the kids.
What do you like doing with the family on your days off? Are there any parks, museums, restaurants you can recommend?
I love taking the kids out to the local park and giving them a run about or a proper go on the scooter. Ravenscourt Park and Kew Gardens are not far and a really fun family trip especially with the grandparents in tow. As a family we like to eat so restaurants where we can just land with our bundles of fun are essential: Pizza Metro Pizza in Balham has played host to mine and my best friend’s family whilst we’ve grown – I have two little people and she has three girls. The waiting staff are all Italian and I get the impression it’s a family run place so kids are de rigeur. And Franco Manca in Chiswick is very child friendly and happy to accommodate a big gathering. We used it for a birthday celebration and they were great; high chairs, child portions and understanding staff.
Do you have any tips for traveling with children?
For me it’s about trying to travel at a time which suits the kids, where possible. Where I can either work a nap into the journey or make sure we’re setting off after they’ve been fed. And on the food front I am master of the snack, always making sure I have either a satsuma, smoothie or breadstick up my sleeve somewhere. I was a haphazard packer until the little ones arrived – now I’m in lists up to my eyeballs. It’s crazy before we go but it makes for a more harmonious trip. When I filmed in Argentina last year I only had my daughter – then 7 months. I was panicking about not having enough time to produce the kind of food she needed so I found a company who would send a load of products out for me, bulk and deliver them to the apartment where we were staying. It meant I didn’t have to pack nappies or baby food or formula which was really useful.
Who or what inspires you?
My mum and dad always – and more so since becoming a parent myself.
Nemone appears on BBC Radio 6Music on her weekend breakfast show at 7:00am on Saturdays and Sundays.