Category Archives: Music

We gotta get out of this place: Small town boys & the curse of pop stardom

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

“I used to scrump apples in the grounds here here,” says Jim Dale, smiling that boyish smile as we sit for our interview in a grand medieval manor house. Now a country house hotel it used to be a school … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Education, Media, Music, Radio, TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Desert worlds: JG Ballard, Lawrence of Arabia, Dune & the story of Ishmael

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

My latest Something Understood for Radio 4 on Sunday April 19th was conceived as a sequel  to The White North Has Thy Bones, about our fascination with the Arctic and the North West Passage. Together with producer Natalie Steed we … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Film, Music, Radio, Religion, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

The Bronte heroine who hated bouquets

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

For this week’s Something Understood producer Lucy Dichmont was keen to explore the elaborate Victorian coded language of floral bouquets. Unexpectedly I found myself pulling out memories and stories that I’ve been carrying around for decades. I’ve also created a … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Music, Radio, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

While the flame is strong: Pop and politics (Kingston Uni class notes)

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

This a list of suggested reading and films to follow on from my lecture for  Dr Rupa Huq’s 2nd year sociology module on Monday March 2nd 2015 11am. The title of course comes from The Young Ones (1961). It’s open … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Film, Kingston University class notes, Music, Politics, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The White North Has Thy Bones: Ice stations, submarines & the woman who swam the North West Passage

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Samira Ahmed

Here’s a programme to listen to huddled by the fire, like Jane Eyre with her book of polar wildlife as the wind howls outside. Producer Kevin Dawson came up with the idea of our latest Something Understood  programme about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Environment, History, Music, Radio, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

I can’t believe he did that: David Guetta on Serge Gainsbourg

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Samira Ahmed

Super producer and DJ David Guetta came onto Front Row for last night’s show. Having grown up in the 70 and 80s in France he listened to American soul, funk and British synth and electronica, quoting Ultravox lyrics through our … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Media, Music, Radio, TV | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Beating time: The secret musical life of metronomes, prison camps & airport lounges

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Samira Ahmed

Something Understood preview: Beating Time from Samira Ahmed on Vimeo. For this week’s Something Understood producer Natalie Steed and I explored the idea of beating time. There’s the piano I still keep by the front door, just  where my mother … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Radio, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

On The Road with Buddha: The Prince Who Walked Out of His Fairy Tale

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Samira Ahmed

UPDATED SEPT 2 What happens when a prince walks away from his kingdom? I love the symbolism and and dream like metaphors of fairy stories. So  a “real life” one is all the more intriguing. I’d been fascinated with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Music, Religion, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The art of interviewing: Class notes (Feb 11th)

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Samira Ahmed

These are the examples/clips I used in today’s class: The Q&A that goes with the flow: Tom Baker interview (Metro) A great questionnaire format: Big Issue Letter To My Younger Self Influential magazines/format: The “Who The Hell Does..” interview from … Continue reading →

Posted in journalism, Kingston University class notes, Media, Music, Radio, TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Oh What A Lovely War Commemoration!

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Samira Ahmed

Recently the Prime Minister  spoke of his hopes that events  to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War would be a “commemoration that, like the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, says something about who we are as … Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, History, Media, Music, Politics, Radio, Theatre, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments