I am a multidisciplinary artist, journalist and consultant based in Bristol. As a passionate storyteller, I can use my skills and training to craft stories and bring people’s experiences into the world in an accessible and creative way; especially the stories that rarely have a light shone on them.
I acquired an NCTJ diploma whilst working in News journalism at BBC Bristol as part of an apprenticeship where I was chosen to join my regional station. Whilst there I learned a lot – about myself, about the media, about what stories were chosen and why. As a trained journalist and lover of radio and audio in general, I have amended these skills to progress in a career looking at how we can tell stories in a multitude of ways, making use of the multimedia platforms we have at our fingertips.
After taking a few years out of media to work in marketing for a major independent UK festival specialising in global music and then transitioning into inclusion and diversity consultancy and training focussing on how to make the arts more accessible to people from ‘diverse’ backgrounds alongside performing regularly as a vocalist and DJ, I recently returned to present Monumental : Bristol After Colston for BBC World. Due to having some creative control behind the screen, collaborating with the producer on script writes, story transitioning and consideration of who the piece was for, I saw that there was a space for opinion where there wasn’t before which led me to apply for the Netflix Documentary Fund to Direct a short independent film which made it to the last 21 out of over 5000 applications.
CASE STUDY – soho radio – RADIO PRESENTER
In September 2022 Ngaio continued her radio show and joined the Soho Radio family. Her show is broadcasted once a month late nights on Thursday’s. She continues to bring the energy and vibes which can’t keep you still and will present a range of artists to interview. The show will be her high energy DJ sets which range genres from Jazz, Afro, Baile, Dancehall, Reggaeton, UK Funky, and even a little bit of Drum & Bass.
NGAIO on Instagram: “Guess who’s back 😝🍸😝 Very excited to announce I’ve joined the @sohoradio team! Catch me Thursdays once a month at my new radio home playing you those sweet sounds ramping up at the end with the first show going out TONIGHT at the shmexxxy time of 10pm-midnight 🌶🌶🌶 Big love to buddy @bellatrix_music who linked me with Soho whilst I was in Cuba. I knew I’d need the summer to get me festi’s complete and now I’m very excited to share what I’ve been gathering up! We start of slow and jazzy, ramping up at the end. Expect a peek of my new release on @durkledisco out October 7th produced by @curtisssuk and my set from the @mcdizraeli 20 Years Deep Tour 💃🏽 As well as a truly ridiculous ‘What is Liiiife’ section. Tune in and and holla if yer locked 🔒 If you’re tagged, you’re included! #radio #dj #presenter #global #sounds #bristol #worldwide #jazz #afro #Latin #underground #Bass #music #Baile #Funk”
NGAIO shared a post on Instagram: “Guess who’s back 😝🍸😝 Very excited to announce I’ve joined the @sohoradio team! Catch me Thursdays once a month at my new radio home playing you those sweet sounds ramping up at the end with the first show going out TONIGHT at the shmexxxy time of 10pm-midnight 🌶🌶🌶 Big love to buddy @bellatrix_music who linked me with Soho whilst I was in Cuba.
CASE STUDY – black minds matter uk x ra exchange ngaio (booty Bass) – interview
Ngaio discussed mental health and jazz as the Booty Bass boss. Throughout 2021, RA hosted a series of interviews in partnership with Black Minds Matter UK, an organisation whose mission is to connect Black individuals and families with free mental health services by professional Black therapists. Vanessa Maria focussed on Black creatives working in electronic music at all levels. These conversations will touch on issues surrounding mental health, in keeping with Black Minds Matter UK’s mission to “make mental health topics more relevant and accessible for all Black people in the UK, removing the stigma and remodelling the services to be relevant for the Black community.”
EX.589 NGAIO by RA Exchange
Talking mental health and jazz with the Booty Bass boss. For more, visit Resident Advisor: https://ra.co/exchange/589
CASE STUDY – The Mixed bag – podcast PRESENTER
Ngaio hosts creative guests from a range of different backgrounds, where she discusses her mixed bag of interests and experiences influenced by identity and culture. The Mixed Bag podcast celebrate the range of people Ngaio is lucky to meet in her adventures as an artist. As she works at a crossroads between music, journalism, spoken word, consultancy, DJing and public speaking, her curious nature has led to conversations with a multitude of characters with different ideas and interests. The line between work and play is often blurred with hobbies becoming jobs and jobs becoming studies. Join her as she thinks about them out loud!
Mixed Bag
Listen to episodes and learn more about Mixed Bag. It’s what it says on the tin! The Mixed Bag podcast celebrates the range of people that I am lucky to meet in my adventures as an artist. Hosting creative guests from a range of different backgrounds, we discuss our mixed bag of interests and experiences influenced by identity and culture.
CASE STUDY – SWU FM – RADIO PRESENTER
In 2016 I was invited to host a radio show on SWU FM despite not knowing how to DJ at the time – 4 years later I was invited back to host a weekly Drivetime show. I was initially brought on board because of being a ‘personality’ but when the station reopened I was DJing on a regular basis and had gained experience as a journalist and presenter. I focus my platform on showcasing music from around the globe through interviews and music and discussing subjects based in equality. However in May 2021 I left SWU.FM to allow myself to focus on my summer shows.
“We wanted Ngaio to be part of the station because she is an active DJ and a tastemaker in the music that she plays and also because of her experience in journalism and confidence in speaking about complex subjects in an accessible way. The difference her show brings lies in her efforts to bring in guests – especially people that might not necessarily be in her own echo chamber. She doesn’t pick guests for clout or because they make her look good, it all comes from a genuine interest in who they are and what they do. She’s great to work with as a colleague – professional, reliable and communicative. Even if she didn’t tell us what she had planned for the show, we know it will always deliver”
– Ollie, Head at SWU FM
CASE STUDY – BBC WORLD – TV PRESENTER
After helping to organise the first Bristol Black Lives Matter in 2016 I began exploring ways to reclaim space as a black woman through music, art, discussion and journalism looking at how to make the arts accessible for marginalised groups. Part of this work is what interested me in presenting Monumental for BBC World in 2020; a mini-documentary looking at what’s being done in Bristol to tackle racial inequality after the Colston statue was pulled down. I was approached by Inside Out after the Colston statue was pulled down to look at what’s being done in the city to tackle racial inequality. During this experience, I was very focused on what we wanted to achieve with the piece and the experience of the audience who would be watching it across the world. I interviewed City Mayor Marvin Rees, Superintendent Andy and Lord Mayor Cleo Lake amongst others and had a hand in scriptwriting in order to make sure accessible language was used to convey the right meanings to a variety of audiences
“It was a privilege to work with Ngaio on the BBC documentary Monumental : Bristol After Colston. Beyond her personal connection with the story, as a former pupil of Colston’s Girls’ School, she brought a fascination with the subject and an openness to seek out new perspectives. She has an effervescent energy and a bombastic sense of humour which all comes across in her broadcasting”
– Alastair McKenzie, Producer of Monumental, Inside Out
Slavery Remembrance Day – CNET
CASE STUDY – JOURNALISM APPRENTICESHIP – BBC RADIO BRISTOL
Local Apprenticeship Piece on BBC site
As part of the BBC Local Radio Apprenticeship scheme held at BBC Radio Bristol, I was responsible for sourcing original stories for TV (Points West) and Radio (Breakfast, Mid Morning). Booking guests, writing cues, recording and editing audio, being the face of BBC when meeting/greeting clients and guests. Recording and editing audio in a fast-paced environment that is of BBC quality for quick broadcast turnover. I pitched a story at 9am and it aired at 5pm.
I then pitched by myself to open communications with unheard communities in the city. I researched active organisations in my ‘postcode remit’, developed a strategy that would work on radio and digital, and linked communities across Bristol with each other as well as the BBC. I subsequently produced a series of audio packages to run across Breakfast and Mid Morning that would highlight what each community is doing to tackle a common issue in their area (e.g inclusion, food waste).
“A true pleasure to have with us here in Bristol and extremely creative and hard-working.I sincerely believe that an organisation such as the BBC requires people like Ngaio to make sure we both reflect and demonstrate what is best in both production and listener engagement. I was always confident Ngaio would be a big success in the future, having worked alongside her and seen just how dedicated she is, I am pleased to report I made the right call.”
David Aston, Head of Programmes. BBC Radio Bristol
“Ngaio brought in several stories, many of which have led to news programmes and have shown a high-class level of creativity and insight. On a professional level I have found Ngaio a joy to work with, she is attentive and full of life. She would make an excellent addition to any team.”
– Pete Simson, Breakfast Producer, BBC Radio Bristol