We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pedro Fumero/futura. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pedro below.
Hi Pedro, thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
My first job ever was at a local radio station connected to the largest broadcasting company in Spain. I didn’t know it then, but some of the local programs I ended up working on (late-night ones) did fit in the parameters of Free Form Radio…. I was so happy, literally felt like I was at the top of the world for many years. That was until I witnessed the slow death of this beloved industry after a decade-plus of learning and discovery.
I was a high schooler so I had to ask Someone to drive me to this station without much faith in my not quite well-thought plan. I showed up at the door with a type-written idea and they pretty much, dismissed me, but not before pointing out to this block-long line of prospective DJs/radio host wannabes and professionals alike …. I got in that line and the rest is history…. I don’t think, even once, payment crossed my mind…. The same thing happened when RADIO FUTURA’s idea popped out!
To this day, I consider myself to be a multifaceted individual with a passionate interest in different creative fields. Somehow, one or two of those skills I have been acquiring over the years can fortunately sustain me, and my family, in these continuous and exciting explorations.
Pedro, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I believe, my introduction already covers a big part of this second one…. But let’s add: that after a long absence from the waves, I did feel the strong need to go back to radio. ( I missed it so much ).
The seed of Radio Futura was planted in a regular conversation ( probably in a bar ) under three major premises :
A) How is it possible that the music palette in the US is so poor???
B) How is it possible that Latin Music (in particular) is so segmented and limited???
And C) The music of the future it is Latin.
The response ends up being a challenge and a question at the same time: … “Is this country finally ready for some REAL LATIN MUSIC ?”
I knew that was impossible to find any Commercial Radio Station to take on the idea …. BESIDES…. I didn’t even have a program !! Only WFMU could put resources and time into this social experiment. WFMU opened its doors and gave me complete artistic freedom to develop this concept.
The idea was so simple that it came as a big surprise that no one had tried it before. Usually, “Latin Music” has been represented as: …” In Spanish and produced in Latin America” …. An sporadic and exotic addition thrown into mixes without any context whatsoever. Not only inaccurate but completely away from the Latin Music I grew up with and deeply enjoy!
If there is one characteristic that always fascinates me about Latin music it is the constant fusion and back and forth among “pueblos” over many centuries, but somehow, we end up with heavily boxed genres serving Nationalistic and Political ambitions or pure Commercial goals based on an old and tired stereotypes….The result: the complete/systematic erasing of any relations among each other…. Finally, in 2022 Radio Futura became a reality, representing Latin Music with a wider more accurate scope including Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, and Continental America …. ALL of it!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Quite simply: having a great time and educate ( particularly young generations ). The idea, is to set the record straight on/all/and about LATIN HERITAGE, culture, and Long tradition of inclusion, mestizaje, and exchange among the different pueblos, using the ONLY element that seems to stubbornly keep uniting us: Music!
It is perverse the manipulation of history to separate us. Violence (unfortunately) is part of human history, but it is our choice to forget (or eliminate) the great accomplishments that we all should be proud of (and there are many)…. Radio Futura intends to be a stage for independent, classic, folktronica, electronic, experimental, traditional, psychedelic, flamenco (and every other form of traditional folklore from every corner of the Latin sphere) or progressive sounds coming from Latin (or Latin descents or inspired) creators worldwide with an unequivocal identity and strong accent. Forward thinkers “Musicos Creadores” without complexes and profoundly proud of their roots.
I know, a big task for such a small space but, all I am doing is creating an alternative for curious and open-minded individuals… Sometimes, I will find myself including other genres such as Techno, House, and Dance because of the amazing volume of productions by supertalented Latin producers, record labels, and DJs that are constantly delivering and seem to be restricted to certain narrow circles.
I don’t like labels or the monothematic approach, so every program ends up being different and unique…Diversity should be the norm! An “eclectic” mix (just like the culture itself) that, guarantees equal disappointment or immense joy, to an audience that may be expecting the highly specialized offering with little to no room for deviance.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Dear Reader: humanism, liberal arts, philosophy, or music will not make you rich (there is the occasional exception) but they will make for a better person and collective (Culture ).
As we seem to be getting closer to redefining our values as a society, maybe money shouldn’t be the measure for everything (an idea I like to throw out there )… Maybe we had already lost the concept of “value” (it looks that way)… That said, in any project I am involved with, I always make sure the artist not only gets paid but he/she/them gets paid fairly because compensation for your work is just the decent thing to do!… We may want to think for a bit in a future of intolerance, hate, and bigotry. We may be having a glimpse of that future today in the obvious lack of choices we are suffering and the widely spread: selfishness, superficiality, or ignorance. Is that a world we are building? Is that a world worth living? So many questions, and so little time. Creatives may not be able to build overpriced electric cars but they make the Planet a much better place !!… Imagine for a second: More Artists less soldiers !! Nice …. Really, nice!
Conclusion: Culture É Progresso! There is no Future without culture. ….
Thank you RebelCanvas for the visibility of this and other ideas, right when we need them the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/F1
- Instagram: @radiofuturawfmu
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@radiofuturawfmu?si=SC6_ruARbQMK9zqt
- Other: https://linktr.ee/radiofuturawfmu?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=6a970f1d-22f2-4ecb-be27-22ee6760aa3b
Image Credits
photos by:
@vanessatamarit