Today we’d like to introduce you to Pedro Futura.
Pedro, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
…Briefly! I have been in the States since the late 90s, coming from those great islands in the Atlantic called the Canary Islands (Tenerife, specifically). I never had the intention of staying, but one thing leads to another…
A big landmark for me was the discovery of FREEFORM radio. I used to do commercial radio for many years, and it was particularly painful to watch the industry slowly die. Everything changed when I stumbled upon WFMU, right here in my backyard of Jersey City.
I did notice the lack of Latin music — in general and across all airwaves. Normally restricted to artificial boundaries, never quite diverse enough, often represented as purely anecdotal and always without much context. I got in touch with the station and expressed my intention of showcasing Latin music like NO ONE else was doing… RADIO FUTURA was born!
The idea is still in development, but basically I am trying to remind an entire culture that: we used to feed from each other not that long ago; that it is part of who we are to mix and combine; that even if you were born in some far away land, your heritage still follows you around — and there is nothing wrong with exploring and growing.
Ambitious, I know, but I believe it is just and necessary… There is so much we have in common that whatever it is pulling us apart…
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course it is not easy… It does cost me money and time to put this together every week, but I do it with pleasure because I am a firm believer in the immense benefit it may bring — not only to Latinos, but to everyone with a trace of sensibility, empathy and curiosity left in them…
In my mind, a special place for that second or third confused generation, born ignorant of their rich heritage and missing so much in the process! I have 2 girls born in the States and, like many parents, I had to witness their upbringing systematically denying my culture altogether. It was after many years and a constant fight that they finally came to realize the true and immense value of what I was trying to pass on to them.
As you see: I am on a Mission and enjoying every single step….
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Anyone can play music, and now with the proliferation of AI and algorithms…. Point proved !
Call me a romantic, but I still appreciate the human touch with all its imperfections.
A good DJ or music curator is one who uses music as building blocks of something far bigger. Imagine a song made up of many others. A book made up of many other stories. A journey through a rich tapestry woven with the unique objective of communicating at a deeper frequency — one that makes spoken language seem insignificant or even primitive… A maker of worlds impossible to define in only 3 dimensions. That’s what I try to do with Latin music… Did I mention that I have an ambitious project ??
What’s next?
I would love to monetize this project at some point — not for personal enrichment at all, but to make it bigger by bringing more people on board….Maybe a production company putting together concerts and audiovisual projects under the same premise we have today… Let’s dream!
So far, all the money Radio Futura makes goes directly to sustaining the platform that makes this and many other projects like it possible. More than gladly, I love knowing that my work humbly contributes to the existence of WFMU…
Let me make it quite clear: NO ONE would have taken on or bet on an idea like Radio Futura, let alone nurtured it with total creative freedom, the way WFMU did. Forever thankful — and hopefully we get to contribute even more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://radiofutura.squarespace.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiofuturawfmu?igsh=MWJ3d2ozYzg2NHR5ZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@radiofuturawfmu
