E.M.A goes radio gaga over Mariah Carey, Toto, and giving Boris a grilling
| 17th June 2021
| 17th June 2021
E.M.A goes radio gaga over Mariah Carey, Toto, and giving Boris a grilling | Our VIVA girl E.M.A has not only scored a new record deal, with her latest single dropping on Not So Serious Records this month, but she’s also forging a career on the decks in Dubai. Here’s her latest column, giving the inside track on the sunshine destination’s music scene.
I’ve been cruising around Dubai for the last four months now and excited to say I’ve just had my residency and work visas confirmed. So that’s me DJing in the hot desert sunshine for the next three years. It’s a hard life, but someone’s got to do it!
When I was in Blighty, I used to have a radio show on Unity Radio in Manchester and I’m a big fan of the radio airways. Two Dubai stations I’ve been tuning into are Beat 97.8 and LUV 107.1 which are ‘Part of The Fun Asia Network’.
A couple of girls riding high over these two radio frequencies are the gorgeous Glasgow wee lass, AYLISSA, who hosts drive time on LUV, and the cheeky Cheshire luv, Jade Louise Worsley, who presents the morning breakfast show on Beat.
Both girls took time out of their busy Dubai schedules to have a little chat with me about everything radio gaga…
E.M.A: Hi AYLISSA, how long have you been a radio presenter for and what was your first radio job?
AYLISSA: I’ve been a presenter for 10 years now. Woah! I’m old, don’t guess my age. My first radio job was doing the traffic and travel on an ‘Oldie’ station in Scotland, and I loved it!
E.M.A: Guessing your age, 31? Can you remember the first words you said on the radio?
AYLISSA: I have no idea, this would have been at 6am, so probably not much that made any sense!
E.M.A: What were your reasons for moving to Dubai and pursuing a radio career out here?
AYLISSA: I had auditioned for a radio job in Dubai which I thought I’d never get. I didn’t hear anything from them for months then got the call and I was on a plane to Dubai the next week.
E.M.A: Amazing! Describe your LUV show in three words?
AYLISSA: Chat, Song, Chat!
E.M.A: What’s been your most embarrassing moment on air?
AYLISSA: I’ve said a few naughty words before. It’s also embarrassing when my mum comes on and tells stories of me as a geeky teenager.
E.M.A: Who’s been the most interesting person you’ve interviewed on the radio and why?
AYLISSA: I’ve interviewed Mariah Carey. Thought she was going to be NO BANTER but actually we had a great laugh. Will Smith and David Beckham were pretty awesome too!
E.M.A: Wow some big names there. And who would you love to interview that you haven’t had the chance to yet?
AYLISSA: I’d like to interview Boris Johnson to grill him about when the UAE is coming off the UK’s Red List!
E.M.A: Let’s get this interview sorted ASAP! You do your show solo but if you could choose anyone in the world to co-host with, who would you choose and why?
AYLISSA: Radio-wise, I love Australia’s Kyle and Jackie O, I listen to their podcast every day and steal their ideas. A Non- radio professional, I’d like to be my co-host, would be my granny. She has the best banter of anyone I’ve ever met.
E.M.A: Haha, would love to hear you co-hosting with your granny! Being Scottish have you ever blasted out a bit of ‘Ye Cannae Shove Yer Granny Aff a Bus’ on your show? – if not I’ll make you a remix, maybe this could be you and your Granny’s theme tune?
AYLISSA: I’m looking forward to the remix, but If you could maybe put an Arabic verse in, so it’d be more suitable for this market, that would be great.
E.M.A: Done! What’s your all-time favourite tune to drop on-air that makes you shake your tail feather in the studio?
AYLISSA: I love Toto’s Africa because it has the best harmonies of all time. I’ve lost all cool points here…
E.M.A: No cool points lost here, Toto’s Africa is an awesome tune. Funniest thing a listener has ever called in and said to you?
AYLISSA: I’ve had a listener come on and just shout out a swear word that was pretty fun for me but my boss didn’t like it much!
E.M.A: Sometimes you host your show on location? Where has been your favourite place in Dubai to host from and what were you doing there?
AYLISSA: I’ve hosted the show from lots of big concerts here- Take That, Mariah Carey, Backstreet Boys. I can’t believe my luck!
E.M.A: Not only are you a superstar radio presenter you also host quiz nights. Can you give our readers one of your hardcore quiz questions to answer?
AYLISSA: What’s 34 + 35?
E.M.A: What are your future plans in the radio world?
AYLISSA: Hopefully just keep having fun chatting on the air for as long as I can keep blagging it!
E.M.A: Hi Jade, before moving to Dubai and bagging the morning breakfast show on Beat what radio presenting were you doing in the UK?
JADE: Loads of different stuff; I started out answering phones for the Heart breakfast show in Nottingham then I went on to present a weekend show. I’ve presented on BBC Radio 1, Trent FM, Glastonbury’s official radio station, and my favourite was getting a show on Burning Man radio and going to the festival in Nevada’s Black Rock desert!
E.M.A: Wow lots of very cool radio work there! You have to get up pretty early for your show to entertain Dubai, what’s your morning wake-up ritual to get you hyped?
JADE: Coffee coffee coffee! And a shower always helps!
E.M.A: Yes, you don’t want to get into the studio stinking! Describe your Beat show in three words?
JADE: Pushes the boundaries!
E.M.A: You co-host your show with Reine Abou Rjeily, what’s been your guys’ most embarrassing moment on air?
JADE: Oh god there’s been a few. Probably when we were broadcasting live from Tomorrowland and two men walked into our studio to be interviewed, we had no clue who they were and our producer mouthed ‘Loud Luxury’ nice guys haha!
E.M.A: And who’s been your fave person to interview on your show and why?
JADE: Paris Hilton surprised me, she was so lovely and a lot of fun. Lost Frequencies was amazing too, he loved getting competitive in our game. Also, Fatboy Slim was up for banter.
E.M.A: I LOVE Fatboy Slim, he’s my DJ hero. Has anyone said to you, “You have a face for radio” if so, what was your reply?
JADE: Everyone! That’s if I didn’t say it first. I wonder who came up with that phrase?! If you find out let me know.
E.M.A: Apparently, it was Jerry Springer. What’s the funniest thing a listener has ever called in and said to you?
JADE: One guy called up and asked me on a date live on the radio!! I politely declined the chivalrous offer. Awks.
E.M.A: Not only are you a superstar radio presenter but you also take to the decks at the weekend. What’s your favourite tune to drop at the moment?
JADE: Well, ‘Deploy the Flaps’ by E.M.A of course. If I’ve not dropped that I love Calvin Harris’ new one ‘By Your Side’.
E.M.A: Haha, so happy you’re deploying the flaps! What would be the worst tune anyone could request you to play and what would be your response to them?
JADE: YMCA someone asked me last night. I said no.
E.M.A: I also hear you’re a pretty good hype girl on the mic, what does it take to be a great hype person?
JADE: I really enjoy entertaining people and making them laugh and I don’t care what anyone thinks of me, so those two things help.
E.M.A: What are your future plans in the radio world?
JADE: World domination. Kidding, I’d like to keep the radio going for as long as possible! There’s nothing like a live radio show reacting to the day and interacting with listeners! LONG LIVE RADIO!
So next time you’re in Dubai make sure to tune into Beat 97.8 and LUV 107.1 plus give these two little beauties a follow on Instagram @aylissab @jadeonair