Meet the brilliant minds of LOOSE.fm

Take a walk through the striking buildings of Design District and - bam! zap! - you'll find yourself in a comic-book world, where two ludicrously brilliant, illuminated googly eyes mark the home of LOOSE.fm.

If you haven't discovered LOOSE.fm yet, now's the perfect time. The independent radio community is all about breaking cultural boundaries. "It's about the triple X: eclectic, experimental and ecstatic culture, community and creative collaboration," says founder Mark Freeman.

"I grew up on comics like Beano and Oink! which quickly moved into heavier, more conscious stuff like Crisis and Watchmen, so my view of culture has always been through a sort of bag-of-Skittles lens but with artistic depth. I felt like music platforms were either ultra-serious or ultra-frivolous, so instead I wanted to create something that could embrace both highbrow and lowbrow. Something that had a fun, joyful energy but integrity as well."

LOOSE.fm launched in 2021 and now features more than 300 contributors, DJs and producers from around the world. Over the past year, its Design District home has become a hub for broadcasts, collaborations and community, giving artists the freedom to experiment and connect. Deejay Nye, a Filipino British DJ, promoter and co-founder of Half East Records – a collective celebrating East and Southeast Asian DJs and artists – sums up its appeal: "From the start, I felt free to express myself. No matter how experimental I want to be, they give me the space to be fully myself."

There’s no place like a real-world home

LOOSE.fm's first home was in a basement in Hoxton, but in 2023 they lost the space and moved to working solely online – something founder Mark Freeman never felt could replace a physical community.

"Every community needs a space. There's a lot of talk around how the internet is a home for communities, but I think humans need real-time connection, a place where we can bring together people who love music and culture – that's the important bit."

"In the early days of a lot of music genres, it's often people just getting together and playing different kinds of stuff," says Mark. "Disco wasn't all sequins, Abba and flares; it was people in a sweaty room playing Latin, funk, rock and jazz with a sort of shared sensibility. So I'm interested in what ideas might ferment if we create a joyful, physical crossroads. It's valuable from both a human and cultural perspective."

Then came the opportunity that changed everything. "Design District approached us and asked if we'd like to move there because they could see the need for platforms that support culture, conversation and connection," says Mark. "We absolutely fell in love with the place. It's such an amazing centre for creative minds, businesses and makers, and you've got Ravensbourne University London there. We realised we could be the cultural linchpin that could pull all these strands together. So in our gut, we just immediately thought that this is the spot for us."

A year on, that instinct has proved right, with LOOSE.fm firmly established as part of the Design District community.

But how do you translate eclectic, experimental and ecstatic into the built environment? "We asked Josh Peasley and Harrison Marshall at CAUKIN Studio, who are really amazing guys and fantastic architects, because of their brilliant Skip House [a 2023 part-art installation, part-social commentary on homelessness that turned a dumpster into a home where Harrison still lives]," says Mark.

"We thought from a storytelling and sustainability point of view, they'd be able to come up with something unique, and our brief was we wanted 'excellent functionality with epic folly'. They came up with some really wild, head-scratching ideas, but nothing was really connecting. Then one day, they showed us this idea: a shipping container with a pair of googly eyes on it."

It immediately connected, especially because there's a brilliant idea at its heart. "Harrison said, 'LOOSE.fm is a voice, so let's put you guys in the mouth.' It immediately made me laugh. I showed it to my founding partner and chief of strategy, Craig Wills, and it made him laugh too."

"CAUKIN Studio was founded on the need for community infrastructure, so working with LOOSE.fm at Design District felt like a natural collaboration," explains Josh Peasley from CAUKIN Studio. "The space provides a home for local cultural exchange and global broadcast, and was designed to stimulate playfulness. We're committed to using locally sourced materials and this project features the creative reimagining of industrial materials."

Now one of Design District's most recognisable landmarks, the eye-catching structure is built from a repurposed shipping container that has been assessed and insulated for acoustic performance, while the illuminated googly eyes were animated by Joshua Space, lighting designer and founder of Space Studio.

"I'm an artist and designer working primarily with light-based sculpture, and I love working with people to enable them to bring their creative visions to life," says Space. "Designing three-metre eyes with dynamic lighting atop a shipping container in an area with occasionally inclement weather felt like a good challenge. Also, electronic music has been a big part of my life since I was a teenager, so there's an important connection for me to what LOOSE.fm is bringing to Design District."

The impression is of a giant face, with the eyes providing a subtle nod to the 'OO' in LOOSE.fm and the service window revealing a custom DJ booth that mirrors the function of a mouth. Completing the collaborative vision, fellow Design District makers Uncommon Projects created the bespoke banquette seating, while Wizard Works designed the retro-inspired cushions.

London calling

Over the past year, LOOSE.fm has become far more than a radio station. Its Design District home has evolved into a welcoming space where music, creativity and community come together – from live broadcasts and DJ sets to collaborations, conversations and cultural events.

Staying true to its independent spirit, LOOSE.fm continues to champion emerging talent while remaining proudly ad-free. Instead, the team works with brands, artists and creative organisations on partnerships that genuinely add value to its community. "Working with our community, we can provide plans, ideas, strategy and insight for brands about what audiences want to see," explains Mark. "We also want to connect designers, musicians and artists with commercial opportunities that support their creative careers."

Looking ahead, the ambition is only growing. LOOSE.fm plans to expand its programme of live podcasts, artist talks, visual art collaborations and community events, creating even more opportunities for people to connect through music and culture.

The invitation remains open to anyone with a fresh perspective. "We take every submission seriously," says Mark. "The thing that really stands out is when someone brings together different genres or offers an eclectic take on music and culture."

A year after opening at Design District, LOOSE.fm has firmly established itself as one of the neighbourhood's most distinctive creative spaces. As Deejay Nye says: "I've lived in the area for over 10 years, and having a local radio station here has been incredible. Spaces like this bring people together, celebrate creativity and give communities a platform to tell their own stories."

For Half East Records, that means sharing stories through music and conversation while creating opportunities for emerging artists and welcoming guests from around the world. One year in, LOOSE.fm has already become an important part of Design District's creative community – and it's only just getting started. Kapow!

loose.fm; @loose.fm

email [email protected]

Your eclectic, experimental and ecstatic playlist for summer: 12 must-hear tracks from the collective genius behind LOOSE.fm

• Let Love Flow For Peace, by Sunbear (selected by Fabio Coverini)
• Tu Amor, by Mamacita (selected by Something Like That)
• Shoshana, by Nuyorican Soul (selected by Leandro Fidelis)
• Ultramarine, by Lone (selected by Unexpected Items)
• Walking On Sunshine, by Eddy Grant (selected by Wafa Love)
• Sunshine Dub, by Prince Douglas (selected by Fly Away Hearts)
• Na Batida Do Agogo, by Grupo Batuque (selected by Hudson’s Choice)
• Pinoy Funk, by Regalado (selected by Deejay Nye)
• Run Tell That, by The Lewis Express & Chip Wickham (selected by Here On Earth)
• Sunny, by Yambu (selected by Jam Jiva)
• Best Mamgu Ever, by Underworld (selected by Hamoo)
• When I Think of You, by Janet Jackson (selected by Han+Fran)

Check out the full and exclusive The Peninsulist summer LOOSE.fm playlist.

Images by Charles Emerson