Sometimes there are shows on NSR that stand out amongst the rest for its longevity, and I Digress is one of its brightest examples. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with the team behind the show as they go into their third year of being on air.
“An hour a week for three years is a long time…” they opened with. It’s true, however, just listening to I Digress would calm any fears about this being a concern to Amy and Charlotte, with each week providing a refreshing reminder of the quality of shows on NSR. When I asked them what it is that stops them from getting burnt out after three years, they concluded that ultimately it comes from a place of passion: “We have refined I Digress throughout the year, but it has always centred around something we are passionate about.” When you tune into the show, there is a feeling of maturity and independence that you pick up on, differing from the once softer style from the previous years. Their response to this? “Ultimately, I Digress is a reflection of ourselves … our own personal growth…”
“Ultimately, I Digress is a reflection of ourselves … our own personal growth…”
So what inspired Amy and Charlotte to make the switch and flip the show on its head? “Maturing into stronger, independent women in journalism” they began with, feeling that the current political climate “in which women are still facing the misogyny that inspired the initial movement” was something they wanted to tackle on their platform. Specifically, they aim to ‘spotlight music’s most powerful women’. They shared with me that in a 2022 Musicians’ Union survey, more than 65% of respondents had experienced misogyny in the industry, and that “it is important more than ever to shed a light on the women who continue to inspire us everyday.” They shared that they have local industry females lined up for interviews. With this change, they had to rebrand on social media, opting for what can be described as referencing the ‘Riot Grrrl movement’ in their visual aesthetics. The impact, maturity and frustration at the music industry is palpable through this too, with it being “another way in which we try to communicate I Digress’ mission.” It’s also a clear reflection of their personal growth, with them designing the entire logo in Photoshop, as they develop their skills as journalists.
As well as growing the show across three years, hosting a show has also impacted them both outside the studio. “...the biggest impact has to be the memories,” they explained, pairing it with a story of their friendship. Amy and Charlotte went from meeting the day before First Year, to hosting the first episode of I Digress just weeks later. The pair have not only developed as people, independent women, and journalists but as friends too.
I Digress is one of NSR’s longest running shows, but it’s so much more than that too. Tuning into I Digress is tuning into just one step in the road to sharing the world of female musicians. It’s one step in developing into powerful journalists, but powerful women too.