Meet Ozilla Radio | All encompassing EDM radio show

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ozilla Radio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ozilla, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting Ozilla Radio was kind of two-fold. For one, it was simply to provide a diversified voice within the electronic scene in Hamilton, Ontario. This was done by our ‘Host Nights’ where one of our hosts would play their favorite tracks from the last week or two, along with many of the local tracks that were submitted to us. The second was to showcase local, up and coming talent and local events; thereby, putting an extensive lens on the community. This was done through guest mixes and interviews. In fact, one of the events that we were associated with, resulted in the artist getting booked to open for Sleepy Tom. This same artist later signed one of his tracks to Musical Freedom. What started as his first ever radio appearance (guest mix and interview) has since progressed to various tracks being signed to international labels. We couldn’t be more proud of their journey!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets Ozilla Radio apart from other businesses is that we are a community-based radio show that broadcasts on 93.3 FM, every Saturday from 10:30pm to midnight – so its actually part time work. We seek to highlight the entire ‘EDM” scene, with a large focus on the local community all while giving opportunities to up and coming acts including international talents.

What we are most proud about is being able to make a difference in the community and for artists, labels and promoters alike, by helping them to have a voice in a highly competitive, and ever-changing industry.

Since its 8-year tenure, Ozilla Radio has grown by investing in itself, or as the hip kids would say, by “leveling up”. We did this by expanding our operations by adding members to our team and increasing the opportunities for the artists that we work with. We are also hosting more of our own events, posting more frequently (fun content and musical content), and giving back to the community more, all while still partnering with other local events.

At the same time, our principles of helping others are not generally seen as the norm within the industry. Although we need money to operate smoothly, we find greater value and reward knowing that we made a difference and provided a home or outlet for artists, labels and event companies.

When reflecting on our brand and story, we would want the world to know that we are all encompassing for the various genres that make up the EDM scene and that we act as a haven for those within the scene. We are a place for artists, event planners, and other business owners to network and explore. Arguably we would hope that our legacy would be intertwined with our purpose and our mission, but if all that failed, maybe the world will remember Ozilla Radio as the show with the rocking personalities.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Gosh that’s a tough question and its mostly because there are so many beautiful sights, restaurants and activities that could be done around the Hamilton area. The Burnt Tongue and Lava Pizza (Hamilton) were two staples for food that we took a lot of guests to and supported so those places would likely be a stop on the long list of activities. Depending on what our friend likes to do Hamilton has some wonderful waterfall trails to hike, and it also has a few cliffs and points with some stunning views of the escarpment and city skylines. In terms of nightlife, we would have to take them to one of our live broadcasts to see the studio, and to feel the music pierce their souls. From which we would take a quick car ride into downtown Hamilton or go for a bit of a longer trek to Niagara or Toronto (depending on what’s going on) and have a late night on the town. Needless to say, there is so much to do, and so little time to do it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
One particular person we want to shoutout was a good friend of the show who is no longer with us. Nickname on the mics was “Lewster”. This individual came to all our events, spoke on the mics with us, and helped to spread the word of Ozilla Radio to all within his network while streaming our broadcasts live or on the replays. He was a huge advocate for us and is truly missed. We would also like to thank our founders for creating the show and dedicating 8 years of time to serving the electronic music community and of course, we want to thank all of our listeners, friends and family members who have supported the show since its inception.

Some additional shoutouts include the numerous groups that have supported us over the years such as: Lazuli Records, Metum Digital, GHRZ Collective, DJ Central, King and Queen Events, RAVEns, Canadian Ravers, Studio L14 and many many more!

Instagram: instagram.com/ozillaradio

Twitter: twitter.com/ozillaradio

Facebook: facebook.com/ozillaradio

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ozillaradio

Other: soundcloud.com/ozillaradio mixcloud.com/ozillaradio

Image Credits
Luke Ionico