in just 30 days, i built and launched radio brutus, a four-day pop-up radio station at brutus art center in rotterdam. the project combined live broadcasts, art exhibitions, and online streaming, attracting 659 online viewers and hundreds of in-person visitors.
this hybrid format showcased my ability to turn ideas into reality quickly, manage tight timelines, and create engaging, multi-platform experiences. here's a behind-the-scenes on how it all came together.
brutus is one of rotterdam’s most recognized art centers. as part of their wild summer of art program, i was invited to bring my vision of a hybrid radio station to life.
radio brutus was a pop-up station that broadcasted live for four days in july 2024. i was solely responsible for the concept, execution, and promotion of this event that shaped how Rotterdam sounded and felt for me and the creatives involved.
concept
on june 12th, i received an email that my pitch for radio brutus had been selected. with the first broadcast scheduled for july 18th, i had roughly one month to turn an idea into reality.
the concept was a hybrid radio station – open to walk-ins at the studio and streamed online for a global audience. with no clear blueprint, I embraced the challenge of creating something new and memorable.
a key turning point came when my friend Gozde introduced me to Roderick from mesh print club, a screen-printing workshop in rotterdam. we decided to collaborate, and mpc hosted an exhibition during the broadcast. nearly thirty mpc members showcased their work in the studio, including radio brutus-inspired art. the synergy between visual art and live radio added a unique dimension to the project
setup
the technical setup had to work for three audiences – online viewers, live visitors, and performers.
the core was a dj setup with a mixer, two cdjs, and two vinyl decks, plus a main mixer with channels for mics and instruments. audio levels were balanced through the main mixer, which split the feed between the speakers and the online stream.
the stream ran from my laptop, featuring a fisheye lens on the webcam for a wide-angle view of the studio. obs handled the stream, hosted via castr. i added animations by Rafael Varona for transitions and pre-show screens, giving the stream a polished feel.
programming
i wanted the programming to capture rotterdam’s vibe – diverse, colorful, and dynamic. with 27 broadcast hours to fill, the short timeline worked in my favor. many contributors were available and jumped at the chance to participate.
highlights included dj sets by local artists, live performances (Quarantine Beach and DAG), artist interviews, and curated discussions with expats who shared music from their home countries. collaboration with music production academy brought their first offsite beat battle to the station, and expat cinema rotterdam’s Sam Koopman hosted a sunday session. mpc also ran free screen-printing demos on one of the days.
promotion
promotion was entirely organic, leveraging my instagram, brutus website, newsletter, and social media.
i launched the program in five waves to keep the momentum going and allow for last-minute additions. co-created instagram posts with guests extended our reach, while daily reels captured highlights and built excitement for the remaining shows. these reels were a bit rough on my sleep schedule but proved effective in keeping the buzz alive.
results
radio brutus attracted 659 unique online viewers, with slightly fewer visitors dropping by the studio. i’m proud of how it all came together – especially within such a tight timeline – and grateful for the connections it sparked.
the experience also led me to launch my own bi-weekly show on radio worm and left me eager to take on more hybrid projects in the future.
takeaways
constraints breed creativity – tight deadlines pushed me to make quick decisions and embrace improvisation.
collaboration opens doors – partnering with mpc turned the project into a multidimensional experience.
visibility grows through participation – inviting contributors to promote their segments amplified our reach organically.
radio brutus was more than an event; it was an experiment in community-driven storytelling. if you’re thinking about launching your own creative project, I’m always happy to help turn ideas into reality.
