Face behind the voice
Kate Pieroudis (aka Lil’ Koko)
Presenter of Jazz FM’s The Big Easy with Lil’ Koko (Wed 9—10pm). “It’s a journey through the music and culture of New Orleans, a weekly jump into the barrel houses, juke joints and streets of one of the most fascinating musical cities on Earth — the place where jazz and rock ‘n’ roll were born.” She’s also a regular DJ at the east London venue Oriole and has written for Blues in Britain magazine since 2013. CV She was born, raised and still lives in east London. “You’re talking to a real, live Cockney — I know I don’t sound like it — and I’m very true to my roots. My parents are Greek Cypriot.” At school she studied Tennessee Williams. “Learning about the complexity of struggles in the Deep South really did impact on me.”
She read neuroscience and psychology at Liverpool, then went back-packing around Australia. “I thought I was going to be a clinical psychologist. But I discovered community activism. Another big part of my life is disability rights. I advise the Government on disability issues. That does link to music because my show is about showcasing marginalised voices.”
After collecting discs in New Orleans and Cuba in 2010, she hosted monthly nights at the east London venue Nightjar (2010—18) and Ronnie Scott’s club in Soho (2011—14). She staged New Orleans parties in London and all over Europe before presenting The New Orleans Strut on Resonance FM (2017-19). At one of her live gigs, she was spotted by Jazz FM co-founder Chris Philips, who said, “There needs to be a New Orleans show on Jazz FM and I think it needs to be presented by you.” Social media — yes or no? “I’m conflicted. I do think it has the power to be quite destructive, but it is a connecter and it can help with building communities. And I love art and beautiful photos so I’m quite into Instagram.” Best moments “Interviewing the soul queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas. Hearing what it was like touring the segregated South during the Jim Crow era was just phenomenal.”
Worst moments “Being told off for talking to Harry Connick Jr for too long. I think I was given five minutes with him, but we were chatting for closer to 20. But that’s because he lights up when you ask him about New Orleans culture.” Off air “I live in Hackney. I don’t have many walls in my flat. My walls are made up of books, vintage vinyl and vintage clothes.” First radio memory “My Dad’s crackly radio channeling Greek music from Cyprus. I remember this woman singing about going to the port to kill herself because her man ditched her the day before the wedding. I was eight and how much that affected my flare for drama I don’t know.” Favourite broadcasters “I was quite late to the John Peel party, but what I loved about him was his kind of DIY punk sensibility. I loved the way he played music that was so committed and real and boundary-pushing. That’s also true of Iggy Pop and his show on 6 Music.” Ambition/Dream job “Can I sit in for Cerys Matthews on the [Radio 2] blues show, please? I love the way she fuses poetry and all her passions into her show and that’s what I want to do more of.” Secret skills “I am a really good swing dancer. And my poetry ain’t bad.” DAVID MCGILLIVRAY
planetradio.co.uk/jazz-fm
‘New Orleans is one of the most fascinating musical cities on Earth ’