South London Radio Arts was started in 2001 by DJ, radio lecturer, producer and artist Magz Hall and DJ and producer Jim Backhouse to promote radio arts activity. The group received an Awards For All grant in 2002, which enabled over 200 local artists to participate on the You Are Hear radio show broadcast in its first year, on Resonance 104.4 FM.
You Are Hear has gone from strength to strength having broadcast weekly on Resonance FM for four years the show can now be heard on demand at www.totallyradio.com as well as podcasting highlights from its excellent live archive plus new music, festival specials and concerts. The groups artistic activity is ongoing having curated a DIY sound exhibtion, live music events and a fundraising album Flatpack Antenna which raised over 5000 pounds for Resonance FM. In 2006 SLRA was awarded a Fast Forward Grant and an Awards For All grant to run a series of radio art workshops in 2006 at the Albany Centre Deptford London.
In June 2007 they compliled a CD compilation featuring some of the outstanding live sessions recorded on You Are Hear show between 2002-2006. The current podcast of the show has been a huge success and was critics choice in the Independent Newspaper in Feb 2008 and Londons Time Out.
Magz Hall is a Sound Artist, producer, presenter and a founder of Resonance 104.4 FM. She is currently conducting practice based PhD research on "Radio of the Future" at LCC and is a radio lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University. She produces You Are Hear programmes and events and ran the SLRA radio art workshops. She sat as a Director of the Community Media Association 1998 - 2000. Her audio work has been exhibited in the British Museum and MACBA Barcelona. Magz also DJs and released electronic music tracks on Law and Auder Records "Female of the Species" in 1998 was a compilation featuring women electronic artists championed by the late John Peel.
Jim Backhouse is a freelance writer, radio broadcaster and producer he's also a musician with numerous releases across a variety of independent labels. He is also prominent member of the Kosmische collective, promoting cutting edge electronic music events since 1996. He also self released two Xylitol albums which have recieved well deserved critical attention.