Cashmere Radio is immensely pleased to present its first compilation: MIGA Vol. 1.

The compilation was originally conceived in late 2019 as a way to showcase and celebrate the talents of those who put their time, effort and passion into the life of the radio. All proceeds were to help fund the radio’s ongoing activities which, as an independent and not-for-profit organisation, relies on the selfless support of over one hundred volunteers to keep operating.

The plan was to ask friends and family to donate a sound piece of any kind. No over-curation or over-determination of what the “sound” of Cashmere Radio is or should be. What was contributed is what you hear. It was conceived in the spirit of openness and collaborative work: an attempt to render in sound the often manic, but always vital, activities and attitudes of the Cashmere Radio cosmos.

Since that initial plan, well, let’s just say that the world has been nudged off its regular course. On the one hand, it would be completely disingenuous for us to say that this compilation is a response to the current COVID-19 catastrophe. It is not. On the other hand, Cashmere Radio could do with generous support now even more than in 2019 when we embarked on this raw and somewhat naive little project. If anything, the principles guiding the initial compilation are even more relevant today: a commitment to solidarity, mutual support and the hope and creativity inspired by collective work.

Anyway, back to the compilation itself. MIGA Vol. 1 boasts 52 tracks. It brings together Cashmere show-makers past and present such as Wilted Woman, Keller Crackers and Mark, with former residents like Eric Maltz and Max Eilbacher. We have commissioned generative works from MSHR and tracks kindly donated from friends like Carla Dal Forno and Jasmine Guffond. We have healing music from Plouty and harsh noise from Hugo Esquinca. We even have a radio play in Spanish. In short, we have a lot.

For some, this compilation marks their debut release. For others, their contribution adds another piece to an already awesome back-catalogue. Many names on this compilation will be new and some might be familiar. Whatever the case, the most important thing is that it offers a prism into the Cashmere family and offers some sonic nourishment during this challenging time.

We are painfully aware that asking for financial help for a cultural project right now may seem like a bad joke when so many people’s livelihoods and jobs are in jeopardy. There are so many people struggling that even attempting to make a summary list seems insulting and futile. We are also probably joining the back of a long queue of cultural institutions that have all, with sincerity and justification, asked for your support. We appreciate you having read this far and if you have some cash to spare we are so immensely grateful for your generosity and understanding. In any case, we hope you continue to enjoy the radio until we can clink glasses together again.