Playlist: Music To Cut Hair To with Alison Ford

 
Music

A trip to About This Place hair studios is rarely just purely functional.. Hairdressers can often end up being confidante’s. It’s all about the setting too, so is there more annoying than bad music? it’s unacceptable. Bad music is only an interruption of what we believe the salon atmosphere should be. This why ‘Music to cut hair to’ was created.

Here at the ATP Studios, headed by the Hair Mistress aka Victoria Saunders has perfected that blend. She cuts the hair of half the DJs in London and many of the people in the background of this wonderful industry. The reason they keep coming back, aside from a damn fine cut, is the fact the music is spot on – hence being asked by R$N to compile a feature for them. 

Music To Cut Hair To, a selection of some great music played in the salon alongside some appearances from friends…

“For this month’s guest I’d like to welcome Alison Ford. Who you ask? My new favourite person.

Is it possible to fall a little bit in love with someone you don’t know on the strength of their music?? Well it’s happened.

I was guest on the wonderful Amatuerism Radio, which was started in Lockdown by one of my previous guests Leo Walton. It’s the radio station I think I’ve waited for all my life. Great music, wonderful people compiling perfect shows and no shit chat. This brings me to Alison. I think I have a girl crush. Week after week she had busted tunes reaching far & wide and I’m a fan.

I wanted to celebrate and say THANK YOU to Amatuerism Radio for being my saviour in these crazy times. I can’t wait for the get together. I’m gonna be like a 14 year old school girl and have to overcome shyness to meet the people behind the scenes that have made it all more bearable.”

1.When were you at your happiest?

Maybe my first gig when I’d just turned 13. It was Blur and the Parklife tour, I couldn’t believe my luck.

2. What’s your greatest fear?


Ghosts, an irrational fear I thought I was over until a hen party in a haunted house last year where I squeezed my best mate’s hand all night rather than sleeping a wink. I’ve never been so scared in my life.

3. Who do you admire?

Beyonce Knowles-Carter

4. What trait do you deplore in yourself/ other people? 

Being too hard on yourself, got to let it go.

5. What’s your worst habit? 

Playing with my hair.

6. Favourite word?  

Angelcake.

7. Who would you like to say sorry to? 


Too many people, probably for no reason, I’m overly apologetic.

8. Who do you despise? 


Villainous politicians.

9. Who or what is the love of your life?


Ben, a man with a huge heart.

10. What would improve your life? 

A big garden and a dog, spending so much time in a city flat over the past few months has made this craving pretty strong. I now just want Monty Dom’s life.

11. Worst job you have ever done?


Getting trained up to ‘scout’ for what turned out to be a scam modelling agency – they would convince people to pay to be on the books. Just as I realised they never booked anyone that signed up, I got sacked for being a ‘square peg in a round hole’.

12. What’s your greatest achievement? 


A wonderful group of friends.

13. What keeps you awake at night? 

A creature in our loft that we’re too scared to confront! Hopefully a magpie… or something cute.

14. How would you like to be remembered? 

As a musical genius but as that’s impossible, maybe a nice fun gal.


15. What lessons has life taught you? 

Don’t sweat the small stuff, life is for living
.

16. What would your super power be? 


Teleportation

17. Favourite smell? 


Apple crumble, freshly baked.

19. Who would play you in a film? 

I’d like to convince Phoebe Waller Bridge to do it.

19. What song would you like played at your funeral?

Purple Rain, the greatest song ever written.

20. Top tip?

Listen to Amateurism Radio!

21.Tell us a secret…

I’m a woman of my word and I promised not to tell…

Also anything exciting you would like to shout about, upcoming gigs, parties. weddings etc etc…

Thank you for inviting me! The playlist is full of much-loved, feel-good and relaxing tunes to enjoy alongside the sweet relief of a long-awaited visit to the salon. Many of the tracks are taken from my Amateurism Radio ‘Evening Session’ show which has been running every Sunday since the start of lockdown when this brilliant radio station was born, and great tunes were needed just to make it through the day. The station has community at its heart, and that community has grown and grown in the past few months. It’s very exciting to see where it goes next, first stop the Amateurism Weekender – a party with real life people in human form, at Birch space, just north of London. We’ll also be celebrating my dear friend Nancy’s birthday there to really up the party ante – cannot wait.