Conversation with Nick Richards
Ahead of the show’s debut, we sat down with Nick to look back on the decade that changed popular music forever.
“I hope younger listeners finish the show wishing they’d grown up in the 1980s.”
About Conversation with Nick Richards
Few artists know the 1980s quite like Nick Richards. As founder and frontman of Boys Don’t Cry, he lived one of music’s most exciting decades from the inside.
Now, with Dawn of the 80s on NEWDAWN.FM, he’s sharing stories, forgotten gems and unforgettable personalities that defined an era.
Ahead of the show’s debut, we sat down with Nick to look back on the decade that changed popular music forever.
You lived the 1980s from the inside, not just as an artist but surrounded by the people who shaped its soundtrack. What made you want to relive that era through a radio show?
Nostalgia, really.nnI miss those times so much. The music, the clothes, the freedom to do whatever you wanted and the excitement that surrounded music, films and fashion.nnBack then it felt like there was always something new waiting to be discovered.nnRock still felt fresh and there was so much creativity. Every week seemed to bring another new sound, another artist or another record that made you stop and listen.nnI wanted to recreate that feeling.
How would you describe Dawn of the 80s to someone who has never heard it before?
I want people to feel excited about music again.nnNot just the songs themselves, but the production, the creativity and the sense of discovery that made the decade so special.nnI'll also be introducing listeners to incredible artists and songs that, for whatever reason, never became the hits they deserved to be.
Your show promises not only great music but also interviews with some of the decade's biggest stars. What can listeners expect from those conversations?
Lots of funny and fascinating stories.nnWe’ll talk about what happened behind the songs, behind the music business and behind the scenes.nnPeople often forget just how much luck played a part in those careers. Sometimes it really was about being in the right place at the right time.
The 1980s gave us everything from pop and new wave to rock, soul and dance music. How do you keep a show about the decade feeling fresh every week?
By celebrating the whole decade instead of focusing on the obvious songs everyone already knows.nnThere are so many fantastic records that people rarely hear anymore. I want to mix those forgotten gems with the classics so every programme feels like a new discovery.
Having worked with so many artists over the years, are there stories or memories you’re especially looking forward to sharing?
Very much so.nnThere are some amazing stories.nnA few of them probably have to stay private because I’d end up getting sued!nnBut there are plenty I can tell, and I know they’ll keep listeners entertained.
Is there a song that instantly transports you back to the 1980s every time you hear it?
There are so many.nnBut the songs that became number one hits after being recorded at my own studio always stand out. Those memories come back immediately.
Many stations play 1980s music. What will make Dawn of the 80s different?
I don’t just want to celebrate the biggest hits.nnI also want to introduce artists and songs that should have been massive at the time but somehow weren’t. There are some incredible records that deserve another chance to be heard.
What do you hope younger listeners, who were not even born during the 1980s, will discover through the show?
I hope they finish every episode thinking: “I really wish I’d grown up in the 1980s!”
If you could invite any artist from the decade for your dream interview, who would it be and why?
Prince.nnHe was a genius in so many different ways, but he was also a lovely, humble man.nnI’d have loved to sit down with him.
Finally, when listeners reach the end of the very first edition of Dawn of the 80s, what do you hope they’ll be saying?
“Wow… that was interesting.”
