StereoType Records

Stereotype gets to know 5FM’s Catherine Grenfell

Catherine Grenfell
By Carey Saaiman
Photography by Aleksiei Lima

She’s a mother, partner, adventurer, writer, and a radio DJ on 5fm. Catherine Grenfell is passionate about her art and believes in making the world a better place. Here we find out how she does it on a daily basis.

Catherine has a few good interviewees under her belt; she’s interviewed well-known names such as Pink, Metallica, Korn, Kaiser Chiefs and Charlize Theron to name a few. With experience like that, Catherine knows why artists express themselves the way they do, and how this influences who our friends are, our moods and even the way we dress.

She paints a picture for her listeners on her radio show, and attempts to make it 3-dimensional because she hates radio shows that sound rehearsed. “I rather try and get questions from what the person is saying. I love it when you get to say the first thing that comes to mind. It makes everything sound more real,” she says.

Catherine does a music review page for Voila! Magazine which is currently available nationwide. She also compiles South African tracks for the DMX campus Rock Channel, which is right in her element. Along with this she is passionate about the (Live)5 show because it showcases a live DJ and band in front of a live studio audience, and we get to hear how amazing our South African artists’ are.

“The biggest problem is that people are far too selfish and only think about themselves,” Catherine says when asked what the world struggles with today. She is an avid charity supporter and has climbed to the top of Kilimanjaro to support The Lonely Road Foundation initiative, and more recently rode in the Pick ‘n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Challenge which raised awareness about the plight of her friend’s daughter. Catherine says that the world would be a better place if one person just helps one another person or family.

As she tries to help aspiring DJ’s too, Catherine advises them to be original, let their own personalities shine, practice in front of the mirror and continuously record demos to be sent out everywhere they can think of. Along with this she says they should request feedback from people who are in the know. “It’s the only way you are going to learn what to do and what not to do,” says Catherine.

Being one of South Africa’s female strongholds, Catherine has success at the tip of her fingers, and continues to shine through her passion for people, life, art and her music.

QUICK FIX 5:
Favourite South African band: Isochronous
Current music playing in her CD player: Mumford & Sons
Playlist for when she’s angry: Rage against the Machine
Playlist to calm herself: The Editors
Choice between money or fame: Money

If you’d like to follow Catherine’s work you can find her on Facebook: Catherine Grenfell or follow her on Twitter: @cathgrenfell. Catch her Monday to Fridays on 5fm; 3-7pm and Saturday’s 5-7pm.