ST. GEORGE — A new radio station is broadcasting live from the Staten Island Ferry.
The Free Safety Network Radio broadcasted its first five-hour chunk of programming from inside the Staten Island Arts Culture Lounge, at the ferry terminal, Friday.
Each show — streamed live online and pumped out through speakers facing commuters — gets an hour block and focuses on a variety of topics and music, from hip-hop to indie rock to literature.
The network was started by Tariq Zaid, owner of Richmond Hood Co., and Chris Reinsch, who runs the Projectivity Movement. They aim to record monthly and release the show as a podcast on their website.
"We want to bring a unique experience from within the Ferry Terminal," Zaid said.
"Often people are in commuter mode. We're trying to let them know there is something else to do and experience what else is happening [in the Culture Lounge]."
For programming, Zaid said he tried to get an eclectic mix of Staten Island artists and people he's worked with before to feature on the show.
Maggie Vasconi, who runs the Shaolin Yacht Club photography blog, was the second show to record Friday and played music and spoke to Staten Island poet Eric Alter.
"This is so cool to be in the Ferry Terminal," said Vasconi, who had never worked in radio before. "It's really exciting."
The Free Safety Network Radio had shows from Emilio Sparks, a DJ for SiriusXM's Shade45 and author Tracy Brown. It also had music shows Not 97 Radio, Blap on the Radio and Free Safety Radio hosted by DJ Run P, who helped Zaid come up with the idea for the station.
Zaid said they haven't set a date for the next recording, but hope to record once a month at the terminal.
And while a lot of radio shows record in soundproof studios, Zaid said the natural sound — and potential to be interrupted — was a big draw for them to do the shows in the commuter hub.
"It kind of lends to this space," Zaid said. "You can can hear the background noise of the commuters."
