10 Questions with... Open Invitation Collective
Welcome to '10 Questions with...' where we are asking people 10 questions about the cool stuff they are doing.
For this edition, we are asking Raidaa, Jenna and Claudia about the Open Invitation Collective, as the collective makes their first movies in London's music scene.
1. What is the Open Invitation Collective?
Claudia: We are the Open Invitation Collective, a collective of Radio Presenters/DJs who like to throw parties.
2. How did the members meet each other?
Claudia: We all met through Voices Radio, I met Raidaa on my trial show at Voices and actually never saw her again for a good while and then connected with Jenna on insta through Voices being a connection and met in real life at Cross the Tracks.
3. Why did you start the Open Invitation Collective?
Claudia: We felt like we would be able to provide opportunities to women and non binary people from marginalised communities. Sometimes if there’s not any room at the table, you need to make your own.
4. Who are the members inspired by and why?
Raidaa: By my peers especially those in community radio, the people I’ve met are always so positive and doing so much in the music scene whilst supporting their community and being for the people. It’s very much for the people by the people and extremely encouraging to be amongst people who support you like that.
Jenna: I’m inspired by my peers. Raidaa and Claudia teach me new things about life, love, DJing and everything in between all the time. Without them even realising, I find being around them and watching them flourish super inspiring and it definitely pushes me to grow.
Claudia: I’m inspired by Jordds, a DJ who started her own radio show in lockdown. She has her own events, is very talented and has a great fashion sense. Also, seems to have a good heart and clean hearts always win.
5. What music do the Open Invitation Collective members enjoy?
Raidaa: R&B, Jazz, Soul, Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop, partial to some Miami Bass and Jersey Club edits.
Jenna: I love songs from all around the world, I love stories and I'm really drawn to songs that can just instantly make me feel a type of way. I’d say the genres I listen to the most are Soul, Funk, Jazz, Reggae, Hip-Hop and Highlife. Sometimes, I have the listening profile of an uncle, sometimes I’m hot on new releases before they’ve barely had a chance to be out.
Claudia: I love black music, so Dancehall, Afrobeats, R&B, Hip-Hop, Soul, anything I can vibe too.
6. What can people expect from a Open Invitation Collective event?
Raidaa: Incredible music, a variety of genres in an inclusive space. An event they can actually dance at.
Jenna: Vibes, there’s always so much love in the room. I love the community we’ve built and love seeing old and new faces all smiling from ear to ear. The music is always banging too.
Claudia: For your feet and calves to hurt so much from dancing, and to meet beautiful kind hearted people. We always have a room full of people who are beautiful on the inside and out.
7. What artist(s) do the Open Invitation Collective think will breakout in 2026?
Raidaa: Club Indigo (Ill Addicts, Sança), Cari, Demae.
Jenna: MRCY.
Claudia: Nolais.
8. Where can we catch the Open Invitation Collective?
Claudia: You can catch us at a venue near you in February. We’ll be doing a few events for the yearners so keep an eye out.
9. What did a normal weekend look like for the members 10 years ago?
Raidaa: Probably having a breakdown over my UCAS personal statement.
Jenna: Probably spent driving my friends around in my Nissan Micra listening to the Pussy Cat Dolls. I got one of their albums for secret Santa as a joke and honestly it backfired because it’s still one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. “Imma stick witchuuuuu…..”.
Claudia: Working at Oxford Street Schuh, serving customers and running home to study or lying to my mum to say I’m studying and going out to eat.
10. What do you hope the Open Invitation Collective will doing 10 years from now?
Raidaa: More community driven events outside of club nights centred on the common denominator of the joy that music brings.
Jenna: I hope we’ll have an even more gorgeous community and be able to connect with, platform, and celebrate the next wave of underrepresented talent.
Claudia: Festival curation, consultancy, touring, we want it alll!!!! And best believe if we are involved you will see representation. It’s in our nature.
We would like to thank Open Invitation Collective for their participation in this series and hope to see them out in the dance.
Credit to Iona Greaves for the cover photo of this article.
You can catch them live at Ninety One Living Room on February 26th and can follow the Open Invitation Collective journey here:
Open Invitation Collective (@o.i.collective)