Radio in My Life, My Life in Radio

AM pop on my clock radio, AOR on my parents’ stereo, college rock on WMUA, the lifeline that got me through high school. In 1983, I became a DJ at WOZQ Smith College. ‘OZQ got me through four tough years and I was (finally!) one of the cool kids. I got back on the air in 2006 at WMPG Portland and truly found my voice. My first show was in July 2006; I subbed all around the schedule, and eventually I got my own show on Sunday nights. I loved being part of the Sunday night lineup at ‘MPG, but my favorite sub was always the deep overnight, that time after hours, before the sunrise.

Overnight Radio Is Magical & Weird

In the 1970s and 1980s overnight radio was a strange and magical place. DJs would play deep tracks, imports, punk, bootlegs - radio you wouldn’t hear during the day. Overnight listeners are not the same as daytime listeners. Overnight listeners are awake for different reasons: they can’t sleep, they’re working, they’re writing, they’re driving. Anyone listening to the radio at 3:00 in the morning is listening because they want to. It’s a conscious choice.

Radio For Humans, By Humans

In the 21st century station managers and program directors compete with music streaming from everywhere and they need to keep the lights on. Radio is programmed by algorithms in order to maximize revenue. But what if the overnight was programmed by humans? A DJ that brings the magic badassery of overnight radio to the nighttime listeners. Postal workers and office cleaners. Insomniacs and parents. Writers and geeks. Daytime folks get the badassery via the archives, Ramones, the Velvet Underground and live Bowie bootlegs at the office. Everyone gets their retro on.

Rock On

Always.