1) What is the value of community radio for you Jen?
The value of community radio is in the connections that people can make. You can connect with your community, whether that be face to face through involvement at the station, by quietly listening at home or by interacting as a listener.
2) Why did you go into radio?
I got into community radio because I needed to connect with my community! I didn't know what it meant to be a lady-lovin' lady, really. I knew I had just come out but I wanted to find my place in the world, because although I was the same I felt that the realisation changed where I fit in. I needed to understand myself a little better and doing some volunteering and training at a community radio station for the GLBTI (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Trans and Intersex) community absolutely made that happen for me. I made friends both my own age and all other ages who were in the same minority group and it meant a lot while I was finding my feet and my own unique voice.
3) What is the benefit of community radio over commercial radio for you?
For me commercial radio has its place, and there are times when I'm happy to be spoon fed the most popular stuff. There's nothing wrong with that - but the commercial giants just don't have that heartbeat and soul that the community radio sector has. Community radio makes a difference in people's lives of a meaningful nature. Commercial radio is background noise when you don't want to think.
4) You got any Top 3 all time radio songs?
Argh! It's SO hard
for me to pick favourites, it literally causes me physical pain as I rack my
brain. Heh! There are songs I come back to again and again and again though:
- Ainslie Wills,
Quite Capable from her EP Somebody for Everyone http://ainsliewills.bandcamp.com/track/quite-capable
- Jen Cloher and
the Endless Sea, Hidden Hands from the album of the same name
- Jess Ribeiro and
the Bone Collectors, It'll Come To Pass from the album My Little River
They're
all quite hopeful and empowering songs about trusting your intuition, trusting
people to come through for you and that things will work out ok. I figure on
any given day someone could need a boost (sometimes I do!) so if I play those
tracks it might help someone out and make their day a little better.
5) Homebrew for me is an awesome overview of new
Australian music which I really appreciate. Was there a specific reason for
choosing the style of Homebrew? Did you help 'discover' anyone yet?
Thanks
matey, that's really nice. Homebrew was on air before I came to present it, but
I did start out in a similar show on another station. It's always been my
favourite thing to explore - the local music scene. Also it's really helpful
that then I don't have to pick any specific genre, because that scene includes
such diversity. I'm really bad at making decisions but I love covering a lot of
different areas so it's perfect.
As for
discovering anyone, gosh I don't know! I saw Sal Kimber years ago and got her
on air a few times before she became a bit more famous but I reckon she did
that all on her own by being so fab and talented.
6) What is one of your fav radio programs?
I
often listen to The Grapevine on
Triple R on the drive up to town to do Homebrew on a Monday. I love the music
and interviews they have on their show. I also love Its A Gas on PBS, lots of 50s Rockabilly gems on that show. It's a
genre I don't have a lot of in my collection, and the music always makes me
happy to hear.
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