DJ’S LOVING DJ’S

This interview between Tigress Magnolia (Midnight Tea Party) & DJ Random Citizen (Branches Off The Family Tree) aired on Instagram Live SATURDAY 22 JANUARY 2022 – 3pm

I want to thank DJ Random Citizen one more time for her time and musical joys and sharing them with all of us! I always discover a new treasure from their show! – Tigress Magnolia


Tigress Magnolia: Hi!

RandomCitizen: HOW’S IT GOING?

Tigress Magnolia: Good. How are you? 

Random Citizen: Good 

Tigress Magnolia: Good. I’m happy to see you! 

Random Citizen: Likewise (holds up adorable, cute, funky FFP yellow mug from merchandise section)

(both laughing)

Tigress Magnolia: Hi Everyone. (Hi @blueroute- I’m happy you’re here.) So hi this is a little pop up live on the ‘land of gram’ for Freeform Portland. My name is Tigress Magnolia. I am the host of the show; Midnight Tea Party and this is my friend, DJ Random Citizen. She’s the host of a show called, Branches Off the Family Tree, that airs on Saturday at Midnight so coming up tonight as Friday turns to Saturday morning her show is going to be airing so what is your show about this time?

Random Citizen: This week you are my guest co-host and we are paying tribute to Ronnie Spector, The Ronettes, and also all the other girl groups and girl bands past and present so it was really fun putting that playlist together!

Tigress Magnolia: I’m excited to see you twice in one day, I guess technically it will be tomorrow. So if you are not familiar with Freeform Portland-we are a radio station that is an all community all volunteer based coming out of Portland, Oregon and streaming Worldwide on www.freeformportland.org and this interview that we are doing something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. Holidays happened and then some other things happened so I’m really excited to do this! My intention is just to interview other DJ’S and find out a little bit about your biography and what music means to you and maybe hear an embarrassing story as a DJ so hopefully these are going to be coming up more and more and I won’t be the only one doing the interviews but some other DJ’S too. We have 150 DJ’S and we all volunteer our time and the really cool thing about Freeform Portland is that we get freedom to conduct our shows in any way that we want to.

So I’m curious how you found Freeform Portland and how you came up with the idea for your show, Branches Off the Family Tree?

Random Citizen: Yeah, so I’ve been a DJ at Freeform Portland since last April 2021. So my first show was called, Strange Things Happening Every Week, which I focus on BIPOC Punk Rock and Alternative Music; that was past and present. So that show came up with just knowing that Freeform Portland is a place to have under represented music played. That was something I was really into. I learned of Freeform Portland actually through Portland Sub Reddit. Someone posted on there about the applications opening and so I listened to the station and thought ‘cool’ and then put it in the back of my head and didn’t think about it and then thought ‘you know what, let me just go ahead and apply with my idea and put together a playlist.’ I love music and you know different kinds of music I was listening to at the time and so I said sure I’ll put together a playlist. And a couple weeks later I got an email saying, “Congratulations, you have a show!”

(Both Laughing) 

Tigress Magnolia: Were you like super nervous when you first started? 

Random Citizen: Absolutely! When you mentioned embarrassing moments, I was thinking that was pretty much my first few shows. I mean I had no idea what I was doing. I’ve never done radio. This was completely an all new experience for me. And being able to put music together, putting it on the air, figuring out all those different components but having the support of the other Freeform Portland DJ’S and Volunteers you know along the way has been really helpful. Yeah, that’s probably my embarrassing moment is just those first few shows, I mean just getting the sound right, making sure I’m not you know cutting off music and playing everything correctly so like yeah just getting that practice was … THAT’s Embarrassing!

Tigress Magnolia: I’ll mention this again at the end. I think all of our DJ’S have a presence on MixCloud which is amazing. You can find past shows on MixCloud on the Freeform Portland section and most DJ’S have their own Mixcloud so can we find your embarrassing moments on MixCloud?

Random Citizen: Yeah, those first couple of shows are on my first shows on MixCloud so if you search for DJ Random Citizen, my account will show up and my previous show, Strange Things Happening Every Week and my current show, Branches Off the Family Tree are both there.

Tigress Magnolia: Awesome. It’s really cool to have that because if you love a DJ you can go, even if you miss their show when it’s airing on Freeform Portland radio waves you can go and find it later which is one of my favorite things about technology. MixCloud has my heart a little bit.

Random Citizen: Yeah I mean it’s definitely helpful since my show airs at Midnight. People might not be Night Owls and asleep so they can listen to it later in the morning for example.

Tigress Magnolia: So, one of the things that I admire about your curation of your shows is that you seem to have this really amazing ability to remember small details about the artists and the show that you are doing right now, Branches Off the Family Tree, you are creating this spider web of connections with people and finding out who they’ve done shows with and who they’ve been inspired by. Do you have just like a brain that retains that or do you have to do a lot of research or how does that work for you?

Random Citizen: It’s a combination of the two. Usually it starts with one or two bands where I say, “okay, I know those two are connected or oh they were produced by so & so” Or some other connection that I know about and then I just start kind of peeling back the layers and that’s where the research component comes in looking on Discogs and seeing what else I can find that’s related or who they’ve played shows with in the past and by looking at past set lists and things like that. So yeah usually I have like a running list and a notebook that I’ll just think of a band and go I want to do a show on them and write them down and just start thinking who else can I play? Oh they opened for so and so and didn’t their drummer play for them too? Just things like that and just piecing it together and so you know that’s how the show kind of comes together is that- they are all connected in some way so like last week’s show was on Broken Social Scene – the music collective – and all the different bands and artists connected through them. So Stars, Metric, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Hiss Tracts, etc and then moving through there and out into other groups so Feist did the song with Peaches and then Peaches has different connections and then just tying it all together.

Tigress Magnolia: Yeah, that’s so awesome! I think it’s really this beautiful parallel because I think in my experience of being a musician and witnessing other musicians there’s this beautiful quality to want to work with other people and I think that’s kind of rare like it’s a special gift I think they do. Becoming a DJ myself and witnessing other DJ’S I think there’s also that beautiful quality of wanting to share as much as we can and I think that as you just named off all those people, I’m like, “Oh my gawd, I gotta write this down and I feel that way about your shows!” Like I always either hear a new song that I’ve never heard and I cannot stop listening to or I hear a new connection and then I write it down and gotta research this. I have this little journal as I listen to your shows.

Um so speaking of music, one of the things that I love is learning people’s biographies. Do you have a memory that stands out like listening to a DJ or being at a concert with a friend or like some exquisite music memory that just changed your life basically? You probably have a lot of those..

Random Citizen: Yeah, listening to DJ’S – that’s a lot because I grew up listening to the radio non-stop so I would sleep with the radio on. I was that person. I would always be listening to music and you know when I got older I would enter contests on the radio back when you could do that and win stuff. I never actually won anything but it was just the idea of calling a station. Then, when I got a little bit older, I would call and make requests of different songs so one song that comes to mind oh what is it…? It’s Tasmin Archer….um… what’s that song…satellites… it’s a song by Tasmin Archer and I’m totally blanking on the full name it’s something satellites (Sleeping Satellites by Tasmin Archer). I just remember requesting that song um because I’d heard it, heard the DJ play it like one week and then it didn’t air again, it like never aired again. and I was like, “Oh I really like that song so I’ll call up and request it!” That was something. That’s a great radio memory for me. Obviously everything is technical now and technology and internet and everything so it’s not really a thing, but I liked just you know being able to build that connection and like that music and clearly that person put that song on and maybe it didn’t resonate with people but it resonated with me.

Tigress Magnolia: How old were you? 

Random Citizen: I was prolly, I was definitely a teen so maybe 14 or 15 or so. 

Tigress Magnolia: That’s pretty cool. And okay you talked about your embarrassing moment becoming a DJ and later we’re gonna talk about how if you’ve been curious about becoming a DJ – you can do that at Freeform Portland; we are gonna talk about that at the end. Do you have a favorite current or new artist that you are really into and that you can’t stop listening to?

Random Citizen: Besides the one I’m wearing on my shirt. Soul Glo I am really looking forward to their new album coming out in March the lyrics and everything are just great! So looking forward to them, looking forward to Shamir’s album coming out next month and looking forward to Shilpa Ray! There’s so many bands putting out albums this year. That even if you’re not available physically just the thought of having new music; I am excited about!

And then newer artists…..Nuha Ruby Raout of the UK. I heard about her through Baba Ali (who’s another favorite of mine)- he posted about her on his instagram. I thought ‘let me check her out’ and I fell in love with her EP. It’s so just unique sounding. I listened to that. I’m Really excited about her putting out more. I think she is doing South By Southwest in Austin this year and I think she’s working on new music. I’m looking forward to hearing what’s next but just those few songs on her EP got me hooked. There’s another group out of L.A. called, Gabriels – that has this kind of old school, gospel, rock, soul vibe and one of their songs just completely blew me away! Looking forward to hear more from them! They put out an EP late last year I think like maybe mid – December it came out so hopefully more will come and hopefully people will get to tour too! I miss going to as many live shows as I used to see but obviously it’s not as safe as it can be right now.

Tigress Magnolia: That was going to lead into my next question which is, ‘What are you looking forward to this year?’ You were just in L.A. not too long ago and you got to see a couple of shows right? Who did you see?

Random Citizen: Yeah, I just went to one show. It was Grudgepacker who also I think is putting an album this year so hopefully that will come out. Generacion Suicida who put out an album last year, actually got the vinyl in the mail the other day, love them, also have a Tshirt by them! And Soul Glo was there and I am so glad I went! It was an amazing show and to see all 3 bands and how the crowd was responding. It was so much fun and I’m really glad I went.

Tigress Magnolia: That’s awesome! So I think when we are done I am going to transcript this. We have a BLOG at Freeform Portland so I am gonna ask you again to name off the people that you named so people can find them. Again, I think two people that you mentioned I know of so I’m like OH MY GOD-I gotta look up all these people! I really love your enthusiasm for new artists and you really inspire me and teach me so much about what is going on that I don’t know about !

Random Citizen: Aw, Thank You. As I always say, “I’m a FAN GIRL!” When I interview musicians I tell them – I Am A Fan Girl- I’m not some journalist from The Rolling Stone or whatever like I like your music and that’s why I am asking for an interview or I like what you represent or it is something that I am interested in – it is not from a journalistic perspective so I am not objective in that regard. I love music and I love exploring different types of music and that’s one of the great things about Freeform Portland is that there are so many different shows available. I’ll hear a band and think that I’ve never heard of them but I want to learn more! Like you.

Tigress Magnolia: Yeah, It’s really amazing the diversity of music that is on air all the time. Speaking of you interviewing musicians…do you want to speak about your interview with Nicole Atkins? That was just a couple of shows ago right?

Random Citizen: Yes, that was in December 2021. That was fun! Nicole Atkins, yes, I am a Fan Girl, love her music and it was just a really great opportunity to interview her ahead of her new album, Memphis Ice, coming out! So I was able to chat with her about her music and memories, touring in the new Covid protocols that are going on and how that’s been impacting her approach to promoting albums. Obviously, You can’t just put out a record and go on tour! It’s usually limited tour if any, and then you are putting music out digitally, and then doing a livestream event like she did or trying to figure out other ways to get engaged with fans if you can’t meet them in person.

One of the things that stuck out with me ….. She said, “One of the things I miss about live shows is after the show and going to merch booth and hanging out with fans and talking with people.” Obviously, she can’t do that for safety reasons and that was something that we talked about and getting a sense on what that is like now – touring in a bubble. Especially, touring with another band: if one person gets sick or someone in your crew gets sick- that can completely cancel a tour. You had the thing like with Adele yesterday saying about Covid going through her staff and having to cancel shows. That stuff happens. One person gets sick and that’s all it takes. Cancel a Tour. Cancel a Show. So people have to be really careful about it. So that was something we talked about.

Also too was her music memories like Tommy was really impactful growing up for her -listening to that soundtrack. And learning about who she wants to work with in the future.

Another fun part was – Her ‘Writing Think Tank’ as I called it! How she writes songs and shares them out with certain people to get their feedback and knowing that they are giving genuine feedback on whether they think it is a no or yes or here are some tweaks and checking in for criticism.

Tigress Magnolia: Did you meet her at a merchandise table after a show? I forget how you met her. 

Random Citizen: She opened for Spoon in 2019 at their show in Portland, Oregon. We met there. Obviously, a few months later everything kind of locked down and shut down. She started a Patreon and started doing livestream events and I was always liking those. She would do Bingo Nights on Zoom and things like that and having little Merch drops. It was really cool to connect with other fans of hers as well as her. I think if there is any benefit of this current time is that there is more opportunity to talk with artists in a different way.

Tigress Magnolia: I agree. Speaking of which, one of the reasons of doing this is to help people to stay connected. No matter what it looks like on the outside, we think that other people are doing okay and we aren’t or whatever most of us have been really struggling.

It’s been an intense time for humanity. I think exactly what you’re saying, being able to stay connected in this way is really beautiful. I want to create a space for Dj’s to be available because I think it’s important to keep that web of light going so I’m curious if have another DJ at Freeform Portland that you’d like to recommend that people can find on the schedule at www.freeformportland.org or on MixCloud that you love listening to- I know there’s a lot…

Random Citizen: My GOODNESS… Just one!? HAHAHAHAH That’s like trying to just eat one cookie, or one chip or one french fry!

(both laughing)

Tigress Magnolia: You can name as many as you want to! 

Random Citizen: Oh my goodness. Lonelygirl15’s Lemonade! I love that show! Every time I tune in- it is something unique! It’s funny, it’s daring-I love that it is live so you never know what it is going to be and how it shapes and how they put the music together and the different sound effects together—— It’s a fun show to listen to!

Cabeza de la Chuza’s Surrender Your Ego – that is another show that I love because every song has a reason for being on that certain playlist that week. It is so well curated in that is around a certain theme or emotion or person and it just feels like it’s a playlist for sending out love to someone and it is beautiful! It’s just really beautiful!

Tigress Magnolia: Mmm hmmm- I agree. Yes. 

Random Citizen: And goodness, I could probably name half the schedule. It’s hard to narrow it down because everyone has really unique perspectives on the music they grew up listening to, the music they are listening to now, how they bring that to the station-every time I turn on the station, I hear something I’ve never heard.

A couple weeks ago, we did the Solstice Weekend Challenge, and having people do their different Solstice Mixes and how they represented that: some did Winter, some did Christmas, I did a fire and ice mix-it just depended on how people wanted to interpret that challenge. It was really cool to hear how people put that together! Like Burd doing a mix that started off with ‘Let It Snow’ and the alarms from “Silent Hill” coming through at the end. It was so genius. Little music moments like that that I just love hearing!

Tigress Magnolia: It’s amazing, really/truly the freedom that we experience as DJ’s with Freeform Portland. I feel like it is just such a unique and beautiful thing. Speaking of Which… I want to talk a little bit more about your show this evening and We have a Friends of Freeform membership that people can join and you can find it at freeformportland.org if you go into the donate section and that is connected to Patreon and I think you just put together a mix for Aquarius Season – is that true?

Random Citizen: I did, yes, there is a special Aquarius mix, I think it went up a couple hours ago. I put together a mix of Aquarian artist from past and present and people who are trailblazing. I won’t go into details on who is on there but they are all Aquarian Artists in different musical genres; past and present!

Tigress Magnolia: That’s Awesome! And you are an Aquarius yourself? 

Random Citizen: I am, I am a January Aquarius! We are the weird ones…if Aquarius is weird, the people born those last 10 days of January are really weird!

Tigress Magnolia: Those first phasers!

Random Citizen:(Holds up cool yellow FFP coffee mug) That’s Me! 

(Both Laughing) 

Tigress Magnolia: She is holding up; you can find at the Freeform Portland website – we have this really cool yellow mug that one of the volunteers created that says “Keep Portland Radio Waves Weird”.

Okay so… you can become a volunteer at FFP and you can also become a DJ, we switch cycles every 6 months so if you are interested in that you can go to FreeformPortland.org (how many times am I going to say that) lol

You can find out how to volunteer or become a DJ if that is interesting to you. We are going to be doing these interviews for a while. Also we have a YouTube channel and there is an interview with DJ LAFLOR (Both share their LOVE for them) that is up and you can find that!

Basically, there is just a lot of ways to stay connected and I feel like the music coming from the Cosmos and from our hearts and other artists is what is helping each other stay together and stay in the light. You’re especially important to me because you kept checking on me in Nov and Dec when my dog died and my friend died and just knowing that someone is like, ‘hey how you doing’ is really key and so I think -Everyone that I know of at Freeform Portland is interested in holding light for everyone out there so there is lots of ways to stay connected!

Listening to your mix or someone else’s mix on Mixcloud is sometimes for me when I feel lonely and I just need to connect but don’t want to necessarily call someone at 3 am and say “Hi Im struggling” is a really nice way to reconnect cuz music is the flow that keeps us together you know!

Random Citizen: Absolutely

Tigress Magnolia: Speaking of Which… After this at 4 o’clock, one of my favorite DJ’s-Joshua Justice -is airing their show ‘Static & Distance’ and they are coming up on their 200th show soon. I really love their show because it is like a nice breezy Summer day and they are gentle and carries me through whatever I’m doing. Your Show airs at midnight!

Random Citizen: Midnight Tonight! So in about 8.5 hours! Tigress Magnolia is my guest co-host this week. We will be celebrating the life and music of Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes and other girl groups and girl bands, past and present; going up to 2021!

Tigress Magnolia: When I heard your voicemail or text or whatever it was inviting me to do that I was literally like, ‘oh my gosh, I’m gonna do jumping jacks and run around the block’. It was such a great invitation and honor to do it with you and to honor all the women making music, you know.?

Random Citizen: YES, Definitely. 

Tigress Magnolia: So join in tonight if you can, if you are up I dunno making soup or cleaning your house or pulling your hair out at midnight or if not it will be on Mixcloud on FFP acct or on Random Citizen’s Mixcloud on what is your Mixcloud?

Random Citizen: ‘dimpleandasmirk’ or you can just search for DJ Random Citizen on Mixcloud search bar and it will turn up and yes it will be posted later tonight after the show airs.

Tigress Magnolia: Awesome! Okay, It’s been a pleasure and joy talking with you on The Land OF GRAM LIVE Thank you for showing up and doing this with me!

Random Citizen: Yeah, Thanks for asking me to do this – it was fun! 

Tigress Magnolia: Okay, See You At Midnight! Bye! Thanks Everyone for Joining! Cheers!


Thank you Freeform Portland for being alive and breathing and the support of each other in our Freedoms! Lovingly Yours,

Tigress Magnolia | @myheartisallmyown