This interview is part of our new weekly series, “Get to Know Your DJs.”
How did you first get involved with Freeform Portland? My old pal was one of the original founders of the station and invited me to participate. I’ve been involved off and on since 2017.
What does Freeform Portland mean to you? Live, volunteer-driven, non-commercial radio is a rare breed these days. I’m a big advocate of keeping it alive and well, building community through the aural landscape, and playing eclectic tunes that fall outside of the mainstream. Freeform Portland is an incredibly imaginative group of humans. There’s not a single time that I’ve tuned into the station and not found myself in a place of discovery. It’s nuanced and totally unpretentious.
What inspired you to become a DJ, and what do you love most about it?
I’ve been mixing tapes, CDs, and playlists most of my life–for parties, for openings, for coffee shops and bars, for friends and lovers. Being a DJ seemed like a natural next step. I love sitting and/or dancing in the studio while dedicating two solid hours to the earscape, without distractions. It’s a very present experience.
Tell us about your show! It’s called Bachelard’s Panty Drawer and it’s a theme-based show that includes music, musings, readings, and sometimes interviews.
Who are some of your favorite artists or bands? I like a wide range of music from all over the world, from many eras: funk, disco, pop, punk, classical, metal, wave, goth, soul, hip hop, old country, folk, jazz, experimental, blues, minimal, meditative, and so much more. If I were to look back and assess which artist I’ve played the most on my show it would probably be Nina Simone. She’s a force.
What was your most memorable radio show? The one I did most recently on the olfactory. I played smell-themed songs, read smell-themed excerpts from poems and essays, and had a sniff-off with an ASMR pro. It was a true smell-o-radio highlight.
What record can you listen to over and over and never tire of? There are so many so it’s hard to choose, but the one album I’ve listened to the most in my life is probably Yo La Tengo’s “I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One.”
What advice would you give to aspiring DJs? Have fun! Because when you’re having fun, listeners can feel it.
Outside of radio, what are your other interests or hobbies? Writing, dancing, cooking with plants, growing plants, walking amongst plants, diatoms, shamatha-vipashyana meditation, elephant umwelt, desert camping, star ogling, mud wrestling, cuddling with my partner and child and canine, traveling, reading creative non-fiction, floating on water, doodling, sending real mail, visiting dusty museums, taking pictures of flowers, watching documentaries, seeing folk art, crooning, playing instruments, and so much more. Life’s a mega-wonder.