Category: Blog

Categories
DJ Highlights

New Kids on the Block

What a happy day here at WKNC!! We just got a whole new batch of DJ’s that cannot wait to spin some of your next favorite songs! Here is a brief introduction to the new kids on the block! Tune into their shifts on WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 either on our website, wknc.org, or through the Radio FX App! Search for WKNC and both our HD-1 and HD-2 stations will appear! Happy listening! 

MUSEUM MADDIE:

How you came up with your DJ name: I LOVE museums!! My nickname is Maddie and I thought combining them would be a fun DJ name. 

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Daytime! I am currently on HD-2.

When your shift is (day & time): Wednesdays at 6pm

Your all-time favorite album and why: Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack. Perfect for any occasion. Or Phoebe Bridgers Stranger in the Alps.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: Harry Styles, Hippo Campus, Phoebe Bridgers, Caamp, One Direction <333

3 BEARS IN A COAT:

How you came up with your DJ name: Taking the idea of two kids in a trench coat to its logical extreme, plus “I’m 3 Bears in a Coat” is a great line.

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Nighttime (daytime rock) on HD-2

When your shift is (day & time): Tuesdays at 8 pm

Your all-time favorite album and why: One Big Beautiful Sound by Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards is probably my all-time favorite album. Every song is a certified bop, and the title track is one of the most fun, chaotic pieces of music I’ve ever heard.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: Ace of Hearts, Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards, Ryan Caraveo, The Midnight Club, and WATERS.

DJ SUMATRA:

How you came up with your DJ name: There’s really not much of a story behind the inspiration. I went to a coffee shop that sold Sumatran coffee before one of my in-studio training sessions, and I just put two and two together because I thought it would sound cool.

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Right now, I co-host a nighttime rock (daytime rock) show called The Cool and Chill Houron HD2.

When your shift is (day & time): Thursday at 7 PM.

Your all-time favorite album and why: My favorite album is probably London Calling by The Clash. I don’t think there’s any bad songs on that album, and all of them are ahead of their time and eclectic in their own unique ways.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: The Clash, Elvis Costello, Mac Miller, MGMT, and Oasis.

DJ HRLN:

How you came up with your DJ name: My DJ name is a twist on the classic trend of having your DJ name just be your first and last name, like Carl Cox or Richie Hawtin. I like the appeal of having a clean name like DJ Harlan, but at the same time I felt that it was a little boring. So, I decided to remove the a’s, making it DJ HRLN while still being pronounced like Harlan.

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Afterhours on HD-2 with my show “The Clubs Closed”

When your shift is (day & time):  5:00 to 6:00pm EST on Fridays. I do bi-weekly live mixes with my DJ deck playing everything from Techno and Trance to Eurodance. Between each live mix, I play sets from my favorite DJ’s around the world and across various genres of electronic music.

Your all-time favorite album and why: My all-time favorite album has to be Innerspeaker by Tame Impala. I have a soft-spot for Australian psychedelic/indie rock and this album has a perfect mix of trippy guitar riffs and drum rhythms that you can air jam to and sick vocals. I will never get tired of listening to this album front to back, and I highly recommend a listen if you haven’t heard of it before!

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: In no particular order, my top 5 artists right now are Ecco2k, FJAAK, Tame Impala, 100 gecs, and Partiboi69.

DJ SLIME: 

How you came up with your DJ name: The name is inspiration by the Goosebumps logo. I wanted something spooky and green is my favorite color. I think it would be nice to live a life of green slime oozing out from behind different children’s horror books.

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Nighttime rock on HD-2. 

When your shift is (day & time): Thursdays at 9pm

Your all-time favorite album and why: My favorite album of all time is Burn Pygmalion: A Better Guide to Romance by The Scary Jokes. This is because they got me through the beginnings of quarantine back in March.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: My top 5 artists and bands are Joji, The Scary Jokes, Rex Orange County, Sure Sure, and The Shins.

MONAVEE:

How you came up with your DJ name: My title is a nickname derived from my middle name, Simone. My mom always comes up with random nicknames, and Mona V was one of them. She has become my designated alter ego; whose name varies in spelling depending on the occasion.

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Afterhours on HD-2

When your shift is (day & time): I actually haven’t signed up for my first shift yet so we’ll see. I’ll definitely be on in the late hours, though.

Your all-time favorite album and why: It’s really hard to narrow one down but for now, I’ll say that my all-time favorite is Breath From Another by Esthero. It was a childhood favorite that used to play while I slept and it continues to age well. The fusions of trip hop and R&B, along with the lamenting tone throughout, have always connected with me. It’s a lovely project.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: Pharrell, Hiatus Kaiyote, Jon Bap, A Tribe Called Quest, and Little Dragon.

T-TIME: 

How you came up with your DJ name or what inspired it: There was a guy in high school who would call me that. I never knew if he was saying “T-Time” or “T-Tom.” I assumed the first because he played a lot of golf. Then I start the DJ training class and Laura calls me T-Time a couple of times (I think it’s hilarious, given that they had no idea). 

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Daytime on HD-2.

When your shift is (day & time): Mondays at 9pm-10pm.

Your all-time favorite album and why: Brother, Sister by mewithoutYou is my favorite album. It’s the group’s third studio album and was created during a time during the band’s transition from a hardcore/emo sound to a more acoustic/folk sound. mwY’s combination of two very dissimilar genres works so well, taking lyrical themes from Jewish, Islamic, and Bhuddist philosophy and poems. The vocals are by far my favorite part of the album (and the band in general), it’s not really “singing” but more like reciting deeply personal poetry. There’s passion on every track and generally, a must-listen for anyone! This album is so diverse, I think anyone can find at least one song they like off Brother, Sister.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: Jack White, mewithoutYou, Smashing Pumpkins, David Bowie, Cap’n Jazz.

Categories
Classic Album Review

Album Review: What The Heck Is This And Why Did I Download It Edition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vZGeHBfxU0

If you are anything like me, the organization process on your music streaming app is a little chaotic. My YouTube music library is split into more tabs and sections than I know what to do with, and it’s not uncommon for me to completely forget what an album or video was supposed to be before I even listen to it. I always cherish these little mix-ups because they give me the opportunity to click play on something without the faintest preconception of what’s on the other side. Usually, I remember where I encountered an album after the first couple of songs, but this time… I’ve got to admit I’m stuck. This album has been on my phone for the better part of 8 months, and out of some masochistic exercise in music writing, I’ve decided to forgo any investigation as to what is or where it came from before writing this article.

So, what is “Suzanne Ciani – Buchla concerts 1975 (full album)?” Well, I’m not quite sure, but I know I like it.  The album is entirely electronic, and as such I assume it must have been at the very forefront of synthesizer technology, considering the sheer range of sound presented on it. It’s also clear that Ciani has a great deal of musical talent, in addition to her technological knowledge, because despite being almost entirely atonal, the songs have a clear progression and resonance that is rare even among the best avant-garde musicians. The songs have structure, they have an emotional impact, and judging by the recording, they were consistent and planned enough to be reproducible in concert. They aren’t mere technical demonstrations or conceptual pieces, they were crafted. This puts Ciani a flying leap ahead of her contemporaries, obvious comparison points like Steve Reich and Wendy Carlos were yet to really make the leap into fully electronically compositions. Reich was, at that time, just layering electronic sounds in procedural ways, while Carlos was playing Bach pieces on a synthesizer and calling it a day.

It would appear that Ciani was also had a great deal of influence on the course of electronic music. The more aggressive moments in this are reminiscent of the noise and power electronic bands that were to come. Had she come onto the scene a few years later, Ciani could have been a musical match for Merzbow or Prurient. She also has a great deal of classical appeal, which judging by the short audience interludes on this album, was her target demographic then. If you have any interest in these genres, or just want to take a blind leap into something altogether strange and exciting, I highly recommend this album. And if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to google this women’s name so I can find out the many dumb mistakes and obvious oversights I made in writing this article.

-Aidan Farmer

Categories
New Album Review

Album Review: Party Favors

You may or may not be aware by now, but possibly one of the best things to come out of this god-awful year is about to drop down to us from the heavens. With a beautiful mix of eccentric guitar riffs and resonating lyrics, “Party Favors” by Sir Chloe has quickly made its spot at the top of my list of albums this year. But who is Sir Chloe, and how have they made such quick success before dropping even a single album? 

Sir Chloe is far from a one man show, but it owes its fame to the vocalist and lead guitarist, Dana Foote, who formed the band with her brother and two friends as her senior year thesis at Bennington College. They released their debut single, Animal, in February of 2019. Since then they have been working meticulously on a debut album, periodically releasing a few singles here and there.

We had the pleasure of getting the album a few days early, and after a thorough listen I can wholeheartedly say that this is my new favorite album of 2020. The list starts off with Squaring Up, a song that emulates the feeling of trying not to fall for someone who you know is bad for you. Another favorite of mine is Untie You, which comes fourth on the album. However, my favorite song by far is Sedona. The song is placed perfectly on the album and is an incredible mix of a light indie background instrumental with heavier rock lyrics.

“Party Favors” is a project that has been in the works for a long time now, but the time and effort have produced something that sounds complete, and hopefully it will get the recognition it deserves. 

Hope you guys enjoy the music, 
-DJ Chippypants 

Categories
Miscellaneous

Tips for Learning a New Language

Written By Miranda Owen

I am a Senior in Political Science at NC State, but to fulfill my major’s requirements I decided to take on a difficult challenge: spending two years studying Japanese language. I took beginner lessons in Spanish during high school, but going in-depth to learn a language and taking college courses is a lot more difficult (but rewarding too). Improving my foreign language skills has been a long journey but I have acquired many different tips for learning a new language. 

Listen to Music

Something that’s really helped me expand my vocabulary and practice pronunciation is listening to and learning songs in my target language. Listening to foreign music can expose you to different cultural elements and help you practice your skills anywhere, at anytime. 

Try Quizlet 

I have loved Quizlet to help out with all of my classes but especially Japanese. I can review everything I’ve learned so far quickly, and it’s just like using flashcards but with less paper waste and no chance of losing your work. 

Start a Journal 

It really helps to write as much as possible in your target language, especially if you’re learning a language that has a unique alphabet and characters such as Japanese or Arabic. I use a bullet journal to help me track my progress learning the language and write a few lines about how my week is going. Writing your own thoughts in your target language can help you practice grammar, writing, and vocabulary. 

Reading Books or Comics 

Likewise, it’s helpful to read books or, if you’re also studying Japanese, manga. I’ve found that books targeted toward a younger audience – like teen novels are easier to read but still entertaining. 

Games and TV 

Taking in any type of media that’s spoken in your target language can help you take in new vocabulary and get exposed to more casual, modern speaking styles. For this purpose I absolutely love learning Japanese by watching Japanese reality TV like Terrace House. I love it because I can learn how people my age talk to each other  (this is really important if there are different dialects or honorifics you need to learn). 

Join Practice Groups 

Whether you’re studying with a class or learning solo, it really helps to talk to people on your skill level and practice together. The students in my class have a Discord to discuss in, and I am also a part of some Facebook groups for practicing the language. It’s great to socialize while practicing your skills and getting some new ones as well. 

Categories
Non-Music News

Last-Minute Voting Resources

I hope that if you’re reading this you’ve made it to the polls already, but if not, that’s okay too. There’s still time! With November 3 officially less than two weeks away, it’s absolutely essential that everyone makes a plan to vote if they are able. If you are planning to vote early, keep in mind that October 31 is the last day you can do so in North Carolina. There’s a lot of misinformation and confusion out there, so here are some common questions (and answers!) about voting.

Q: If I want to vote early, where can I do that?

A: You can vote early at any early voting site inside of the county you are registered to vote in. Here is a tool where you can look up your early voting site. Keep in mind that your Election Day polling place is different than an early voting site. You are assigned a place to vote on Election Day, which you can look up using this search tool.

Q: If I’m uncomfortable going to the polls in-person, can I still vote by mail?

A: YES, but not for long. The last day to request your absentee ballot is October 27. You can do this digitally or on paper. Return your request form through the online portal or by sending it to your county Board of Elections office through email, regular mail, fax, or in-person. Once you receive your absentee ballot, fill it out and make sure to have a witness sign it. You have until 5 p.m. on Nov. 3 to return it to your county Board of Elections, either in-person or through the mail. You can also drop it off at any early voting site before early voting ends.

Q: I know who I want the President to be, but where do I find information about the other candidates on the ballot?

A: NC Voter, a nonpartisan voter engagement organization in North Carolina, has some amazing resources to look at for state and local elections. Here is a link to their ballot guides, which are free of political bias.

Q: I’m not registered to vote. Can I still do that?

A: The deadline for registering to vote by mail and online has passed, BUT you can still register on-site at early voting locations. If you’re not registered, make sure you vote early, otherwise, you will not be able to participate in the 2020 election. You must have a photo ID or document that shows your full name and address to vote on-site.

Q: Do I need to wear a mask to the polls?

A: Absolutely. Even if there are long lines outside of your polling place and you have to wait outside, make sure to wear a mask at all times to keep yourself and your community safe!

I hope this was helpful. Good luck, don’t lose hope, and vote vote vote!

– DJ Butter

Sources: ncvoter.org

Categories
Miscellaneous

Top 5 Halloween TV Episodes

If you can’t tell already, I’m trying to squeeze in as many spooky blog posts as I can before the 31st. To try to get in the Halloween spirit, I’ve been watching A LOT of the films that I mentioned in my previous post, but sometimes I’m too tired to sit through an entire movie. So, if you need a little pick-me-up, here are some of the best Halloween episodes from my favorite TV shows:

  • King of the Hill: Season 2, Episode 4 “Hilloween”

Bobby loses his Halloween spirit when an overexcited religious zealot moves into Arlen and convinces the town that Halloween is a satanic holiday. Hank, Bobby’s dad, tries to get him back in the mood for trick-or-treating.

Favorite Quote: “You’ll go to hell!” “You’ll get candy!”

  • Bob’s Burgers: Season 5, Episode 2 “Tina and the Real Ghost”

An exterminator/spiritual medium comes to Bob’s Burger’s to get rid of their bug problem, but the Belchers find out that they have a ghost living in their basement who was a 13-year-old boy named “Jeff.” After trapping him in a shoebox, Tina develops a crush.

Favorite Quote: “Where’s Tina, crying into her butt?” “No, my butt is dry…and strong.”

  • New Girl: Season 2, Episode 6 “Halloween”

Jess takes a gig at a haunted house and confesses feeling for a handsome doctor who just isn’t into her. A lovestruck Schmidt accidentally matches with Cece while her own boyfriend dresses as a Ninja Turtle.

Favorite Quote: “What am I looking at here? Robbie, man to man, you didn’t want to wear something a little more form-flattering, maybe like a pile of towels? Or the number 8?”

  • Spongebob: Season 1, Episode 13 “Scaredy Pants”

Couldn’t leave this classic out. Spongebob wants to be a real ghost for Halloween but his square shape makes him look more like a mattress. Patrick gives him a makeover so he’ll look more realistic under the white sheet.

Favorite Quote: “Pink hat? Oh, that’s not a hat. That’s my brain.”

  • Nathan For You: Season 1, Episode 5 “Mechanic/Realtor”

This isn’t exactly a Halloween episode, but it’s absolutely worth a watch. Nathan Fielder helps a struggling real estate agent by rebranding her as “The Ghost Realtor,” who promises to only sells houses that are demon-free.

Favorite Quote:

“I could tell Sue was thrilled with her new image, but to fully rebrand as the ghost realtor, she’d need to work with a professional psychic medium who could verify whether her homes were truly ghost-free.

So I found a local psychic online.”

Happy watching!

– DJ Butter

Categories
Miscellaneous

Film Review: The Lobster (2015)

Movie poster for The Lobster (2015)

The Lobster is a film featuring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, and John C. Reilly. It is a film that is hard to explain, and even harder pigeonhole into one genre: it contains elements of drama, thriller, and romance, but the genre it most closely resembles is dark comedy.

The film takes place in a near-future dystopian setting in which everyone is required to be in a committed relationship. Singles are sent to a hotel where they have 45 days to find a mate, or they will be transformed into the animal of their choice. The film centers around David, a man who is all alone after a failed marriage, as he tries to navigate awkward courting rituals at the hotel before he is turned into a lobster.

The Lobster is full of twists, turns, and convoluted plot points that some viewers may not like. There are also elements of the absurd in the film that I think are intentionally confusing, such as non-sequiturs, nonsensical dialogue, and long shots that seem to overstay their welcome. There are only 3 characters with names in the film; the rest are identified by their traits or roles. The ending of the film raises many more questions than it answers, which is simultaneously tasteful and frustrating. Depending on your perspective, the film has a lot to say or absolutely nothing at all.

In spite of its downfalls, The Lobster is one of the most entertaining films I have seen this year—I don’t usually watch films more than once, and I have seen this one three times. There were plenty of scenes that made me laugh, some that made me uneasy, and some that were genuinely touching. The ambiguity of the film leaves plenty of room for thematic analysis. Perhaps the film is criticizing our society’s obsession with monogamous relationships and our willingness to sacrifice individuality to conform to be better partners, or perhaps it means nothing at all – either way, it’s worth watching.

Have you seen The Lobster? If so, what did you think?

– DJ Mango

Categories
Playlists

Restful Tunes Playlist

Written By Miranda

The perfect playlist for an autumn or winter day for relaxing. Think dark academia, the Twilight series, or a Michael Gondry film. Plenty of light instrumentals to melancholic tracks for you to enjoy. Listen here.

  1. Vote by The Submarines
  2. Box of Rain by Grateful Dead
  3. Blue Ridge Mountains by Fleet Foxes
  4. Possibility by Lykke Li
  5. You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are by Keaton Henson
  6. To Be Alone With You by Sufjan Stevens
  7. Don’t Swim by Keaton Henson
  8. Soon We’ll Be Found by Sia
  9. Master of None by Beach House
  10. 505 by Arctic Monkeys
  11. China Doll by Grateful Dead
  12. The Boxer by Simon & Garfunkel
  13. Needle In The Hay by Elliott Smith
  14. Chicago (acoustic version) by Sufjan Stevens
  15. Rosyln by Midnite String Quartet
  16. Holocene by Bon Iver
  17. John My Beloved by Sufjan Stevens
  18. The Owl And The Tanager by Sufjan Stevens
  19. River by Joni Mitchell
  20. Springfield by Sufjan Stevens
  21. Asleep by The Smiths
  22. Blue Bucket of Gold by Sufjan Stevens
  23. Little Green by Joni Mitchell
  24. Cementality by King Krule
  25. Space Song by Beach House
Categories
Music Education

Women in Jazz

Ya like jazz? Yes? Well who comes to mind when you think about the smooth tones that characterized the 40s and 50s? Is it Louis Armstrong? Or maybe Frank Sinatra and Louis Prima. While all of these men were incredible singers, more often than not they outshined a whole group of female jazz artists that were just as good, if not better.

One of my favorite artists, Billie Holiday, dominated the charts back in the day. She rose to fame in a time following the Great Depression, with a new flavor of music that became known as “swing.” With songs like I’ll Be Seeing You and Easy Living she quickly made a name for herself. Her music also incorporated a strong element of the civil rights movement, with Strange Fruit serving as an emotional depiction of the effects of racism.

Another notable singer from the time was Ella Fitzgerald, who popularized scat singing through songs such as Dream a Little Dream of Me and A-Tisket, A-Tasket. Perhaps one of the biggest women in music at the time, she was also popular on the big screen, with a role in Pete Kelley’s Blues and making guest appearances on TV shows such as The Frank Sinatra and The Ed Sullivan Show.

One last artist I’d like to point out is Dinah Shore. Her melodic voice fits perfectly with the instrumental background and perfectly characterizes the aged feeling that comes from listening to this genre of music.

Each song by these artists tells a story. Some tell stories of injustice, some of hardships, and some of love. But these stories are what helped women gain a foothold in the music industry and will forever be timeless on any jazz playlist. 

Hope you guys enjoy the music, 

-DJ chippypants

Categories
Miscellaneous

Friday Favorites (10/16)

Written By Miranda

Friday Favorites is a biweekly playlist series created by Miranda featuring her favorite songs from the past two weeks with a focus on new releases and  lesser-known music. You can check out this week’s new tracks as well as all songs from previous weeks on WKNC’s Spotify here. This week’s Favorites include some of the best indie breakup songs. 

  1. Bad Day by Darwin Deez 
  2. Compromise by Phony Ppl 
  3. Mardy Bum by Arctic Monkeys
  4. Putting The Dog To Sleep by The Antlers 
  5. Not In Love (ft. Robert Smith)  by Crystal Castles 
  6. No Destruction by Foxygen 
  7. Flowers In December by Mazzy Star