It’s 2 A.M., your Thursday night is over but you’re still wired and your ears are begging you to stop listening to Jay Z remixes. What should you do? WESU has the answer, in the form of a shiny new radio show with DJ Minkles (Michael Inkles ’12). If you live in the Nics, you probably already know and love him; he plays that delectable blend of indie rock you hear on your way to the laundry room, as you attempt to plow through a blockade of basement dwellers for the millionth time. Still not convinced? I sat down with Minkles to learn more about him in his own words.
Adrian Rothschild: So why should people listen to your show?
Minkles: I play music that isn’t anywhere else, first of all, but also I think most people don’t really know much about alternative college radio music of the 80s and the 90s. It’s sort of the previous generation or half-generation of music, and I’m trying to bring it back.
AR: Why do you think it went out of style?
MI: It’s old music. It certainly influences modern music but so many of these bands have broken up or just aren’t as good as they used to be.
AR: What’s your view on the music industry today?
MI: I don’t really think about the music industry as much as I should. I enjoy music without thinking of where it comes from. I’m all for using the Internet to preview artists’ work, because a lot of the best new music isn’t played on any radio station or publicized at all. I find out about new music from blogs, mostly. So the Internet’s great in that it brings all this great music that wouldn’t be getting any attention otherwise to the forefront, but if you really like an artist’s work you should pay.
AR: Where do you find inspiration for your show?
MI: Sometimes various songs will just strike chords. I woke up this morning, it was bright and sunny, and one of the first things I thought was, I need to listen to “Who Loves the Sun” by the Velvet Underground. It’s all about what I spontaneously feel like listening to. Even though my show is meticulously planned in advance, for the most part it’s stuff I felt like listening to that week that just happens to mesh well.
AR: Best album of the year you were born. Go.
MI: They Might Be Giants – “Flood.”
AR: What are your current favorite bands?
MI: I’m really into TV on the Radio. They’re one of the most original bands today. And Animal Collective, they sound like no one else. And The National have great lyrics and songwriting.
AR: Who would you get to play Spring Fling?
MI: I’d really like to see The Hold Steady. I think they’d be amazing in concert, even though I know they played here a couple years ago.
AR: What do you like most about being on WESU?
MI: It’s just fun for me…I have all this music knowledge in my head that I have to put to use somehow, so I feel like I haven’t totally wasted my time. Hopefully there are people who appreciate it as much as I do.
AR: Would you recommend getting a radio show?
MI: Yeah, if it’s what you’re into. When you start out, chances are your show will be at 2 or 3 in the morning, so it’s a pretty big commitment. There’s also a lot of work you have to go through – training sessions, internships, service hours. It’s for people who are very passionate about music.
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