College Radio’s Stars Burn Bright: RadioFlag’s “Radio Star Awards” Pay Tribute to Free-Form Radio

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College radio has long been the lifeblood of the music scene. Not only have die-hard, underground music fans always turned to college radio as a credible source of music discovery, but artists have historically relied on college radio as a gateway for gaining recognition on a larger scale.

College radio broadcasters exist and thrive in a radio utopia; it is a breeding ground for potent creativity, free expression, and everything cool. College radio music DJs have the freedom to play the undiscovered artists they love, without industry “big-wig” raiders breathing down their necks. Local bands and musicians on college radio are “the scene’s” ambassadors of sound for their geo-location; the vibe makers who link music fanatics to every vivacious college campus, each serving as an incubator and launching pad for igniting the next hottest music trend. College talk radio is unparalleled to all others in its celebration of free speech; topics can be as eclectic, rogue, off-beat, out-of-the-box, outrageously humorous, rambunctiously risque, and as politically independent as the host sees fit. College radio sportscasts cover the local community sports teams, athletes  (not yet spoiled superstars), and games that mainstream sports radio networks completely overlook.

As is true with many free-form, community-supported, and independent media outlets, college radio has been left to fend for itself against the media giants that are too big and inflexible to authentically care about preserving these local gems. Many stations have had their frequencies gruffly ripped out from under them without their consent, forcing them to take solace in streaming online, such as KUSF, WRVU, and KTRU, to name a few. Other college and “independent” stations have recently ended up falling into the hands of corporate owned radio applications, whose mode of operation slowly places conditions on a station’s freedom, putting at risk their autonomy to play the real underground and independent music they love, among other things, in exchange for access to a listener-base that has been covertly conditioned to receive only the most homogenized radio material, that they term to be “the best” for you. These applications really just limit your choices and freedom for self-selected discovery.

Unique college station KTRU must now rely on internet radio.

Other stations will spend thousands of dollars to develop their own streaming app, which typically only works on a single mobile platform. This limits their reach, only allowing for their current audience to listen, ignoring the social networking aspect of free-flow human and station interconnections.The RadioFlag team invites all of these stations to co-exist under one Flag, where a state of real interactive radio community lives free-form. The RadioFlag team holds strong to a DIY ethic that is feverishly dedicated to its mission, and is inspired by stations who hold fast and do the same. Being self-funded, with no revenue yet to speak of, they are fueled entirely by their passion to keep free-form radio viable, thriving, and evolving.

DIY

College radio DJs, talk hosts, sportscasters, and indie artists may feel underrepresented, disillusioned, and taken advantage of in a torrent sea of sharks, piranhas, and other “big fish.” However, RadioFlag’s history is rooted in college radio, launching from a California university and its campus station in April of 2011. RadioFlag believes that the time has come for college radio to recover its rightful place in the spotlight. The time has come for “The Radio Star” to take back the airwaves, and this “Rebirthing of the RadioStar” could not come at a more perfect time. A time for real radio regeneration.

A college radio booth--Home to free-form radio creativity

The RadioFlag team supports the efforts of all organizations promoting college radio, however we feel one day a year dedicated to this important cause is not nearly enough. We believe college radio deserves to be celebrated every day, 24/7.  We are driven to elevate college radio’s voice and its fresh and original content to a larger listening audience, while still “keeping it real.” Therefore, we are excited to announce that RadioFlag’s inaugural Radio Star Awards are live and underway! College radio stations, broadcasters, and artists can now receive long-lasting, year-round recognition, and the opportunity to win a cash scholarship prize for their efforts to boot!


The Radio Star Awards

It’s easy to participate: college radio stations will cast a nomination in the categories of “Best Music Show”, “Best Talk Show”, “Best Sportscast/Sports Show”, and “Best Artist”, “Best Variety Show” (Mixed format – Music & Talk, Sketch Comedy, etc…). The winning contestant in each category not only wins $500 for themselves, but they win $500 on behalf of their nominating station. In addition to winning cash, the winners of The Radio Star Awards will be published in the nationally-acclaimed radio magazine, Radio World. With national press, listeners around the world will be clued in; others will be reminded of what a powerful and positive force college radio is, and how vitally important it is for us all to preserve it, when our freedom of speech is now more precious to us than ever before. In order for each category to be officially eligible for an award, at least (5) different stations must submit a nominee for that specific category. So, in the spirit of further promoting College Radio, we ask that stations reach out & spread the word to other college stations and encourage them to join us in celebrating College Radio,  by submitting their nominees for the Radio Star Awards.

Once the participating station and potential winners have registered with RadioFlag, a nomination can be made official on the site’s “Flagcast”. To win, contestants should also show they have support from the listening community. The nominee should reach out

to new listeners and encourage loyal listeners to support their nomination and help promote them on Radioflag “Flagcasts”. They should take care to remind listeners in all ways possible, to find them on the RadioFlag app, “tune-in” to their station, and “tune them in”  by adding them as a favorite DJ to their listener’s profile.

You may be thinking, “How can our station select a ‘best’? Everyone at our station is amazing!” Well, when we say “best” we mean the show that best represents your station’s culture, local scene, and personality. If you still feel unsure how to do this in a diplomatic manner, then we suggest holding a station-wide vote. Regardless of who is selected as the contestant, your station will have an opportunity to gain additional funding should your nominee win. So, It’s really a win-win for the entire station team. Also, even if your station does not win this first time, don’t worry! The momentum you create by participating now will give you a head start to win it next time. In fact, RadioFlag plans on running the Radio Star Awards twice a year, giving you two chances yearly  to win. Check out these examples of nominations in each category:

Best Sportscast Nomination

Best Music Show Nomination

Best Artist Nomination

The complete deets can be found here http://bit.ly/radiostarawards. The nomination period ends on March 15, 2012, and the contest ends on May 15 2012. Join us to help raise The Radio Star high, and with it, awareness for the amazing talent shining through and emanating out from college campuses. Shine On and Flag On!

Each RadioStar Awards nominee will receive a RadioFlag ”Save the Radio Star” T-shirt with their custom station logo on the back.

 

 

By Stella Static and Air Ambrosia

Contact us:

StellaStatic@gmail.com
AirAmbrosia@gmail.com
@StellaStatic @AirAmbrosia on RadioFlag
@_StellaStatic @AirAmbrosia on Twitter

Nirvanic Trance with DJ Osburn: A Trip Into Oblivion

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By the time Sunday night comes rolling around, most college coeds are feeling far from ready to let go of their weekend pace of fun and games/ Who can blame them?  It’s hard to stop reliving all those fantastic moments in your head, wishing you could bend back the time and make the weekend last forever. Perhaps an escape into oblivion is just the perfect relief needed to help you get rejuved for that serious school and work week coming at’cha, once again. Why not get ready to wrap your week up tight, with one more ridiculously good romp in the radio waves; one that is sure to top off your entire week with an incredible musical climax?

Trance-Dance-Peace-Love-Unity-Respect

 Sounds pretty dope, right?  Taking one more deep dive into some sick and surreal tracks is all that’s needed to defrag, get pumped, unwind your mind, and help you get ready to dream like a little tranced-out baby.

The secret antidote for your Sundays is DJ James Osburn’s “Nirvanic Trance”. Osburn is a spindoctor who will give you that last dose of dance and trance grooves, before another week of reality ensues. His show is a constantly fresh and flowing, with weekly Guest DJs who help keep things constantly in motion with their surprise mixes. Osburn is a KUCI DJ that spins amazing electronica, progressive house, psychedelic trance, breaks, techno, dance, and everything in between on Sunday nights, starting at midnight. He is one of the core members of Spin Mob, a professional group of electronic DJs who travel around the U.S. doing shows.

Mix Master - DJ James Osburn

Spin Mobsters Dj James Osburn & Dj Will Yarosh

Apart from his busy DJ lifestyle, he has been a dedicated master of the turntable at KUCI since the show first launched in 2009. Nirvanic Trance is a Spin Mob radio show that also airs on Baltimore Maryland’s WJHU on Thursday Nights, for those that crave an extra Rx of trance-dance before their weekend frolics. Osburn is eclectic, captivating, and has a way of connecting with his listeners, through his music, with the precision of a laser beam. Through RadioFlag, from  his username @Osburn, listeners on RadioFlag can chat with him live and request favorite tracks, like ones from Kaskade’s “Eyes”, to Steve Angello’s “KNAS”.

Osburn’s hypnotic show will float you through a relaxing sea of house and trance mesmerisms,  while introducing you to new phenomenal guests DJs that will drown you in electrifying sounds, every single week. From truly unique house techo mixes by DJ Darragh Burke of Dublin Ireland, to serious dubstyle darkstep mixes by DJ Luigi Canali, you are guaranteed to hear some of the newest, most innovative and trailblazing tracks live, on-air, and first-hand, before anyone else.

Not only will you have access to  the inside scoop on some brand new music, but you’re also getting a front row seat to an amazing show showcasing  incredibly talented DJs. Since becoming a regular listener, I have heard DJ Fatboy Slim, Le Castle Vania, and DJ Cutman. These numerous past show episodes, along with a perpetual influx of new talented guest DJs, have given Nivanic Trance true meaning to its name, making it count and deserving of recognition for being really bold and mesmerizing.
It is definitely one of the most progressive shows, featuring some of the most cutting-edge, inspired, hardworking and passion-driven DJs I have witnessed with my own two ears to date. For those who are driving about Sunday atfer midnight, don’t forget to hook your smartphone up to your car auxillary, so you can blast the beats while Osburn’s sounds encapsulate you. One of the best ways to tune in, drop out, and indulge some guilty pleasures, while you sink into the nirvana inducing trance-missions.

Listen to guest DJ Darraugh Burke’s house mix here:

Check out DJ Luigi Canali’s of Dojo Promo here :

There is no better way to chill out and lullify your weekend case of insomia, then by tuning into DJOsburn on Sunday nights. He will bring your weekend to the feverish high point you’ve being craving, while chilling you out to the Max in that oh-so-Osburn wizardy way. He is seasoned at what he does, and has a passion that makes it hard for others to compete. He handles every facet of his DJ craft with a professionally seamless technique. He is even a master at keeping the flagcast lit up; he engages listeners by flagging what he is playing in real time, giving newbies to this genre a real interactive electronic music education that can’t be found anywhere else.

Although DJ Osburn’s show is full of sound-beaming surpises, after listening to his show, it should not come as a big shock if you should ever come across his name up in lights one day… not surprising at all. If there are still doubters out there, put on some headphones, and get tuned in for yourself to see what everyone’s been raving about (pun-intended). From there, just allow the

Unite In The Oblivion

surpassing  trance-missions to take you from climax to max chill, and anywhere in between. When it comes to ending your weekend on an up, look no further–this show is going to be the cherry on top of your Sunday from now  and onward…into the Osburn Oblivion.

Check out DJ Osburn, Spin Mob, and Nirvanic Trance all on their personal website.

 

 

Writers: TranceLation & AirAmbrosia
Contact :  AirAmbrosia@gmail.com and Trancelation@gmail.com
Flag me and Tune-In to me @trancelation and @airambrosia on RadioFlag.
Follow me @airambrosia and @Trance_Lation on Twitter.

Innamissions with DJ J. Pulaski: A Remedy for Your Moody Mondays

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It’s undeniable that Monday is the toughest day of the week for many; recovering from a weekend of work, school, partying or whatever, feeling like you don’t want to do anything but lay low. In this mode I was lucky enough to catch up with DJ J. Pulaski, who lives by the motto:

“Music is the Weapon of the Future.”

He makes it his mission to pacify whatever is bluing up your Monday, by laying down the tracks that give you that “inna chillin’” feelin’. His avatar really grabbed me; a bending tree, with an overflow of vinyl records for leaves.

"Music is the Weapon of the Future" Tree

“Yep,” I thought, “this DJ is signaling me in with that pic, ’cause I’m feeling that way too”. Heavy-laden and wanting to totally unwind with nothing but music fillin my mind, “Innamissions” is the name of this show, and appropriately so. Innamissions’ host, J. Pulaski, spins a mixed range of music that revolves around a variety of beats, dub, soul, funk, reggae, house, jazz, afro, psych and hiphop.

I have decided to make Innamissions my official “Moody Monday’s” remedy. As I tuned in for the first time, I was submerged into a playlist consisting of emanations of soft dub bass beats, that sifted through my speakers and  enhanced my relaxation until I was completely “blissed out”.  Sounds incredible, right?  Well that was my experience, anyway, and I invite you to get an experience of your own. Innamissions’ song selections range from new producers–such as Co La to more credited producers like Zomby–flowed together seamlessly; an assortment of soft dub that was the perfect sonic tonic for a chill Monday night. The music consisted of a constant deep bass accompanied by soft vocals, and touches of synth and other instruments.

DJ J. Pulaski gives you the sense that he is an expert in his field; one who only delivers the best artists in the business straight to your privileged ears.  He makes sure to credit each artist or producer, by introducing each set without breaking up the flow too much, in order to keep the mood of the beats mellow and ongoing. In addition to his seldom announcements, DJ J. Pulaski provides a play list, updated in real time, that features the artists he’s playing. This play list is available at his website. http://www.innamissions.com/

Dj J. Pulaski of "Innamissions" in the KUCI studio

Although the innamissions tree is always mixing and shifting its flow like the seasons, it’s sure to give you a reason to come back for more. So I did just that, and tuned in again on a sentimental Monday that started off with a funky jewel from the recently departed blues diva, Etta James. DJ J. Pulaski continued on through the night with a playlist consisting of afrobeat, dub, house, and drum and bass to wake up your face for some spankin’ new music. The Innamissions tree was loaded with tracks that made everything that seemed wrong with my day turn a new leaf to feel A-okay. A combination of new music from El Rego, Peaking Lights, Albert Swarm, James Blake, Ghost Mutt, Daedelus, Machinedrum, and two from Plug’s aka Luke Viberts’ new album, made my Monday.

Yarah bravo, Dj J. Pulaski , & dj vadim...BTW Bravo to the amazing Afro Yarah ! <3

So Next time ya’ll are feeling stuck in a Murky Monday, tune in for a couple hours, and you’ll feel a huge weight lifted off your shoulders as you unwind to some soft dub or chill mixed beats spun by DJ J. Pulaski. Be sure to enhance your experience and catch his Innamissions show on RadioFlag, where you can take him on the go with its smart phone apps, make requests, and even exchange a few words with him! Tune into KUCI 88.9  on RadioFlag,  Mondays from 8-10PM PST  for an unforgettably chillaxing experience.

bliss out Mondays

Check out Dj Pulaski’s profile on RadioFlag by searching @innamissions

Check DJ Innamissions play lists at his website: http://www.innamissions.com/

Writers: AirAmbrosia & TheChusenOne

Contact :  AirAmbrosia@gmail.com
Flag me and Tune-In to me @airambrosia on RadioFlag
Follow me @airambrosia on Twitter

“The Hodgepodge Collective”, Get Aurally Satisfied with DJ Dan Surround & Standing Shadows

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Does a confused or disorderly mixture of things that are aurally gratifying for your psyche, interest you?  Now that’s got to catch your attention, right? Well this inventive show description definitely caught mine, and got me to tune in to The Hodgepodge Collective radio show with DJ Dan Durround (@DSurround on RadioFlag) Saturday nights at from 4pm-6pm PST.

The usual format of this show encompasses everything from indie rock, electronic, experimental, folk music, and an occasional live interview and jam session with an “up and coming”  band. I was lucky enough to catch wind of an especially cool live Interview with alt-indie-electro band, (an aurally gratifying hodgepodge of sound themselves), ‘Standing Shadows’.

Recently on tour, David, Dan, Mike and Michael joined us straight from the road, as they were heading to their next Live show in Tucson, Arizona.

Four cool guys in a band with a cool name: Standing Shadows

Standing Shadows, a band who recognizes their awesome fan base, relayed a cool opportunity to their fans: a chance to win an iPad 2 with the submission of their own shadowy pictures. “Take a picture of your shadow and send it in, that easy!”

A Real Life Standing Shadow caught by the band

With an upcoming release of their next EP, “Tales from the War Garden”, the artfully creative plan is to make a collage of all these shadow pics and use them for their album cover. Talk about a band who inventivley reaches out to bond with their fans in out-of-the-box and interesting ways!  Standing Shadows is a band I imagine standing tall in the face of shady days, who thereby turns a world of shadows into opportunity, by going deeper and reaching out further to connect to those who dig their tunes.

"Rise and Shine " Road shot taken by band member

Aww...Nice shot taken by the band on the Road.

During his radio show, Dan Surround dug even deeper into the details of this new album asking them questions such as, who was  the inspiration behind the title – “Tales from the War Garden”? They replied:

“We’ve all been through a kind of war pretty much and it’s kind of telling a story shaped by these songs. You kind of get the emotions of going through it… It could be any kind of war, internal, or overcoming something…”

Silent Revolution EP Party and Tour Kick Off @ Silverlake Lounge. March 1 , 2011

With relatable emotions we can all muster up, this band is as musically diverse as the feelings and attitudes of our daily lives. One of their songs played on The Hodgepodge Collective show, that definitely sparked my interest was “Freakshow”– a song filled with contagious guitar melodies, vintage synth tones, dynamic percussive beats, and that “slap yourself before I do” type attitude you feel you can rule the world with. Lyrics insisting, “we won’t take your orders…” make you want to throw up your fists and rock your hips, as Dan Surround adamantly suggests matching these tunes with a nice set of head phones, so you can truly absorb all the different layers of their music.

Get your New Buttons

Standing Shadows music from their current EP, also titled “Freakshow”, has been featured on various TV shows and video games such as 90210 and Guitar Hero 5.

“We ended up getting the song “Get Together” on a video game (for the first time) and that got us excited, like there are actually other people out there who like our music…it must be alright.”

Freakshow Tour dates & venues

Lucky Cali residents caught the end of their tour as they wrapped it up in San Diego and Los Angeles. If you where not able to see them on tour and you live in Southern California, you’re still in luck. Find out about their upcoming Los Angeles and San Diego live shows and other events at www.standingshadows.com

Safe and Sound Back from Tour

Dan Surround proudly proclaimed in his smooth voice:

“KUCI wants to give exposure to indie bands, and if they move on to bigger and better things, right on for them,”

As a band whose members met in college, they assured Dan Surround that they will never be too popular for KUCI: “Great to hang out with you man!”

During their “on tour” interview with KUCI’s @DSurround, Standing Shadows took a sweet pic from the road, after one of their RadioFlag fans made a photo request.

Flagged Photo from the Road to their fans on RadioFlag

Cartoon Version of the mystery soundcaster DSurround

There was a sincere brotherly kind of vibe that existed between Dan Surround and the members of Standing Shadows. I think it made listeners feel good to hear the easy going friendly conversation taking place between these totally legit  nice sounding dudes. From a listeners perspective DJ Dan certainly does a stellar job at surrounding his listeners in a sound vault of sincere satisfaction. On top of the aural gratification that arises from being exposed to such honest dialogue and fresh underground musical talent, Dan’s voice eases listener’s ears, lending a rare genuine gentleman like warmth that mixes disorder and chaos into a handsome harmony, that fulfills your psyche as well. His cool courage to support indie artists and professional demeanor is appealing to listeners and guests alike. He possesses a calm “cool factor”  coupled with a daring nature to “play it real”, which has proven to attract loyal “tuned-in” listeners since RadioFlag’s early days. DJ Dan Surround is a specialist in auditory contentment; a suave sound-caster of the mic, who knows how to dynamically harness the Hodgepodge in brave and satiating ways.

Be sure to tune in to The HodgePodge Collective on Saturday January 21, 2012 for another Live interview with Standing Shadows.

@DSurround RadioFlag Avatar

@standingshadows RadioFlag Avatar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aurally Gratify your psyche and Listen to The Hodgepodge Collective with Dan Surround (@DSurround)- Playing the music that commercial radio hasn’t discovered, yet. -Indie Rock, Alternative, Electronic, Experimental, Hip Hop, Folk, Funk and more KUCI 88.9 FM Sat 4-6 PM PST. Studio Request Line 949.824.5824 hodgepodge.kuci.org

By: Rx Queen & Air Ambrosia

Contact us at RxQueen888@gmail.com or AirAmbrosia@gmail.com or
@RxQueen or @AirAmbrosia  on RadioFlag
@RxQueen on Twitter

The Black Cauldron: A Journey Through the “Darkwaves” with DJ Black Rose

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Do you sleep with a nightlight on, afraid a dark wave of shadowy dreams that may come along to overcome you? Fear Not.This new year is a fertile time to face your fears with all the Goth rock romance your heart can hold, and all the free-form darkness your soul can brave.This new year is one to tap into your inner warrior and sanctum of your spirit; conquer what holds you back by going deep into the dark shadowy side of your soul’s song, going beyond your barricaded inner fortresses, where the deeper you go the darker the music plays, yet never forever stays.

Inner Sanctum

Dare to brave the darkness and unlock your inner sanctum

Black Rose awaits you at the threshold of a looming castle of spellbound sounds, where she devotedly stirs her show, The Black Cauldron, every Sunday eve (Saturday night) from 10 pm to Midnight PST. Black Rose blooms in the magic of the moonlight, collecting the darkest of dewy ditties to mix into her brew of sublimely wicked tunes.

The BlackRose Collecting MoonMist

Much of the music she concocts in The Cauldron creates a potent potion that serves to stir the soul, shape-shifting the senses into motion until they sink in utter surrender, just as a “Lady of the Lake” slips into the depths of her watery unknown. Rather bemused, you come to “face the music” of your most seductive nightmare when you tune in to The Black Cauldron.

The music played on this show can lure you, making you feel like you are walking through a haunted hallway of shattered mirrors, while shards of raw roaring recollections pierce through the amour of your heart. Envision a labyrinth filled with the intense longing and reflective echoes of lost loved ones, a dense forest where the aching of human frailty and transparency screeches and howls for release, and a sea of ceaseless yearnings to join the eternal feast of immortality becomes insatiably irresistible forevermore. This is the tempting fantasy place of the vampires.

Darkling Love

This show’s music is often encased in a lacey gothic romantic cloak that bears the pulse of a thousand lifetimes of bygone lovers returning to enshroud listeners ears in mesmeric remembrance. Black Rose stirs her pot until sounds go swirling and whirling into the night sky like lost angels in flight; where melodies melt like candles into the twilight hours, and you become infused into the world of velvety vampires, and the sumptuous sounds they drink and breathe.

For those who are tuned in, Black Rose will bid you a respectful “come hither” and a polite farewell. She tends to her sound garden of free-form darkness, playing a mix of genres which include darkwave, ethereal wave, medieval, EBM, Goth, Industrial, & steam punk. She has been methodically stoking the fires of The Black Cauldron since the early ages of RadioFlag, and has summoned more listeners to her lair than most DJ’s to date.

Her early day fans recall the original “Duo of Free-Form Darkness”, a special moment in time when Black Rose shared the mic with “The Doctor”, both hosting the show together. During their courtship, they weaved up some fantastical playlists which have included music from bands such as Covenant, Dead Can Dance, Sapphire Solace, Rotersand, Combichrist, Ataraxia, Emilie Autumn, Voltaire, Diary of Dreams, Suicide Commando, KMFDM, and VNV Nation, just to name a few.

DJ Black Rose braving the Sunlight

The Doctor, the prodigal Time Lord DJ of The Black Cauldron

During this adjoining time together, long time listeners recall an extra memorable show when Sapphire Solace performed live in studio back on 6/11/2011. Reviewing flags from that summer edition made me want to go back in time, as the Cauldron seemed to be bubbling over in a hue of bright blue, cascading over castle walls attaining final                                                     solace once it adorned the lockets that encircled the hearts of their endeared “darkling listeners”.

Sapphire Solace, a band who had a Live studio session at the "Darkling Headquarters" of The Black Cauldron Show

So I come to my last inquiry; is anyone still fixated to resist their darker side, denying it space for healthy expression? Can you say you worship the sun but loathe the moon; love the sunrises but detest the sunsets; love the rainbows but are vexed by a starry night? Well, indeed I tend to think The Doctor would have also agreed that we all have another side to us, and many sides to be sure that need to be granted some banishment from the dungeons and the towers alike, freed to sift and play through the mirth and mire of the musical self.

The 'Musical Darkling" Self at Play

As The Doctor came once upon a time, he came to entertain and court the “scarewaves” with ghoulish gestures and playful tomfooleries. During these days when The Doctor meandered these awry airwaves, he tended to his listeners as a shepherd caring for a flock of black sheep. He often concocted his own curative remedies, full of macabre mixtures of whimsical wit and quirky humor, serving to ease the intense weightiness
The Black Cauldron can induce. He was known to bid his listeners a Germanic “willkommen”, as it was not unusual for him breakout in the traditional tongue of the Goths (das German of course). Many have recalled these days with The Doctor as being sometimes more “dorkiness than darkness”, yet a time that is sentimentally seared into their loyal listeners’ hearts forever and ever more. I get a sense this union was likened to the betrothal of a court jester juggler technical mastermind magician entwined with a voluptuous vampiress of the Black Rose lineage.

Like a jovial jester and a dark queen, The Doctor and Black Rose are a radio match made in goth heaven--if there exists one.

The Doctor’s official sign-off from the “darkwaves” of KUCI came during the Summer of 2011. Since then he has reappeared once in the Autumn season for one last radio romp saying:

“My Gods, this is therapeutic.”

His last farewell left listeners anticipating another eventual encore as his very last flag announced:

“I couldn’t stay away forever …and I will be back at some point too. Good night and good luck.”

The Doctor's RadioFlag Avatar

Since then, Black Rose has created her own luck, and ceaselessly carries on the bequest of The Black Cauldron. Although she is a shy flower that blooms in the solemn rays of moombeams, she speaks forcefully through the power of the music to those who have ears to hear. She is the sole creator of some amazing playlists, and one that I especially enjoyed hearing was her special holiday conception.

As time marches on, Black Cauldron listeners may be found seen gazing into the night skies as if expecting a rare astronomical encounter, likened to a lunar eclipse. That is exactly what it would be like to catch a glimpse of a rare reunion of the original “Duo of Free-Form Darkness”. Until then, Black Rose is sure to keep those who tune in emblazoned on a path of petals, enthralling listeners one dark note at a time, nearer to “the everything”.

Trail of Petals


Tune in to The Black Cauldron on KUCI every Saturday night at 10 p.m. to midnight PST.

Tune in to @BlackRose and @TheDoctor on RadioFlag!

Check out this funny Goth video, flagged by a DJ, whose show follows the Black Cauldron; One I plan to take a closer look at. This is a prime example of what listeners may have been referring to when they mentioned ‘Darkiness meets Dorkiness’.

By: Air Ambrosia

Contact me!
Email: AirAmbrosia@gmail.com
RadioFlag: @AirAmbrosia

Amanda Duncan, Presented by DJ Queen Bee

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Looking for a holiday EP that will uplift your spirits and make everything feel a whole lot brighter for everyone? How about some crooner-inspired folksy tunes that are sure to make young and old alike swoon, tap, snap, swing, and smile? Who wouldn’t wanna hear some catchy retro jingles, with a refreshing twist of upbeat positivity; melodies ideally suited for merry making and bringing in the New Year? Well, your search is over folks, and I mean “folks” in the sweetest most nostalgic sense of the word. What I really want to relay, is that I believe I spotted a true twinkly starlet amongst songstresses this season; one that warmed my heart with so much holiday glow, that I may possibly find myself lit up and in a kind of “folksy cheermeister” mood throughout this whole New Year to come.

My discovery is all thanks to DJ Nicole Vitale, hailing on RadioFlag as “QueenBee”. She made this season a whole lot more sparkly, after she sent a flag last week alerting her listeners about a local artist from Hazlet, New Jersey, who was appearing on WMCX FM 88.9 to promote her newest holiday EP. I was lucky enough to catch glimpse of her flag that morning, and was excited to tune in, since I am often on the lookout for DJ’s who are savvy enough to spot and promote new talented artists they plan to have “On-Air Live”.

WMCX's Queen Bee Nicole Vitale

Tuning in to the Monmouth University’s campus station that morning, I was greeted with the joy filled melodic laughter of music artist Amanda Duncan. Her laughter had a harmony of its own that was so pleasing, that I actually would have been content just listening to her laugh for an hour. Ha, ha, ha! Really, it was the kind of laughter that heals with contagion, like honey blending in to a hot cup of tea. Like when you have a sore throat, it just coats over you, uplifts you, and makes you smile warmly from the inside out. In other words, it’s rare folks!

The Queen Bee courteously introduced Amanda in her usual effervescent, classy, well-mannered way. She announced that this is actually Amanda’s second EP release, and pointed out where people can find her music, including her Holiday EP (by visiting Bandcamp, iTunes, or Amazon) http://amandaduncan.bandcamp.com/. Amanda was excited to let listeners know how much she loves her Mac computer, and reveals how her engineering skills have come in handy, helping her put her own records together. Incidentally, this led her to form her own music production company called “Please N Thank U” productions, which I might add is an adorable name, not to mention two perfect rules to live by.

 

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A Showcase into New Territories of Music, with Your “Tuned In” Guides, DJ Burrow and DJ Sub

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Are you in need of a musical habitation; a refuge into a vast den of deep digging music appreciation? For the past few weeks, I have felt like the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, burrowing deeper and deeper into a myriad of bold beats, rowdy riffs, jams, twangs, croons, tunes, symphonic strums, hums, rhythms, and drums, all emanating out from the WSBF Clemson University airwaves.

The Wizz-Biff Lady

There are a few different “tune in” opportunities to dig deep into the music with WSBF DJ’s, DJ Burrow and DJ Sub. Passionately engaged in her craft of melodic sharing, DJ Burrow hosts three different shows throughout the week. One option is to tune in to “54/40 or Bust”, every Monday night from 9-11 p.m. EST (6-8 PST) on WSBF-FM, for your weekly dose of up-and-coming Canadian music and artists. Directly following “54/40 or Bust” from 11-1am EST, Burrow co-hosts “East of Midnight” with the fantastically inclined DJ Sub. “East of Midnight” is a historic show whose format is rooted in 1970’s “Wizz-Biff” (phonetic for WSBF) progressive. On “East of Midnight” there are no limits on what genres DJ Sub and DJ Burrow play, and your requests are encouraged, honored and appreciated. DJ Burrow also hosts “The Kitchen Sink”, a listener-driven, free-form show featuring a vast exploration of musical genres, seemingly including “everything but the kitchen sink”. So, depending on when you can “tune in” and what you are in the mood for, you are guaranteed an adventure into an exciting array of musical treats.

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Trash-o-matic Garbage A-go-go with Filthy Rotten Wes

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How do you know you need psychoanalysis? Well if you felt compelled to stay tuned in to the records being played on KUCI a couple Sundays ago, you can take that as the first sign. Secondly, you would have come to realize, as I did, that psychoanalysis has never been this fabulous, and being a little bit psycho has never been so fun. Finally, you would recognize that we all have a little psycho running around inside ourselves, and maybe we just need some retro loony tunes to soothe our bouts of moon-induced lunacy.

“How do you know you need psychoanalysis? Well if you were still listening to this record, that should be your first sign.”

The record that DJ Filthy Rotten Wes was referring to, and all the jams following it, offered retro music maniacs a two-hour-long psychosis-producing radio therapy session. DJ Filthy Rotten Wes is the head doctor of the airwaves on Sunday nights from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. PST in the KUCI ward, and he is always ready to slip you the perfect pill of vintage, laced with the ultimate, nostalgic prescription for beatnik hipness. DJ Filthy Rotten Wes hosts Trash-o-matic Garbage A-go-go, an awesome show with a different theme for each episode. On this particular night, his show was based around the twisted theme of psychoanalysis.

This uniquely-themed edition of Trash-o-matic was comprised of a completely psychotic playlist, with songs like “I Hear Voices” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, “Psycho” by the Sonics, and “Psychotic Reaction” by Positively Thirteen O’Clock. DJ Filthy Rotten Wes even played sound samples of the comical Del Close between sets, providing do-it-yourself psychological testing for listeners.

“Just a warning to you…it’s 11 o’clock and the maniacs, including yourself, are on the loose.”

This DJ has been spinning wild tunes for mad goons and beatniks for over seven years now. He offers a late night variety of underground old sounds with genres that include crazy rhythm and blues, wild rockabilly, manic monster music, spooky surf ‘n’ drag, dangerous garage, and even 60′s rock ‘n’ roll in foreign languages.

While listening in on Trash-o-matic alone this night, I heard the maniacal laughter of a mad man getting louder and louder in the background. These are the typical transitions you will hear between songs, vintage PSA’s, sound-samples, and DJ Wes himself, when listening to his show. With such a rad radio personality and psycho theme, it was easy to stay locked in on this show. These eerie sounds even had me questioning my own sanity. Then again, this night’s show theme clearly demonstrated why no DJ is more popular during the Halloween season than DJ Wes, and in my opinion, he should be the DJ of choice for your annual costume party.

Wes clearly puts his time, his thought, and his soul into his playlists, as he welcomed callers but not requests; just the kind of unpredictability RadioFlag listeners love and appreciate about live radio. You want to learn a bit about some of the hippest, coolest music you will likely never hear anywhere else? Tune in to this show and listen to a DJ who truly knows the history of music’s most unique and rare genres.

Little did I know that Trash-O-Matic would reveal my unconscious interests of psychedelic 60’s music and make me slightly aware of my own possible madness. However, now I have the prescription to curb my retro craving mania. One of the basic tenets of psychoanalysis, is that the liberation from the effects of our unconscious material is achieved through bringing this material into the consciousness . So by unleashing my unconscious vintage-loving fantasies every Sunday night, I have discovered a healthy way to keep my little inner, retro monster tamely at bay and purring peacefully.

Tune in to @Trashomatic on RadioFlag.
Trash-o-matic Garbage A-go-go airs Sunday nights from 10 p.m.-12 a.m. PST on KUCI.

By: Rx Queen, Air Ambrosia, and Stella Static

Contact us at RxQueen888@gmail.com or AirAmbrosia@gmail.com or StellaStatic@gmail.com
@RxQueen or @AirAmbrosia or @StellaStatic on RadioFlag
@RxQueen__ or @_StellaStatic on Twitter

Electronic Hi-Jinks with DJ Scrawny

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RadioFlag and DJs are quickly becoming an “interweb” match made in heaven, as more and more masters of the turntable join the “Rebirth of The Radio Star” movement. One DJ in particular is an eclectic and pronounced DJ at Santa Clara University, and has become a power-player on RadioFlag. He calls himself DJ Scrawny. Scrawny plays live and streams fully through the RadioFlag app during his show Electronic Hi-Jinks on Sundays from 5-8pm PST on KSCU. He brings a transfusion of new and old music that he mixes live in the studio, and without the use of a dj mixer. Scrawny’s mixes are composed of beats that put you on an invigorating electronica listening roller coaster, from sweet melodies that relax you to tough beats that make you feel invincible.

There are many DJs that can create a playlist and push play, but there’s a difference when each song is hand selected, can locate your every emotion, and pull it through the music’s rhythm from beginning to end. Whether you’re in your car, at the office, or chillin’ out in your dorm room, DJ Scrawny is what the doctor ordered for this winter season. Every dose must be taken once a week, and must be taken in full, from 5-8pm on. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re “into” this genre in particular; it just takes one listen and you’ll be hooked. It isn’t a type of song that gets you, or selection of beats, but it’s a road trip to the unknown that must be taken at least once, with no inhibitions or preconceived notions. I myself chose to tune in because RadioFlag’s users have been flagging and raving about his mixes, and once I did I didn’t look back. There’s a listener’s intuition that tells you yes or no after the first 10 seconds, and for me, it was a definite yes. DJ Scrawny is versatile in his music choice to say the least. When I heard him for the first time, I caught myself daydreaming about what it’d be like to look out into the universe, and suddenly transitioned to imagining what it would be like jumping around at a rave.

Shauna Mork Photography

From peaceful to raging, from simple to intense, these mixes are anything but “scrawny”. DJ Scrawny’s set will either settle your mood or get you going depending on what YOU, the listener wants, because he himself is logged onto his RadioFlag account as @Scrawny, where he stays interactive, communicating with his listeners. He takes requests, shares his playlist for the night, asks what his listeners want to hear more of, and puts it into action right there on the air in real time. Make sure to keep your ears open for a song called “Chainsaw”, which Scrawny throws into every episode like clockwork.

His actions speak louder than my words, and there’s only one way to find out what I’ve been raving about. Get yourself a free RadioFlag account and find out why I dedicate this Radio Star article to DJ Scrawny; because I want to share this hidden treasure with you. Get #tunedinandtunedup. There’s only one way to find out right?

Shauna Mork Photography

Tune in to @Scrawny can be found on RadioFlag.
Tune in to KSCU every Sunday from 5-8 p.m. PST for Electric Hi-Jinks.

By TranceLation

Want to contact me regarding a review? Find me on RadioFlag @TranceLation

Positive Vibrations with Sister Rue

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On Wednesdays I often find myself tuned into the radio show “Positive Vibrations” with DJ Sister Rue. Sister Rue’s vibrations emanate from the University of California Irvine campus station’s frequency, KUCI 88.9 FM, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. PST. Positive vibrations are exactly what the music Sister Rue plays is made of, as the reggae “riddims” bust through my speakers, spill into my ears, and infiltrate my soul.

In the past, I had caught some of the show’s jams when using the RadioFlag app. This time however was different, as I was able to enjoy the entire show. Sister Rue’s radio show reminds me just how much I enjoy reggae music. Reggae always relaxes me, and seems to encompass that “no worries” feel, so the name “Positive Vibrations” fits the show like a glove. Sister Rue plays a vast variety of reggae and dub music, and is the perfect place to turn if you’re looking to discover unearthed reggae relics. The show I tuned in to revolved around an 80’s theme. It started off with the old-school classic “Pass the Dutchie”, and evolved into a musical expedition with each passing track.

Sister Rue seems to have a laid-back and earthy style, and she stays far away from any form of negativity. One conversation topic in particular on this edition of Positive Vibrations was about the day’s upcoming rally on the UCI campus. The rally was in protest of an 81% tuition fee increase proposed by the UC regents. Students, workers, and faculty were taking a stand and using their voice to fight for a higher quality education. In Sister Rue’s opinion, education is the key to the future, and has been rapidly diminishing with the budget decreases and tuition increases. On air, Sister Rue invited others to join her in the protest. Sister Rue fearlessly and openly believes in the “Power of the People”. It struck me as admirable when the gracious DJ, from behind the mic, told her listeners to “rise up effectively with style and respect.” Sister Rue encouraged people to embrace a protest when necessary, but wisely warned them to never make it about hate and anger. The fact that The Sister urged people to only protest in a manner becoming of style, respect, and positivity implies that she truly walks the walk, as these traits are the true fundamentals of reggae music.

Sister Rue included the song “Irie Ites” by Third World, in one of her sets. This was such a beautiful and fitting song for this specific show. Not only does Sister Rue refer to her listeners as “Irieites,” the show itself is really all about the Irie state of mind, or “to be at peace with yourself.” IRIE stands for “I Respect – I Eternally”, meaning have respect for yourself, and being happy with who you are.

Sister Rue leads a two hour block of Positive Vibrations every week. It’s reggae music with a powerful message. It’s a reminder for me to push away the negativity and to continue moving forward with a peaceful mind.

Tune in to @SisterRue on RadioFlag.
Positive Vibrations is on air Wednesdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m. PST on KUCI.

By Gold Dust and Stella Static
Email me with blog suggestions! – GoldDustRadio@gmail.com or StellaStatic@gmail.com
Tune in to me on RadioFlag: @GoldDust and @StellaStatic
Follow me on Twitter: @GoldDust8 @_StellaStatic