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10 Questions with ... Shawn Williams
December 13, 2016
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started radio at the age of 18 in Atlanta, beginning with 99x and Q100. Within the many years there, I did on-air mid-days and nights, produced The Bert Show and Organic X. Followed that with doing a little country and oldies, then, moving to NY where I was the APD for HardDrive Radio, and then onto producing Scott & Todd on PLJ.
1. You were born in Louisiana but spent most of your childhood growing up in Georgia. How did you become interested in radio?
I always loved music. Whenever we would go on car rides, my step dad would scan every radio station and tell me to name the artist, and it was always a great challenge I would nail. However, maybe the love for it started when I would listen to radio stations and prank call them until they played what I wanted to hear. Maybe it started with listening to "The Quiet Storm", Delilah, or Casey Kasem. Could also be when my mom would drag me to church on Sunday mornings, and the only thing that would get me up was knowing that I could enjoy Organic X on 99x on the way and IHop after. Actually, nothing else really interested me except for music...maybe I mentally told myself that.
2. Congrats on your recent promotion to APD of WZRH (106.1 The Underground) and WRKN (NASH 92.3). When you were promoted Market Manager Pat Galloway said, "Shawn is a true New Orleanian and embodies the unique culture of our incredible city -- she even has her own band. Shawn's incredible work effort and team collaboration make her the right person for this position." What is your biggest challenge and take us through a typical day splitting up your duties between Alternative and Country?
The biggest challenge is finding enough time to be here, there, and over there all at the same time while staying creative, doing shows on both formats, etc. It was a really busy day today...meetings, production, proposals, doing two on-air shifts, yadda yadda. As I was heading to a pre-concert event we did this evening, thinking about all the work I needed to get to after it, one's mind does start to race wondering how to finish it all tonight. However, during and after the event tonight (and reoccurring), I thought to myself...this is what makes all of this celebratory. Interacting with listeners tonight at our event, hearing their passion for the station, the music, and just hearing about their life...it energizes me to find time and make these stations, our events, and our relationships freakin' killer for our listeners/community.
3. What is it like working at Cumulus in New Orleans?
Our team is exactly like our culture in New Orleans...All sorts of characters that are full of life. Pat Galloway and Talus Knight are great leaders that are encouraging and empowering, building collaborative efforts and community involvement.
4. What does everyone need to know about 106.1 The Underground?
106.1 The Underground is New Orleans' only fix of Alternative, and our people have been missing this music/lifestyle. It's awesome to hear the loyalty and passion when chatting with our listeners, as we are hitting the streets to make it a part of the New Orleans culture again.
5. What is your favorite part of your job?
The music and the people. There's something magical about music that brings the huge connection between people without even having to say a word. The fact that we get to make that connection with people, sharing a common interest, getting involved in the community and giving back...very fortunate.
6. What sort of things make 106.1 The Underground?
The alternative format has always been a cool and unique format that let's you dabble in everything, while it still has a nice edge to it. I feel like alternative is like a great secret society that takes all of these rebels or outsiders that really don't want to label themselves. They all might be different and have different tones, but they have this undertone of lyrics, emotion, and arrangement that makes each of these songs/artists fit together. So, from the New Rock Alternative to the prenatal and beginning days of the format, mixed in with some local flair, you get the underground.
7. Tell us about your Organic Underground Sunday Morning show.
I play the likes of R.E.M., Regina Spektor, Foo Fighters, and My Morning Jacket, an hour of your favorite artists essential and unplugged, including alternative singer-songwriters. Great alternative music to get you through Sunday morning hangovers.
8. What do you like best about living in New Orleans?
The fact that it's a city that lives in me, from the history and historic buildings, the hot summer days (year-round), dancing when there's no audible music...it leaves a mark on everyone.
9. What would surprise people most about you?
That I eat boudin balls, even though I'm a vegetarian.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Whiskey in the morning...I mean...Apple Cider Vinegar, peanut butter, coffee, and 100% dark chocolate. For real.
Bonus Questions
Tell us about your band.
My band's name is Shawn Williams. I'm wrapping up my first album now. My friend calls the genre; "Serial Killer Blues"...mix of Lucinda Williams, The Kills, and Mazzy Star. I did have create the first ever all-female Elvis tribute band, Pelvis Breastlies, and they're still going at it. I reunite with them and play when I'm in Atlanta.
What are your hobbies?
Traveling, playing and listening to music, and taking pictures...I'm not a photographer, but a fauxtographer.
First record ever purchased?
Boyz II Men or Madonna, haha. First albums that I remember hearing when I was about two or three was INXS and Billy Idol.
First concert?
Jimmy Buffet...I was really young, but I remember smelling pot around me.
Favorite band of all-time??
Do people actually answer this question with one answer?! I have a handful that I like to rotate as my "Favorite of all-time." Today, let's go with Mazzy Star.?
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