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10 Questions with ... Erin Wolf
August 29, 2022
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
It all started out in 2004 with an application to be a volunteer DJ with 91.7 FM WMSE – a (wonderful) college station in Milwaukee. I had graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in Journalism & Mass Communications (with an emphasis on print) and my designs to become a feature writer weren’t lining up the way I’d envisioned. Radio came along at the right moment and kept showing me that it was the right path as I first became a WMSE DJ, then the station’s Music Librarian and finally, Music Director. Working and being a DJ at WMSE gave me the best crash-course in exploring and actively listening to music both new and old. I had always loved music and listening to radio, but this took it to new, eye-opening levels. I left WMSE in 2022 after 18 years there, looking to deepen my knowledge and experience with Radio Milwaukee.
1. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
Growing up, the oldies and soft-rock stations were always on at my family’s house and in the car (and from those days, I can sing most of the lyrics to songs from the zone of 1955 – 1985). My mom liked Lulu and Bread. My dad liked Jethro Tull and the Moody Blues. From listening to the radio, I learned that I didn’t necessarily share their tastes - I gravitated more towards the soulful sounds like Curtis Mayfield and psych-folk like Donovan. My dad also listened to a lot of classical and NPR. When I was a teenager, I buried myself in WLUM back when they were “Rock 102.1” – they played Nirvana, Beck, No Doubt, Tori Amos, Soundgarden, The Breeders, Smashing Pumpkins…
2. What got you interested in the radio business?
The cool people at WMSE…music nerds who were nice. I never realized being on the radio was attainable to someone like me. I became part of the “cool kids club” just because I had a passion for music. I was super supported in my early years there – I grew into a confident DJ and Music Director with the help, appreciation, and camaraderie of my fellow DJs. In my experience, it feels like the best people work in radio - they’re smart, passionate and (most of the time) really funny.
3. What experiences impacted you most from your time at WMSE?
Making the role of Music Director my own and learning what being a good Music Director is by doing the work. It was a fun adventure when I first started! The station never had a full-time Music Director, and I was dedicated to getting the position changed to full-time so there would be consistency with the station’s industry connections and a more constant upkeep with the incoming music library. I also wanted to take on making the established, weekly local music program, Local/Live, into a full hour (from its original 30 minutes). Starting in 2013, I made the program even more conversational and dynamic with the addition of a co-host and other fresh elements like a monthly live show, video archive and more. WMSE was already doing great things with supporting local music and holding cool events, yet I implemented additional outreach and added even more fresh materials by helping establish and promote a daily local music segment called the “Local Lunchbox” and by clarifying our local music submission guidelines and options for our local music community. In general, I focused on new music first and foremost at WMSE. On my weekly radio show, I played all-new releases and added as much new music to our library as I possibly could. WMSE still plays all-physical media, and I stuffed the shelves via industry connections, local musicians, and relationships with local record stores (to acquire additional materials). I also highlighted WMSE’s programming for listeners with a WMSE-specific blog, a monthly music newsletter and by keeping interviews and sessions rolling along, even during the pandemic.
4. Who were the most influential people in your orbit?
I think back to all the teachers who were incredibly supportive of me, even though I was incredibly shy as a kid; they pointed out the good they saw and gave me something to go on when day-to-day stuff felt overwhelming. With their encouragement, I participated in choir, forensics, sports, etc. and found my true loves of music and writing. The parents, too – they would build up my strengths by helping me find my passions, letting me participate in nearly everything I wanted to. Post-school, I would say the folks who helped shape who + where I am today are anyone who I’ve played music with over the years and everyone I’ve met through WMSE - passionate people who are insanely talented and kind.
5. So far, what do you find most interesting or unique about Radio Milwaukee?
First and foremost, I love (and have long admired!) what 88Nine does for Milwaukee and their listeners through Community Stories (now, called Uniquely Milwaukee). I’ve learned so much and have been pretty inspired by what I’ve heard.
6. Where do you find new music?
Predominantly through talking with friends and by listening to stations like WMSE and Radio Milwaukee (and by streaming KEXP, NPR Music, The Current, etc.). I also love keeping up with music and culture mags and blogs. I have a soft spot for old-school music mags…
7. What new-to-you act are you most excited about?
At the moment, I‘ve been really into Spacemoth’s No Past No Future. I’ve long loved Broadcast and this fills that sound-void (RIP Trish Keenan).
8. Who was your favorite artist to interview and why?
Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi, The Evens, etc.). Ian was the first person I interviewed on the air at WMSE a couple of months after I became a DJ there. He was coming to Milwaukee to play with his duo, The Evens, and he couldn’t have been more approachable and friendly over the phone. I was terrified to not only do my first live phone interview but to also interview the frontperson of one of my favorite bands at the time (Fugazi), but that experience made it seem doable. It made me realize that no matter how high the pedestal, at the end of the day, your icons are just people, too. When I met him at the show, it felt like we were already old friends.
9. If you were to leave the radio business today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
Flower farmer? Chef? Visual Artist? I really don’t know…everything seems interesting at first glance. I guess it all goes back to being a writer, ha-ha. I might try to finally fulfill that role after I retire?
10. Fill in the blank: I can’t make it through the day without ...
Remembering to laugh. Even if you’ve had the worst day, you can always find something to laugh about.
Bonus Questions
Last non-industry job:
piano teacher
First record ever purchased:
First CD: Sheryl Crow’s Tuesday Night Music Club
First concert:
Chicago at Summerfest with my parents in the early 90s.
Favorite band of all-time:
I don’t have a favorite. I have favoriteS, for sure, but no true music fan could just be devoted to one artist, right?
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?
Cooking, reading, playing music, hiking, biking, gardening…just being outside, hanging with friends…
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