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10 Questions with ... Anya Marina
July 26, 2005
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NAME:Anya MarinaPOSITION:Jockey-Ess Of Discs/ Resident Radio BratSTATION:KBZTMARKET:San Diego (#17)COMPANY:Jefferson-Pilot CommunicationsBORN:Ann Arbor, MIRAISED:Cupertino, CA (home of Apple Computer; also known as Silicon Valley)
LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Dealing with the stressed-out, plastic surgery-ridden upper class at a La Jolla yoga studio in '99.
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started out in theatre doing the Hollywood-Starving-Actress thing for a bit before going back to finish my English/Writing degree at Santa Clara University. Got involved with KSCU (one of the best college stations around, I still say), then KOME (R.I.P.) where I was a phone-op, then board-op. I finally got my first real gig with Mike Halloran in '98 at XHRM (92/5). That station got bought out by Jacor two months later, so I bounced around a bit. Did nights and fill-ins at Y107 in LA (R.I.P.), was Music Director for Radio at MP3.com (R.I.P.), and then fulltime night jock at 92.1 KFSD (R.I.P - do we sense a theme here?), before settling, very happily here at KBZT (FM94/9) in San Diego. I play songs and talk about them for a living from 6-10p, Monday thru Friday. I also host the "The Local 94/9" Sunday evenings from 8-10p. On my nights off, I do the singer/songwriter thing and rock out on my own and sometimes with a band (www.AnyaMarina.com).
FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
Donny & Marie - Goin' Coconuts.
FIRST CONCERT:
George Michael - Faith tour, I think. Either that or YES when they were Anderson/ Bruford/ Wakeman & Howe.
FAVORITE BANDS OF ALL-TIME:
Tie between Liz Phair and Beatles.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
It's weird because I always say that I literally "stumbled into radio," because I ended up - mistakenly -- on the floor of the building that housed my college radio station (KSCU). I meant to get on the elevator going up, but ended up in the basement. Once you're in the basement, you need a card key to get back up. Well, I didn't have one, so I banged on the soundproof door for a while until the jock came out and helped me. Since that was my hippie year and I was convinced that "everything happens for a reason," I figured I'd fill out an application for an airshift while I was there.
Anyway, that's the stock story, and while it's true, it doesn't speak to the weird things that were peppered through my childhood that indicated maybe the radio thing wasn't completely an accident. I'll give you two examples:
(1) When I was 5 or so my parents let me name my new puppy myself. Naturally, I named him Radio.
(2) There are about 15 tapes of me doing "radio variety shows" between the ages of 10 and 14 where I interview Italian pizza makers, young British orphans, Russian refugees, and mutes (all characters were either played by myself or my baby sister).
I guess I'm still sort of a hippie, because I think it was destiny in a way.
2. Who are your mentors?
I have four. No Name (Alice/San Francisco) is the one who recruited me from KSCU and the one I turn to whenever I am at a crossroads. He taught me to write out all my breaks and never ever to crack the mic without something creative or interesting to say. I have since broken this rule of thumb countless times, but I believe in the ethos behind it. I can't believe he let me hang out in the studio for the year I was his phone-op. All I did was take mental notes and ask questions the entire time. I would have told me to get lost after 10 minutes!
Halloran and Garett Michaels, of course. Aside from helping me find all my jobs, Halloran helped me find my voice (literally and figuratively). "You sound all nasally! Bring it down into your diaphragm!" Garett bestowed upon me the rule of PMC, which I'll never forget: Preparation, Concentration, Moderation.
Howard Stern once told me, "Keep going; you're a natural," and that was huge for me at the time.
3. What do you like best about your job?
The hand sanitizer dispenser in the kitchen. I have never used it, but I like that we have one.
4. How would you describe your show?
Someone once said my style was "relaxed without sounding bored." Then someone else said, in a really annoying voice, "Hi, I'm Anya. I'm really BORED and I'm really HIGH," so who knows? I would say at my best moments, my show is well thought out, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants radio, with occasional moments of humor. It goes without saying that there is also really great music involved.
5. What do you do to prepare for your airshift each night?
I make sure I'm hydrated and have checked to make sure no global disasters have occurred.
6. Since joining FM 94/9, I'm most proud of __________?
Interviewing Frank Black. A close second is taking over the local show (The Local 94/9) and showcasing new artists like Reeve Oliver, LouisXIV, Sawing For Teens, Yovee, Greg Laswell, The Truckee Brothers, Bunky, The After Party, Ryan Ferguson, Saba, Manuok, Paper Dolls, etc.
7. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
English Breakfast tea and trashy blogs.
8. Who's your favorite air personality NOT on your airstaff and why?
Dr. Laura. She's way too alternative for us.
9. If you could work at any other radio station, which one would it be and why?
It would take a lot to get me to leave a station where I get paid to play Fugazi and the Pixies and be myself.
10. If you were to leave radio and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
I'm lucky that I get to do both things I love: DJ and playing live. If I got booted out of radio, I would just tour full-time.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Yoga (Bikram & Iyengar) and bow-hunting.
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