10 Questions with ... Darren Revell

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started interning at 99DTX in Detroit in 1986. I worked overnights/Asst. Promotion Director at 99.5 The Fox in Detroit for a couple of years ('87-'90). Then I went on to do mornings and evenings at 89X in Detroit for a few of years. I left 89X in '95 for WHYT and started Big Sonic Heaven the same year. I was at 96.3 (WHYT/WDVD) until 2003. Moved to Los Angeles in 2006 and started working at Indie 103-1 where I resurrected Big Sonic Heaven and did evenings. Started at Moheak Radio as MD/air personality in October of 2010.

1. How did you become interested in radio?

Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a DJ. I used to put my little cassette recorder up to the speakers of my stereo and record my favorite songs and attempt to make good segues out of my recordings. I used to have a sign on my bedroom door saying "Recording. Keep Out!"

2. What's the 411 on Moheak Radio?

We broadcast from Los Angeles, CA. It's Truly Free-Form Radio -- this is the statement Moheak Radio upholds. With countless radio stations promoting and defining what "mainstream" is, there's hardly any room for true indie music. Moheak Radio was started and created by TK (former afternoon and morning host of Indie 103.1) with DFP in 2010. Moheak Radio consists of many radio hosts formerly of Indie 103.1. Now, carrying on what was once lost, Moheak Radio is the new project to share and discuss what's new in the music world - this time, without any rules.

3. How would you describe the music on Moheak Radio?

Indie-Pop/Rock.

4. Can you give us a quick rundown of all the programs airing on the station?

Well, because we have so many shows, this won't be a quick rundown. This is taken directly from our Facebook page...

Moheak.com Streams Free-Form Independent Radio Live from Los Angeles 24/7. Shows/DJs include...

MONDAY

• The Reg B Show Rebroadcast 9-11a
• Mo Herms 11a-1p
• Darren Revell 1-3p
• TK 3-5p
• Radio Down Under w/Libby Dallison 5-6p (Oz & NZ Show)
• Border Radio w/Brandise Danesewich 7-9p
• Endless Party Radio w/Marko DeSantis 9-11p
• West of The Rockies w/Engineer Frank 11p

TUESDAY

• Radio Underground w/Larry G 9-11a
• Mo Herms 11a-1p
• Darren Revell 1-3p
• Totally Psyched w/Keith Morris 3-5p
• Radio London 5-6p (U.K. Music Scene)
• Full Metal Jackie 7-8p (Metal Show)
• What Up Rocker Radio w/Dom Prietto 8-9p
• Big Sonic Heaven w/Darren Revell 9-11p
• West Of The Rockies w/Engineer Frank 11p

WEDNESDAY

• Sala De Espera w/Jose Galvan 9-11a (New Latin Alternative)
• Mo Herms 11a-1p
• Darren Revell 1-3p
• TK 3-5p
• The ATX Show w/April Henshaw 5-6p (Austin Music Scene)
• Bang Bang w/BunnyKnose 6-7p (Mostly Local L.A. Music)
• Scatterbrain w/Casper VonDj 7-9p
• Dark Matter w/Dave Navarro 9-11p
• West of The Rockies w/Engineer Frank 11p

THURSDAY

• Radio Underground w/Larry G 9-11a
• Mo Herms 11a-1p
• Darren Revell 1-3p
• TK 3-5p
• The Moheak NYC Edition w/Meijin 5-6p (NYC Music Scene)
• Lina in L.A. w/Lina Lecaro from The L.A. Weekly 6-7p
• The Reg B Show 7-9p
• Neon Noise w/DJ Paul V. 9-11p
• Transmission w/Audrey Napoleon & Guest DJs 11p-1a

FRIDAY

• Go Deep w/Bruce Rave 1-3p
• The Buzzbands.LA Radio Show w/Kevin Bronson 3-5p
• Brit Bitz w/Zowie 5-6p
• MoheakTV w/Stacy Fratelli 7-9p (OG MTV Videos)
• Friday & Saturday nights - Weekend Mixmaster DJ Paul V. Neon Noise Music 9p-5a

SATURDAY

• Alter-Native w/Native Wayne Jobson 11a-1p (Reggae Show)
• Neon Noise w/DJ Paul V. Rebroadcast 7-9p

SUNDAY

• Head Trip w/Christian B 9-11a
• Watusi Radio w/Brandise Danesewich 11a-1p
• New Wave Sock Hop w/Holly Miela 3-5p
• Dark Matter w/Dave Navarro Rebroadcast 5-7p
• Coup d'etat - Band Radio Takeover 7-8p
• Born This Way Radio w/DJ Paul V. & Tre 8-10p
• Big Sonic Heaven w/Darren Revell Rebroadcast 10p-12mid
• Buzzbands.LA Radio Show w/Kevin Bronson Rebroadcast 12mid-2a
• Scatterbrain w/Casper VonDj Rebroadcast 2-4a

The Coup d'etat with Moheak friends/listeners happens randomly, Mon & Tues at 6p.

5. Who is your target audience and how are you marketing the station?

Planet Earth. We are marketing our station the best way we can.

6. Why will Moheak Radio be successful?

Because we're being featured on All Access! But seriously, we are very determined to not make the same mistakes we've seen made by previous employers of ours. Between TK (Moheak Radio PD) and myself we have over 40 years of experience to bring to the table and we're using it. The biggest reasons we will be successful, I believe, is our dedication to what we're doing, our work ethic, hiring the right staff and our honesty to ourselves, our staff, the music, and our audience on and off-the-air.

7. Tell us about your Big Sonic Heaven show that you first launched in Detroit?

Big Sonic Heaven is a music program I created, hosted and produced from 1995-2003 on 96.3 FM in Detroit. Big Sonic Heaven aired every Sunday evening for four hours and featured shoegaze, dream-pop, trip-hop, brit-pop, and electronic by bands such as Cocteau Twins, The Cure, Dead Can Dance, Hooverphonic, My Bloody Valentine, Depeche Mode, Ride, Portishead and The Smiths, just to name a few. Big Sonic Heaven earned high Arbitron ratings during its flight at 96.3 ranking in at #2 12+ on Sunday nights. In 2007, I revived Big Sonic Heaven on Indie 103.1 here in Los Angeles. Indie 103-1 went off-air in January of 2009. Now I air Big Sonic Heaven on Tuesdays at 9p (PT) with a rebroadcast on Sundays at 10p (PT) on moheak.com.

8. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ___________?

Searching for new music. I love it!

9. Describe a typical day for you at Moheak Radio?

I'm on-air Monday-Thursday 1-3p with Big Sonic Heaven on Tuesday nights 9-11p. Most days I spend about an hour or two listening to and reading blogs about new music. I monitor bands that are coming through LA to see if we can present them. I produce all of our imaging and promos, which I like to, keep fresh so there are usually a couple hours of that per day. Maintaining the music library is obviously ongoing so I always make sure the categories and rotations are in check. TK and I meet everyday to plan our following day's broadcast, which I believe is crucial to any station. Some days have more of one thing than another. We definitely have enough to keep us very busy everyday and we love it.

10. What would surprise people most about you?

That I'm fiercely afraid of heights and spiders.

What are your hobbies?

I like doing a little photography. This may not be considered a hobby but in my free time my #1 favorite thing to do is watch films. Love it!

Last non-industry job?

I used to work at a grocery store back in the '80s just before I got into radio.

First record ever purchased?

Carl Douglas' Kung Fu Fighting 7". It was 1974 and I was a wee lad. My first full-length album I bought was Dressed To Kill by Kiss. Doh! Yes, I was a bit of a rock-dog in my youth.

First concert?

The WRIF Motor City Jam at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan (circa 1980).

Favorite band of all-time?

Cocteau Twins.