10 Questions with ... Royce Stevenson

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• KSJM (107.9 Jamz)/Wichita (Jan. 2006 - Dec. 2007)
• KDGS (Power 93.5)/ Wichita (Jan. 2008 - Present)

1. How did you get interested in Radio?

I have always loved music and listening to radio. What really got me was when I was in high school. I saved up the money to by some turntables and stated mixing records. In 1996, I was on vacation with my mom visiting family in Houston. We were on the highway listening to 97.9 The Boxx. This was when The Madhatta was doing afternoons. They had a segment called "Freestyle Fridays". People would call up and freestyle live on the radio! I had never heard anything like it. Plus, I was into hip-hop and listening to a hip-hop station blew my mind, because we didn't have one in Wichita. I also got to hear a live mixshow during the 5pm hour and they were playing Outkast - Elevators. Blew my mind because they were playing it before the single had been released! They had all the promo copies! From that day on I wanted to be in radio, and have a live mixshow on a station in Wichita.

2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?

After 14 or 15 all I wanted to do was go into radio, TV or the music business (Mixer/Master records,A&R or rep).

3. Did I see you on Facebook with a 35 mm camera? Is photography a hobby for you?

Yup! I have always loved photography. My mother was into photography as well. When I was younger I spent hours looking at my mother's photos albums and photo books. I was lucky enough in middle school, high school and at college to take photography and darkroom courses. I still use black and white 35mm film. I have the chemicals at home and process it myself. Hopefully soon, I'll get an enlarger and start making prints! I process 35mm color film also, but the temperatures have to be spot on so I don't do color as much. I am a firm believer that every person should have something creative that they like to do outside of their job. That is what photography is for me. Almost a form of meditation. The past couple of years, I have been into street photography and documenting Wichita. I would love to publish a photo book one day.

4. Let's play word association. I say "Greg Williams", you say?

Coach

5. What would probably surprise most people about life in Wichita?

It's a lot bigger and a lot more going on that most people think. Most people talk to can't believe how cheap real estate is here.

6. You like to travel. Do you have a couple places on your travel bucket list?

A couple places??? I have tons!

On my bucket list:

• The Taj Mahal in India
• Jerusalem
• Rome
• China - Beijing and The Great Wall

7. If you weren't in radio, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?

Maybe a job with a marketing or branding company. Or photographer.

8. Do you have a few favorite pieces of vinyl?

Oh yeah! Love collecting records. My favorite would most likely be the Ultimate Breaks and Beats record that has Apache by the Incredible Bongo Band on it. I spent hours trying to mix and do beat juggling routines with them.

9. You're an imaging whiz. Does being the MD help you in your imaging work?

Oh yeah. Knowing what the feel of the station is and the music that is coming out definitely helps me with imaging.

10. Hypothetical: You're assigned the job of having a current artist perform at your wedding reception. They have to play/sing only covers including traditional wedding reception stuff like The Chicken Dance, Cuban Slide, Unchained Melody, etc. Who would you choose?

Too easy. Drake.

If you had to eat one type of meal everyday for a month, what would it be?

Chinese or Thai food

One more time to Word Association: I say "family", you say?

Loving