10 Questions with ... Bri Flannery Aab

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• NCSU: college, English/Philosophy
• The Pinhook venue: Intern 2 years
• Merge Records, Intern: 2 years
• DJ @ WKNC Raleigh: 3 years
• PD @ WKNC Raleigh: 1 year
• GM @ WKNC Raleigh: 1 year
• Team Clermont College Radio Rep: 2 years
• Beggars Group Non-Comm Radio Rep: 2 years

1. What got you interested in the record business?

I interned at Merge Records while I was in college. It was so much fun; I think I drove them a little nuts with how excited I was. My room was absolutely covered in Mountain Goats, Wye Oak, Superchunk, Wild Flag, Lambchop, and William Tyler posters. I was a bit of a fan girl for sure. I got caught saying, "Holy crap, that's seriously Laura Ballance of Merge Records and the band Superchunk!" on one of my first days. Embarrassing.

2. Who were/are your mentors?

• Fred Champion from CD Alley: I halfway worked at his record store in high school. He made me some of the most defining mix CDs -- Stereolab, Brian Eno, The Unicorns, etc.
• Kym Register of Loamlands/runs The Pinhook in Durham: made me feel like music could be an actual job (as much as talking about records all day could be a real job).
• Jamie Lynn Gilbert advised Raleigh radio station WKNC: let me eat Chinese food and book shows all day. A dream!
• Shil K Patel, owner of Tiger Bomb radio promo: I worked for him as a college radio promoter. He's been the kindest, most creative person I have ever worked with.

I had a lot of great folks helping me out, clearly!

3. You must be very excited to join the Secretly Group! Tell us how the new job came about.

I've known Hannah Carlen and Harlan Kelly since I started in college radio promo. Shil (of Tiger Bomb) told me at my first CMJ that they are two of the best apples in music. I was, of course, very excited for Hannah to move into marketing at Secretly, but let me tell you how quickly I was whipping up a punk rock resume template for her old job. Their artists are just so innovative; I cannot wait to get started with Alex Cameron, Phoebe Bridgers, Alex Lahey, Jamila Woods, Marlon Williams - and on and on!

4. Where do you get your greatest pleasure in doing record promotion?

I love when I've got someone I've been pitching a song to for ages, and they see the band or they hear it on the radio in their playlist for the first time and they say: "That fits. It's perfect for us." Sometimes we get so caught up in streaming numbers/video views/tour routing that the music feels so distant, but then you can hear a song on the radio and just know it FITS.

5. Who do you see as the next breakthrough artist for the label?

Alex Lahey is someone who is really making headway. She is so fun; the tracks are so shout-along-in-the-car, wake-you-up, get-you-going. She has a BIG future at radio.

6. Things are changing rapidly in our business: Were it up to you, what would you change in our "system" to give your bands a better shot?

Hmm - that's tough! From a label perspective, I wish that the days weren't so grueling on the artists. I've driven folks from 8a promo to more promo to soundcheck to more promo to show to after-show meet-and-greets to bed at 3a. Those days are rough, especially when you're sleeping on a bus or have family at home.

7. What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

Folks taking chances on new music. There's so much good stuff out there that is just overlooked because it isn't a name yet. If you hear something that is going to resonate with your listeners, be a leader!

8. What would surprise people most about you?

I'm a Taurus sun, Taurus rising. I'm double Taurus! It's insanity!

9. What is your best advice for up-and-coming promotion reps?

Don't eat Dunkin Donuts for every meal when you're on the road. You'll feel like garbage 100% of the time.

10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ...

... Arizona Iced Tea

Last non-industry job:

Mercury Lounge cocktail waitress!

First record/CD ever purchased:

Lou Bega Mambo #5

First concert:

Spice Girls

Favorite band of all-time:

PJ Harvey

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?

Reading, writing, junk movies