10 Questions with ... Whitley Albury

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started out as a film major in college at Western Carolina University, but I started out as a board operator for college basketball as a freshman. I kept pulling double duty in the editing lab and the basement studio of my college radio station for a few years, before switching over to broadcast communication. I started interning at Asheville Radio Group in 2013, and they liked me enough to keep me!

1. How did you become interested in radio?

I loved talking about music. That was honestly my main topic of conversation growing up, outside of talking about books! I would end up hearing about and seeing all these bands right before they got big, and I would think, “Oh, well these bands should get WAY more attention than they have been!”

2. Who were/are your mentors?

My awesome boss, Neal Sharpe. And Dex Mitchell: he was on one of my favorite stations when I was in high school, and he started at ARG right when I started interning! He kinda kicked the “college radio” sound out of me.

3. How would you describe the music on the station?

To me, it’s truly the sound of Asheville. We play a little of everything: golden tracks from the Bobs (Dylan and Marley), ‘80s and ‘90s “alt radio” hits like Gin Blossoms, and newer artists like Arlo Parks and Jade Bird, while featuring some of the incredible local artists in town.

4. How do you conduct the music meetings during these difficult times with COVID-19?

We hold our weekly meetings over the phone. I’m usually still in my pjs with my laptop open and my cell phone on speaker mode. We go back and forth playing tracks to pick.

5. What new artists are you most excited about?

Definitely Arlo Parks! Japanese Breakfast is another great band, love seeing them live. Michigander is up there on my recently played, too!

6. You are from the Asheville area. Tell us how the market has evolved over the past 10-15 years.

Well, 15 years ago I was mostly going to punk shows in basements and making sure I was home by 9! But really, it’s been really interesting to see how the overall vibe of the area has evolved. It’s not *just* a jam band focused area anymore. There’s a vibrant indie rock scene, there’s an ever-growing hip hop scene. And it’s great seeing a whole lot of bands honoring and paying homage to the old jazz clubs that existed here back in the ‘30s and the “old time” (meaning: bluegrass) music.

7. Has live music begun again in Asheville? If so, how are the venues handling safety precautions?

It has! Most venues are building up full calendars for outdoor shows all summer. Some venues are hosting indoor events, but with extremely limited capacity. There’s a lot of “pod seating,” so buying up a section of four or six seats all together, with lots of social distancing in place. Masks required walking around and when not actively taking a sip of a local brew … my first real show in over a year was a couple of weeks ago, and that adrenaline rush felt SO nice!

8. What is your biggest challenge at the station?

Not being able to add every single song I love to our rotation!

9. What would surprise people the most about you?

I was OBSESSED with Batman as a kid (I mean, I’m still a comic book nerd), and I finally got to meet the OG Batman, Adam West, a few months before he passed away.

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

… copious amounts of coffee and podcasts while I work on logs!

Last non-industry job:

Librarian! Technically, I’m still a reference librarian at a college when I’m not in my office!

First record ever purchased:

Red Hot Chili Peppers -- By The Way

First concert:

In the womb: Bad Company. Out of the womb: Aerosmith. We were in the nosebleed seats -- all I remember is seeing a teeny tiny Steven Tyler.

Favorite band of all-time:

-Sum 41. They’ve been my constant favorite band since Fat Lip came out in 2001.

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

Reading. I run a review blog (when I remember to actually write a full review!), so I usually have a book in my bag. And photography, a lot of the concert photos on The River site are mine! Aaaaand writing. You can take the girl outta film school but can’t take the storyteller outta the girl.