Complete Control

The more music in my life, the happier I am overall. Even the painful music that follows me into and digs a little deeper into the dark places, the complex music that requires that focused, sustained attention which I find it so difficult to give to anything, and the ambient trance-inducing genres all are part of what makes me feel really human. There may be little else than art which sets humans apart (at least in positive ways) from the rest of the animal kingdom. I would like to think that animals enjoy music too, but no matter what I try, neither my dog nor cat even seems to notice that music is playing, much less display preferences. Maybe I just don't play the stuff they like. Clearly this dude has figured out the secret.

Between compulsively sharing music with everyone I know, basking in live concert vibes, and trying to find my pets' jams, clearly I like to share music with anyone and everyone. So has there been a time when I thought to protect someone from certain music? I can't think of one, other than protecting myself from it sometimes. I protect myself in a couple different ways. I try and insulate myself a little bit from some of the radio pop tunes, mainly because I am afraid that they will dumb down my brain and make me satisfied with junk food music instead of the well-spiced and long-simmered goodness that music can be. This may seem like a silly fear, but I think that it's rational because it is exactly what happens in our society. I'm part of our society, so I have to try my best and be mindful of falling prey to some of its shortcomings. The other way that I protect myself a little is that if I'm hearing a lot of sexist, homophobic, or otherwise derogatory talk, I'm likely going to switch the song. I'm trying to help bring us up, I don't have time to be celebrating and bobbing my head to the mentalities that are bringing us down.

When it comes to other people, they can listen to what they want. I don't have a lot of kids in my life but if I did, I think I'd remember how I was about music when I was a kid. I wouldn't forbid them from listening to anything; I would simply try to introduce them to more than the status quo and also to challenge various themes in the music. Music is one more opportunity for learning and critical thinking. This is the main funtuon of art. It doesn't always have to be easy to swallow.

On the other hand, my own parents tried to shield me from "corrupting" music quite a lot growing up. It isn't hard to see why now - pop is highly sexualized and I was listening to this stuff as early as first grade. A lot of parents are going to get a little skeezed about their first-born, only daughter at the ripe old age of 8 singing Genie in a Bottle. However, it only made me want to delve into it deeper. It isn't really possible to shield people from things if they are determined to have access to them and they attend public schools.

I don't have a favorite music genre and it's really hard to narrow it down to 5 favorite artists. It is an eclectic mix so I will just say that right now, the first 5 that come to mind are Autechre, Amon Tobin, Gladys Knight, Television, The Clash, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Oddisee,...oh that's more than 5. It's really hard to choose.

If LBCC launched a student-led radio station I think that would be awesome. Unlike regular radio, usually the students who would be most interested are those who actually love sharing good music. I don't know if I'd listen to the radio or not, but giving them opportunity to create something which might end up being really good is important for any student's development. It does seem feasible to me because other community colleges have radio stations and LBCC has other small clubs, such as chess, horticulture, etc.

I think that in order to build a loyal niche audience, the station should be a mix of music and information. I'm thinking like KBOO style, but for Albany. I hear so so so often in Albany people just talk about how idiotic everyone in Portland is. I tend not to agree and in fact am super excited that I'll be moving to Portland and starting at PSU next month, but I'm curious - what do people in Albany want to hear about? Maybe a lot of them want it a bit less political than KBOO, but still relevant. Like can we talk about what's going on here as far as agriculture, local businesses, local artists, local scientists (especially student scientists), local drives (such as one last year to save a little boy of a bone marrow disease - you can learn all about the easy process of becoing a bone marrow donor here and even sign up here using my personal link and feel free to comment or e-mail me for more information at anastasia.hanna.7789@mail.linnbenton.edu)...I think all these sorts of things would be rad! And if the station does want to get political, there is plenty of socioeconomic stratification, school funding disparity, and local politics in our area to go around. Maybe a focus could be on really presenting factual, non-biased news. I know this would be a major challenge for most students, but isn't it exactly what we need right now? We don't just need "all sides." Sure, we need different perspecties, but at the core of the issue, we just need the truth. Can we, as college students, find and present that truth? Student radio could be at least great practice in investgative journalism for the students who participate and at best actually very impactful to the student body. Also, local Albany bands or music which Albany people are more interested in would be played. For instance, I pride myself on listening to almost every genre of music, but I really listen to zero country music. I challenge you, Albany: show me that country sweet spot that I haven't found yet.

Funding for a new endeavor might be tricky. Considering that even the LBCC Biology department seems perplexingly underfunded, a radio station is not likely to take priority (anyone take Bio 101 where we blew bubbles as our "lab" on survivorship curves? Get real, LB. Pull yourself together.) However, there are a few areas on campus that HAVE designated funding already in order to give to related causes. For example, I put on a presentation through the DAC (Diversity Achievement Center) and they paid for refreshments to be provided. Perhaps if the radio station could demsonstrate how it would encourage and celebrate campus diversity, the DAC could take on some of that funding. However, you'd probably have to search some additional avenues as well. Student DJs could host events which raise money for the radio station. It could also be part of the communications department as either part of curriculum (which, of course, our classes are paid) or as CWE, which is additional credits.

a song about the music industry

Overall, I think an LBCC radio station could be really fun. If we have a newspaper, why not a radio? Why not be the catalyst at starting a more vibrant music and social scene in Albany so that people don't feel like they have to go to other cities to go do things?