E L B U DO L E R R BA
A WKNC Publication
C I S U M e h t HOW s d n e r a e h you r i a e h t n up o
Written by Jules Conlon WKNC Daytime Music Director So, you’ve found yourself tuned in to WKNC, either by turning the dial on your car radio to 88.1 FM HD-1, listening to the online stream or perhaps by visiting Cup A Joe, an establishment which loyally plays our station. Maybe you’ve wondered how the songs you’re hearing ended up on the radio. Is it magic? Are they delivered to our FM frequency by stork? Quite the opposite; a lot of care and curation goes into the selection of each song. First off, there’s two main sources of material: the DJs and the music directors. We have a large staff of wonderful NC State students who DJ on air weekly (after an extensive training period). For the most part, they bring their own music and can play anything within reason and within their genre, with a few required tracks per hour. Individual DJs have varied tastes, which keeps WKNC interesting and unique. But what happens when no one’s on air? WKNC is a 24/7/365 radio station, so there’s always music happening even when no one’s in the studio. That’s where the music directors come in. I’m the daytime music director, so it’s my job to build the indie rock portion of the library. We’ve got tens of thousands
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WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit has moved around a bit in its 15 years, but has hosted at least one night at Kings since Double Barrel Benefit 13 in 2016, which featured Museum Mouth along with Naked Naps, Schooner and Des Ark. Photos by Katelyn Auger.
A Venue fit for a king Written by Jamie Halla WKNC General Manager Along a popular downtown Raleigh street, Martin, there is a small colorful door with a crown upon it. Once inside this door, the entrant has two options, upstairs and down. Up the stairs will lead one to Kings Raleigh, arguably one of the premier venues in the area. Once up the stairs, there is another door, typically with someone standing guard ready to mark those underage and check tickets. Now that the ticket is scanned, you can enter the last door into a foyer that is often occupied by the band of the evening’s merchandise for audience purchase. Then, it is time to step foot into the main room, a surprisingly large, rectangular shaped room featuring yellow walls fit for royalty. It’s not too hot in this room and it’s not too cold. The temperature stays somewhere in the middle, a rarity for most live music venues.
of songs in our system dating back over a decade, and it’s constantly being updated. When I come in to work, the first thing I do is open my mail; radio promotion companies, record labels and independent musicians are always sending us CDs. This, along with the occasional digital submission or Bandcamp search, is the main way I discover new music to add to our rotation. My assistants or I will listen to the albums that are sent in and decide if they’re WKNC quality. If so, we’ll pick three or four tracks per album and digitize them into our automation system. The operations manager schedules songs in current rotation to be played. If no one is in the studio to override the schedule, the songs end up on the airwaves. If you want an interactive part in our song selection, you can call in and request a song if you’d like to hear one of your personal favorites (but please make sure there are no FCC violations in it, or it won’t get played for the sake of avoiding massive fines). Or, if you’re a student at NC State, we’d love for you to attend one of our DJ interest meetings, held at the beginning of each fall, spring and summer semester.
The mumbled conversations of the many eager music fans enter the ears as they await the entertainment of the night. In the corner, there are two Muppets, Statler and Waldorf, playing guardian angel over the venue. There is a fully stocked bar, featuring friendly bartenders ready to serve the audience a vice or two, or just a glass of water for when the crowd gets a bit rowdy. Last but not least, a stage stands about knee high to create a truly one of a kind, intimate atmosphere unrivaled by most Raleigh venues that feature barricades or high stages. This venue brings in a diverse line-up night in and night out. On one night, some of the largest up-and-coming indie bands will take the stage. The next night, there will be a screening of the weirdo-cult film, “The Room,” and then you might find some earnest hip-hop artists taking the stage. A very popular dog show has been said to take place on this stage (hopefully the fine staff at Kings didn’t have too much to clean up the next day) and from time to time, they will let the audience take the stage for a night of karaoke. No one night will be the same at this Raleigh mainstay as it transcends the normal trappings of a music venue to curate one of the most unique and engaging spaces in the greater Raleigh area. WKNC couldn’t be happier to host both nights of Double Barrel Benefit at Kings for the second year in a row, back-to-back Feb. 2 and 3. We can’t begin to thank Kings enough for their continued support.
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--Meet the artist DIASPOURA
The Future K of Nowhere
Diaspoura is a chill, dream pop, electronic artist who recently moved to the Triangle. Her first album, “Demonstrations,” was released in June 2016. “Demonstrations” features somber lyrics with a healing sound that reflects Diaspoura’s emotions regarding her experiences in today’s world. As Diaspoura describes it, the album was meant to describe her experiences “unapologetically and uninterrupted.”
Last year WKNC brought Cowboy back from the gr they’ll be resurrecting ye local favorite for Double Benefit 15. Hailing from D local legends The Future Nowhere developed quit ing prior to their 2012 hia
Since 2016 she has released a transformative single titled “GTF,” which is one of my favorite of her songs. The lyrics are a very harsh political statement, but the overall sound is very chill. The juxtaposition of the lyrics and the sound is unique and makes the song a very strong and powerful piece. Some other favorites of mine include “Stay,” “What They Said” and “Consume/Resume.”
FKON’s self-titled 2009 a bass and lots of pretty vo
Needless to say, I am extremely excited to see Diaspoura at DBB night one and can’t wait for her set.
The songs are ironically h the band a listen I would the world of North Carol through the records; we’ break through to quick t
Written by Annelise Thorn WKNC Operations Manager
THE MUSLIMS In 2017, the world at large needs the Muslims. This is a band that effortlessly combines catchy, upbeat surf punk with some of the most biting and truthful lyrics around about being alive under a president that doesn’t really care about half of America.
DRUGCHARGE
One thing that really sta break, guilt and longing. cannot wait to finally exp
Written by Mari WKNC Local Musi
Despite the harsh rea lyrics, the fast-paced b of their songs offer th energetic and fun set to second night of DBB 15.
I was introduced to Drugcharge via The Bunker, a Raleigh house venue which hosts shows by touring and local punk and hardcore bands. The first time I saw them was when they opened for Institute this summer, which was a wild show. They brought intense energy and an undeniable stage presence and turned me into a fan instantly. Their self-titled demo is on local hardcore label Sorry State Records.
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Written by Jules Conlon WKNC Daytime Music Director
PIE FA
WELL$
ts--
North Carolina isn’t exactly the most profound state when it comes to hip-hop. On a large scale, we have J. Cole and to some fame, Petey Pablo. Yet, as a state, we’ve been making huge strides in recent years with Rapsody and another leader of the pack is Charlotte-based artist Well$. Through a string of releases, he has quickly risen through the ranks of North Carolina’s rap game with his punchy, hard-hitting songs that leave everything on the table. Lyrically, he doesn’t take his foot off the gas pedal, supplying the listener with bars that weave in out of the beat, while packing a strong message. Be sure to catch Well$ headlining night one of Double Barrel Benefit 15.
e Kings re
ught Astro the grave and ng yet another Written by Jamie Halla uble Barrel WKNC General Manager rom Durham, uture Kings of d quite a follow12 hiatus. Fans who still blast and sing along to their catchy tunes will have the opportunity to re-live their show going glory days.
009 album really set the stage for the band. The album features a range of instruments including trombone, trumpet, acoustic guitar, drums, tty vocal harmonies.
cally happy sounding for their content and the album could essentially be described as emo spirited folk rock. For those who have never given would recommend starting with “Like a Staring Contest” which turned me on to their music as a college freshman just starting to delve into Carolina music. The song starts out a slowly strummed proclamation of a doomed relationship as singer Shayne Miel croons “I’ve been going s; we’re not getting any better” and picks up into a quick head-bobbing narration as loud catchy drums chime in and female vocal harmonies ick twangy acoustic guitar melodies.
y stands out about this band is Miel’s songwriting abilities. The lyrics are full of metaphors and imagery making light of issues such as heartging. Every song has a manic virtue to its depressive content which could be comparable to the iconic songwriting of Conor Oberst. I personally ly experience the band my long-time Triangle living friends are still raving about.
RGB
Mariam Marand Music Director
h realities of their ced breakneck pace er the audience an et to dance away the B 15.
FACE GIRLS
RGB crafts a sonic soundscape that combines unique samples with naturalistic sounds to create And yes, they really are Muslim. one of the more calming listens in the Triangle area. Occasionally, ethereal vocals will swoop in Written by Jamie Halla and take one’s breath away with a chilling effect. Other times, RGB WKNC General Manager will seek out the help of local rappers to provide a hot verse or two over his intricately created beats. Then there are the spoken word vocal samples that add just another layer to this producer’s already complex production.
Written by Jamie Halla, WKNC General Manager Pie Face Girls is a Raleigh-native three piece of politically charged punk. Their songs take a direct hit at social justice issues faced both in North Carolina and the larger community. Bringing together the queer and feminist experiences, Pie Face Girls is a powerhouse in building a community for marginalized identities and individuals through the Raleigh DIY scene.
LP, “Formative Years,” was released in March 2017 with to-the-point titles such as “Dude Yr Girlfriend Sux” and “F*ck You I’m Pretty.”
All self-taught, during their earliest shows the band loved to use stage props to add more to the performance as they continued to master their craft. Their first
Written by Cas Saroza WKNC Program Director
WKNC is excited to present Pie Face Girls at Double Barrel Benefit 15!
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Q&A with General Manager Jamie Halla Q: What is your favorite part of being WKNC general manager? A: Being WKNC general manager has its many ups and downs. Some of the worst parts are lying awake at night thinking of all that things that need to be done, shows that have to be sold out for the radio station’s livelihood, bands that have to be booked to sell out said shows, ya know, just general run of the mill things. However, those same things that will keep me awake at night also create the most rewarding and benefitting aspects of WKNC. There really is a special feeling when you’re one of the driving forces behind event planning and see it all come to fruition, especially when it is successful and the money we needed to raise was raised, such as this past year’s Radio Ride. I couldn’t have done it without my staff, helping find clues and getting prizes and sponsorships, Trophy Brewing for letting us host the event at their great brewery and location in general, the bands who played and lastly the riders who took it upon themselves to ride our little bike scavenger hunt. Hopefully, Double Barrel Benefit goes as smoothly as Radio Ride and my lost sleep will have been worth it. On a smaller scale, just getting to train and teach a group of new DJs has been a lot of fun, especially when I see them outside of the radio setting. One
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of my bigger goals as WKNC general manager was to make WKNC more than just the studio and station setting. I think I have accomplished that to a certain extent. I’ll say my most favorite thing is clearing space in my email drive because Google only gave us 15 GB and no past GM ever deleted any emails, apparently. Q: What does Double Barrel Benefit mean to WKNC? A: Double Barrel Benefit means just about everything to WKNC. As a radio station, we don’t get a lot of opportunities to engage with the community, aside from providing the community with music and our bright and evanescent on-air personalities. Double Barrel Benefit gives us on multiple levels a way to engage with the community. First, it offers us a way to showcase some of our favorite local talents to our wide and hopefully ever-growing listening base. This alone makes Double Barrel benefit special. Second, we provide the community with a hopefully fun night with those great local musicians, which can just show them how cool the local music world can be. Third, as a benefit concert, this event allows us to raise funds for ourselves to continue on as a radio station. We could do a boring, ol’ phone drive
Writ WKNC
where we just DJ for 24 hours and peo possibly call in to donate to us, or we co a rather big party for ourselves and the munity with a great night of music. No on phone drives, but doesn’t the latter o great big party to raise money sound a lo Q: What is your philosophy behind Double Barrel? A: When it came down to booking Do rel Benefit, I knew I wanted to continue er tradition that has one night featurin hip-hop/electronic sound and the sec featuring more guitar-based music. I b is one of the best developments WKNC recent years as it truly showcases our w of music programming that often was in years prior when we just showcased tar-based nights. With that, I knew I wanted to get a hi ist headliner just for the energy they brin other night, I did struggle, but I knew I bring back a band from the hiatus grave lo and behold, it happened with The Fu of Nowhere, one of the first bands I eve WKNC. The concept of bringing back a b the “dead,” so to speak, just seemed li move to bridge our age range of liste they’re just a really great band.
Meet the artists (Continued)
-DBB Magazine Page Layout and Design by Nick Weaver WKNC Public Affairs Co-Director
OOSELORD MAGNUS
a scene where even the self-proclaimed weirdos nd themselves blending in with their peers, it has ecome harder and harder to truly be different and ean it. While those who fall short can point to a ck of pure talent, or that ever-so-allusive “it” facor, Jooselord Magnus boasts a plethora of both.
n eccentric emcee who originally hails from Harlem, New York, ooselord has developed notoriety through a touring schedule in orth Carolina that would translate in the “real world” to a 60-hour ork week. This momentum has been directly in support of his high-anticipated upcoming debut album, “S.K.U.L.L.,” slated for a Februry 2018 release.
is ever growing fan-base, labeled the Gallon Gang Pirates, contribte to the Jooselord Magnus experience, and the man himself will be ringing this to WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit 15 on Feb. 2, in a perrmance that Raleigh hip-hop will not want to miss.
ritten by John Wilson KNC Underground Music Director
d people might we could throw d the local comc. Not to knock atter option of a nd a lot better? behind booking
ing Double Barntinue the newaturing a more e second night c. I believe this WKNC has had in our wide variety n wasn’t shown wcased two gui-
et a hip-hop artey bring. For the new I wanted to graveyard, and he Future Kings I ever heard on ck a band from med like a great f listeners, and
Beyond that, booking Double Barrel doesn’t really have too much rhyme or reason behind it. It’s basically just asking “Who do I like and want to see play?” and that’s what happened. I knew I wanted a lineup to feature something a bit heavy since I like heavy music, so I booked Drugcharge. Double Barrel Benefit really doesn’t have much oversight besides the general manager and WKNC’s say, which continues to make it something special. Q: How long does it take to plan? A: It’s taken probably three months to truly flesh out and plan, starting somewhere in October and getting a lot done in November and finalizing things in December. Q: How does booking Double Barrel differ from Fridays on the Lawn or other concerts WKNC presents? A: The scale and magnitude are just a bit different. There’s more money for DBB, so we can reach out to bigger artists. There’s more time needed for DBB, including more paperwork. A lot of times with Fridays on the Lawn, we’re looking at up-and-coming, smaller artists in the scene, whereas with DBB we want some of the biggest local artists to headline while the rest of the line-up will also feature some of the great up-and-coming local talents. The mindset is still similar enough – booking a great time for the community.
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WKNC PRESENTS
DOUBLE BARREL
BENEFIT 15
F E B R U A R Y 2 & 3 KINGS @ 1 4 W MARTIN ST, RALEIGH FRIDAY, FEB. 2
WJOOSELELORDL$ MAGN
US, DIASPOURA, RGB
SATURDAY, FEB. 3
TH E FU TU RE KI NG S OF NO W HE RE PIE FACE GIR LS, THE MUSLIMS, DRUGCHARGE