CKUWho: Adult Kindergarten with Jeffrey Peeling

always picture what the audience will be doing while I’m playing so that pushes a lot of it, a lot of what I write. If there was a way that I didn’t ever have to go into a studio I would do it, but it doesn’t make any sense to not record your shit because people would want to listen to it other than just seeing you live. That is usually the goal, to get on stage and play. It’s not like I hate recording, but that’s the second thing.

S: What is one of your best or worst live show experiences?

C: I think my favourite show to date would be the JayWood album release show we just played a couple weeks ago, that was a really fun show. A lot of people came out. The audience almost made us cry on stage. JayWood has a song called “Thank You,” and it was one of the last songs we played. When we started the song all of a sudden all these pieces of paper went up in the audience and they all said “thank you.” It was very heartfelt, and it was very moving. And the worst show experience… I don’t know. There’s never really a show you hate, I love being on stage, I love playing. Julien’s Daughter had kind of a weird show a few months ago, it was at the Handsome Daughter. It was our first show back after a while, and we actually practiced a lot for it too, so I don’t know why it went so rough. We were forgetting parts. I’ve learned now that we’re harder on ourselves than anyone else is, and something it also taught me is, whatever’s happening on stage, you should never call yourself out. I kind of did that while we were on stage there, which I really regret, but again it’s a learning experience. Everyone was really cool about it, everyone was really sweet. It was almost like they didn’t notice anything, which I realize now that they didn’t. It’s still a show, they’re still having fun.

S: What is it about the Winnipeg music scene that got you into performing and trying to do it professionally?

C: I love the scene. That might be because I haven’t really experienced any other music scene, but I love the Winnipeg music scene and I feel like I’ve gotten so many opportunities. I feel like a lot of that goes back to making connections. That’s something I’m pretty good at, is connecting with people. That’s definitely helped me to get to where I am now. Just be nice to people and always be open, just whatever level you’re at be fucking cool, be a nice person and that’ll get you far.

CKUWho?

7:30 - 9 p.m. Thursdays Adult Kindergarten with Jeffrey Peeling

JAKOB SHEPPARD

On the evening of Oct. 25, I was able to sit down with Jeffrey Peeling of Adult Kindergarten and asked him a few questions about his “noisy, psychedelic, dreamy, and spacey mind journey that explores D.I.Y. music from genres as diverse as electronica to noise rock.”

The first thing I had to know was the story behind the name. It is what initially drove me to want to have a conversation with him in the first place. He explained that it comes from a song by Ken Nordine of the same name recorded in 1960. The concept of the track is getting a bunch of nonmusicians together to play household objects such as a vacuum cleaner or a rake. He explained Ken’s philosophy: “There’s not enough time in this lifetime to be an expert in everything, so just do it.” He told me that “music isn’t about technique. It’s about expressionism,” which is his philosophy when running the show. This is something I can get behind tremendously. Adult Kindergarten broadcasts mainly underground punk and sometimes electronic music. I next asked him why he decides to play the music that he does. “There’s little planning involved,” he said. “I just want to have the craziest radio show possible.” He told me that he used to listen to a lot of latenight, underground radio, and that was his biggest inspiration for the sound of his own show.

“I want to appeal to those kids who are under their blankets late at night, listening to something crazy on the radio,” said Jeffrey. I then asked him how he accessed the music he played “98% of the music I play is physical media. I’m a record collector.”

He explained that he generally prefers physical media over digital because it’s more authentic. He told me that he has a rule where he will not play any hit songs, only underground, underappreciated artists. It quickly became apparent that Jeffrey and his station are all about authenticity and experimentation. One thing I had to know before ending this discussion was any tips that he may have for an upand-coming broadcaster. “One of the exciting things about campus radio is it’s not professional; it’s something that anyone in the community can do,” said Jeffrey. This philosophy is extremely welcoming, especially in a culture that can sometimes be exclusionary and elitist in nature.

“I’ve met new volunteers who just agonize over every audio mistake they make on air, but I think that’s part of the atmosphere and part of the joy of campus radio,” said Jeffrey. His point was that perfection is impossible and should not be strived for. “It’s just real people, and they’re just playing music that they love.” One of the last questions I asked him before we went our separate ways was if he had any regrets when it came to the show. He went on to explain that besides a few recording issues or maybe sometimes when he was hemming and hawing on air earlier in his career that he didn’t.

“There’s no difference listening to this show than if you came to my apartment, sat down, and listened to records with me - it’s just a big record club that’s on air,” said Jeffrey. This was my main takeaway from Jeffery and Adult Kindergarten as a whole. A person’s technical ability or skill doesn’t really matter when it comes to music appreciation. What matters is their love and dedication to the hobby.