DJ Fifi La Roux Interview
I have been a DJ on KSPC since 1999. I started when I was in college and just never left. My first radio show was an industrial music show called “Things That Go Stomp In The Night.” I also did a hardcore punk show called “Insomnia!” every Saturday at 2am, a folk and Americana show called “Country Music for a Lazy Afternoon,” and a completely freeform show called “Fugue State” where I would pick a new theme every week, everything from experimental music to post-rock to spoken word to riot grrrl to twee pop, whatever, and pretend I had amnesia and couldn’t remember who I was or what the show was the week before. That was fun! In 2013, after a few French-themed episodes of “Fugue State” went particularly well, I started doing “Le Show” full time, which is my French/Francophone music show. I play French and Francophone music from all eras and all genres, from all French-speaking countries, every Saturday.It’s amazing that after eight years of doing a weekly French music show, I still haven’t run out of new music to play! There’s always something new to discover, and I love that. In 2020, right as the pandemic started, the station needed more DJs who were able to record their shows at home, so I started doing a second show called “Atrocity Exhibition,” which is all goth/post-punk/industrial music – the music of my youth. I’ve loved getting back into those genres as well.
My advice for radio DJs is to focus on educating your listeners about the music you play, and learn to love the sound of your own voice! These days, with Spotify and Youtube and everything, anyone can listen to a playlist or pull up any song they want to hear. What makes radio special is the DJ curating the selection and teaching you about what you’re listening to. Find something interesting about the music you’re playing and tell a story! Your listeners will thank you.