Meed Your Wizards: Randy Fox

A peek behind the curtain… Meet Randy Fox, WXNA Programming Director and host of Randy’s Record Shop, airing Mondays from 7-9 a.m. and Hipbilly Jamboree, airing Sundays from 1-3 p.m.

Born: Gary, Indiana but grew up in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky (Yes, just like the John Prine song)

Home: Nashville since 1986, am I considered a Nashvillian yet?

Drafted into WXNA: March 20, 2012, the first meeting of former WRVU DJs that would lead to WXNA going on the air more than four years later!

Spins:

  • Randy’s: Rock’n’roll from its birthin’ to now with whatever else strikes my fancy!
  • Hipbilly: Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Rockabilly, Bluegrass – Hipbilly Music!

How did you discover independent radio? Three-part answer: In high school I fell in love with midnight broadcasts of The Dr. Demento Show which was a syndicated show on commercial stations, but its origin was in the freeform underground radio days of Los Angeles’ KPPC-FM. The mix of genres and both new and ancient music, as long as it was weird, charged me up in a way no commercial radio had ever done.

When I started college at Western Kentucky University in 1981, Bowling Green was sadly lacking in any independent radio stations, but I was soon making frequent trips to Nashville, and I would lock my radio dial on WRVU 91 Rock as soon as I got in range of its signal. I continued listening when I moved to Nashville in 1986, eventually worming my way on the air in 1998 as a “community volunteer DJ.”

A year or so later, with the arrival of Internet access, I discovered WFMU-FM online and the idea of independent, freeform radio that was separate from a university came into full focus for me. So when WRVU died as a broadcast station in 2011, the path ahead was obvious!

Most played song:

  • Randy’s: Mekons – “Memphis, Egypt”
  • Hipbilly: Janis Martin – “Bang Bang”

Vinyl, CD or mp3? Vinyl with the occasional CD

Fave WXNA shows: As Programming Director I can’t choose just one — I love all the children in the family!

Pinch-me moment: Any time someone tells me about a song they heard on WXNA that blew their mind and led them to discovering music that they now love!

When I die:

Bury me deep
With a rock’n’roll record at my feet
Phonograph needle in my hand
Gonna rock my way
Right outta this land!

(Thank you, Ronnie Dawson & Lux Interior!)

About Me: One of my core beliefs is that our ability to dream big and hopeful dreams that fly in the face of all logic and reason, is the essence of humanity. When it comes to radio, I can’t say it any better than this quote from community radio pioneer Lorenzo Milam, “A radio station should not just be a hole in the universe for making money, or feeding an ego, or running the world; A radio station should be a live place for live people to sing and dance and talk: talk their talk and walk their walk and know that they (and the rest of us) are not finally and irrevocably dead.”

Meet Your Wizards: DJ Mello-D

A peek behind the curtain … Meet DJ Mello-D, host of Groovy Potential, airing Tuesdays from 5 – 7 p.m.

Born: Oxford, Mississippi

Home: Nashville for life! I currently live in Donelson — East-er Nashville!

Drafted into WXNA: From the get-go, having also been a DJ at WRVU with most of the founding board members.

Spins: Anything with a groove, from classic and indie rock and soul to jazz, country, global grooves and beyond.

How did you discover independent radio? My family moved to Nashville in 1981 while I was in high school. I found Vandy’s WRVU 91 Rock on the left side of the FM dial almost immediately, discovering R.E.M. and The Replacements at the beginning of their careers, along with so many great local artists and tons of bands I’d never heard before.

Most played song: Minnie Riperton’s “Baby, This Love I Have”

Vinyl, CD or mp3? Vinyl primarily, but also CD. I only play physical media on Groovy Potential.

Fave WXNA shows: Eargasm, Untune the Sky, Hipbilly Jamboree, Runout Numbers, Nashville Jumps, Hazy Ways, Gilded Splinters… there are so many! I love most of the programming on the X.

Pinch-me moment: Being asked to compile two volumes of Craft Recordings’ Jazz Dispensary series, based on my old radio show D-Funk. If you look in the liner notes for either volume of The Dank D-Funk Blend LPs, you’ll see a nice blurb promoting WXNA!

When I die: Roll me up and smoke me!

About Me: I’m a music lifer. I’ve been obsessed with music as far back as I can remember. I asked for records for Christmas when I was a kid. When I realized I didn’t have a natural gift for playing music as a young adult, I started working in record stores, finally graduating to co-owning one when I bought half of Grimey’s in 2003! I love that I can share my passion and my record collection with the listeners of WXNA.

Meet Your Wizards: DJ Michael Buhl

A peak behind the curtain! Meet Michael Buhl, host of The Squirelly Compass Mondays at 6am and The Scattershot on Wednesdays at 10am.

Born: Into a world with interesting aural gems scattered hither and yon.

Home: The Music City

Drafted into WXNA: 2016

Spins: Punk rock, post-punk, garage rock, psychedelic cumbia, Turkish psychedelic rock, Khmer rock, huasteca, Tuareg desert rock, rockabilly, R&B, and some other stuff.

How did you discover independent radio? When I was in middle school someone told me that Vanderbilt University had a radio station, and sometimes they played punk rock. My first regular independent radio gig was when I was in college in Tucson.

Most played song: Records indicate Rhoda Dakar’s version of “The Man Who Sold the World” is my most played song of 2023. Personally, I feel like I’ve played “Natalie Wood” by Veuve Scarron, “Muérete de Envidia” by Sgt. Papers, “I Can’t Feel” by Crocodelia, “Black Vanilla” by Julia, and “Old Town” by Say Sue Me quite a few times (and will play them again).

Vinyl, CD or mp3? Personally: vinyl || For the radio: mp3

Fave WXNA shows: Web of Sound, The Inconsiderate Mixtape, Randy’s Record Shop, Nashville Jumps, Loud Love Show

Pinch-me moment: Personally: backpacking in northwest China || For the radio: being contacted by Duncan Reid (formerly of The Boys), as well as members of bands from places as far away as France, Azerbaijan, Uganda, and Argentina and being thanked for airplay.

When I die: Because Gilbert Gottfried is not available, I want Emo Philips to deliver my eulogy.

About Me: Music is my drug of choice, and I’m constantly looking for a new musical thrill.

Meet Your Wizard: DJ Anne McCue

A peek behind the curtain…
Meet Anne McCue, local Nashville musician and host of Songs on the Wire, airing Tuesdays from 9am-10am CT!

Born: Sydney. Hint: I heard “A Hard Day’s Night” at the cinema but I wasn’t born yet.

Home: East!

Drafted into WXNA: About 6 years ago!

Spins: I have no rules and am not interested in time or fashion. I am constantly looking for music I haven’t heard before, but it doesn’t matter when it was recorded or where. So I end up playing music from all over the world, cinema soundtrack, string quartet, English, Icelandic, Chinese, African folk, psychedelic, jazz, soul, pop, you-name-it… 🙂

How did you discover independent radio? When I was a wee kid in Sydney a new radio station started called Double Jay. They played anything and everything including lots of imports from England, the States and Europe. Our minds were expanded. Then when I moved to Melbourne, I heard two amazing community stations – RRR and PBS. In Nashville, I always tuned in to WRVU first and now WXNA is my number one on the dial! It was what Nashville airwaves needed, so I am eternally grateful to all the folks who started XNA!

Most played song: This past year: I Talk To The Wind (King Crimson), Udhero Na (Anoushka Shankar & Aroob Aftab), I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun (Rotary Connection), Ping Pong (Stereolab), Long and Lonesome Road (Shocking Blue), I Put A Spell on You (Nina Simone) etc…

Vinyl, CD or mp3? If I’m doing the show live, I’ll play vinyl and CDs.

Fave WXNA shows: This is hard because there are so many great shows, so I’m just going to name some of the shows I happen to hear the most regularly – Reggae University, Scattershot, Indie Hangover, X-posure, Friday Afternoon Club, Nashville Jumps, Dear Jelly, Peter Rodman Goes Off, Ear To The Ground, Groovy Potential, Earthly Delights, Nashville Mixtapes… There are more!

Pinch-me moment: When I was given a show on WXNA – it was always my dream to have my own radio show.

When I die: I’d like one of those organic burials under a tree in Tennessee.

About Me: I am so honoured to be a part of the station and the Nashville community. I’m about to release my 8th album and I’m just thrilled that I’m still kickin’! Music is everything.

Hear music from Anne McCue & the Cubists music here!

Meet Your Wizards: DJ Karl

Wherein we pull back the curtain for a personal visit with one of the wonderful wizards of the X. In this case, the DJ we are featuring is Kari “Bunny” Ames aka DJ Karl!

Listen to Dizzy Spell, Saturdays from 11a-Noon

Born: Planet Claire in the Fortean System

Home: Bluebottom Garden, Nashville

Drafted into WXNA: April 25, 2017

Spins: Experimental / ethereal / existential

Fades: Disingenuousness

How did you discover independent radio? WRVU and Coast To Coast AM

Most played song:Be Free” by B.F. Trike – recorded at RCA studios in Nashville in 1971

Vinyl, CD or mp3? All of ‘em and cassettes to boot

Fave WXNA shows: Tapeworms / The Scatter Shot / Body to Body

Pinch-me moment: Getting married 🙂

When I die: Bury me in my garden and plant a tree in my chest cavity

Meet Your Wizards: DJ Erica

DJ Erica of Soul of the City, Thursdays 4-6pmBorn: Atlanta, GA
Home: Atlanta GA, always. I live in Nashville, TN
Drafted into WXNA: 2016
Spins: Right
Fades: Left

How did you discover independent radio? Out of curiosity, I started working at WUOG 90.5 at the University of Georgia from 1992-1994. I come from a musical family, so it actually made sense. Then I did commercial radio for a year in Jacksonville, FL from 1994-1995 but there was no creativity. Came back to Atlanta and worked at WRAS 88.5 at Georgia State University and WATB 90.5 in Decatur GA from 1997-2003, running a dance/electronic music show, a neo-soul/r&b show, and a community talk show during that time. That experience led me to be a rep for Sony Music in 2000-2001 where I got to meet up and coming bands. I also promoted dance/electronica events (aka RAVES!!!!) and DJs with my group The Beat Collaborative and also I DJed in Atlanta clubs. From 2007-2016, I ran a podcast called Mode.Radio, which featured dance/electronica music. It was through the connections I made in Atlanta that I got onto WXNA. I knew Nashville (and former WRVU DJ) Mindub and he suggested that I join the nuts at WXNA. However, I could not do a dance/electronica show because he was doing a similar show at the station. So I created “Soul of the City” based on my experience and my fav radio in Atlanta, “Soul of Jazz” on WCLK. Later, I revived “Mode.Radio” to help fill in the schedule during the COVID pandemic. “Bring Out Your Dead” was a result of a slightly inebriated Facebook post to the WXNA DJ group, where all kinds of DJs showed their secret membership as Merry Marauders. 😉

Most played song on WXNA: “LA” from Nashville artist Jamiah

Vinyl, CD or mp3? All formats for radio. CD’s and Mp3 for club DJing
Fave WXNA shows: https://www.wxnafm.org/shows/gilded-splinters/, Psych Out, The Corner, Reggae University, Beautiful Buzz and of course Soul of the City, Mode.Radio, and Bring Out Your Dead.

Pinch-me moment: Interviewing Bela Fleck because we had no DJs available to do it in 2000 in Atlanta. I was a secret fan and he was a super cool dude. Interviewing PJ Morton on WXNA in 2017. Getting invited to my first of 3 secret Prince shows because of my radio DJing in Atlanta in 2001.

When I die: I want to die with Georgia red clay under my feet and disco music playing at my funeral.

Meet Your Wizards: DJ Headwalker

Meet Your Wizards: DJ Headwalker of Spin Cycle, Wednesday nights from 11p-1a

MEET YOUR WIZARDS! A peek behind the curtain…

Meet DJ HEADWALKER, host of Spin Cycle from 11 pm to midnight on Wednesday evenings, followed by Indo-Burma from midnight to 1 am on Thursdays. He is also the owner of Guerilla Bizkits, located in Fatherland Shops in East Nashville.

Born: 12/27/93 til infinity — same day as my dad. cap gang
Home: East Nashville — filled with pet fur and tchotchkes
Drafted into WXNA: 2 years ago
Spins: Hardcore punk and jungle

How did you discover independent radio? In early middle school, there was a college radio station that I could snag from BGSU that played death metal every Thursday at like 4am. Some kid told me about it and I didn’t believe him, so I stayed up one night and sure enough, there it was. I tuned in religiously after that — it felt like my duty as a kid in the scene to tune in and support heavy music on the air.
Most played song: “Window Licker” — Aphex Twin

Vinyl, CD or mp3? Vinyl and mp3

Fave WXNA show: Reggae University

Pinch-me moment: Collaborating with my favorite record label, Triple B Records

When I die: feed me to the worms or press my ashes into a vinyl

Meet Your Wizards: DJ Nexus

DJ Nexus of Musical Mysticism (4-5pm on Wednesdays)
Meet DJ Nexus, host of Musical Mysticism from 4-5pm on Wednesday afternoons.

Born: 10-3-1981 in Oak Ridge, TN
Home: Lebanon and Grandview, TN
Drafted into WXNA: 2017
Spins: electronic, hip-hop, funk, soul, psych, rock, folk, blues, jazz, ambient, reggae, dub, afrobeat, disco
Fades: cross


How did you discover independent radio?
I did college radio at MTSU and discovered WXNA in the Nashville Scene

Most played song: I rarely play a song on the radio more than once. Live DJing it’s probably “Scientific Dancehall” by Lee “Scratch” Perry. Listening for pleasure lately it’s probably something by Adrianne Lenker or “Doin’ Time” by Lana Del Rey.

Vinyl, CD or mp3? Vinyl live, WAV and FLAC when prerecording
Fave WXNA shows: Web of Sound, Mode.Radio, Free Association, Beautiful Buzz, The Housequake Vinyl Hour, Walk It Off!
Pinch-me moment: Meeting Jess Williamson and telling her I play her songs on the radio.
When I die: Natural burial or let wild animals eat me

About Me:
I’m an avid reader of mostly nonfiction, particularly mysticism, philosophy, poetry, pop culture and environmental/social issues. I’ve been vegetarian since 2004. In January 2010, I sat in a tree on a windy mountain in West Virginia for 9 days with no extra heat source to get in the way of blasting next to a coal sludge impoundment on a mountaintop removal coal mine site.

Meet Your Wizards: DJ Ed

In this edition of Meet Your Wizards, we bring you DJ Ed, host of Eighties Schmeighties, Fridays from 10am-noon.

Born: Atlanta, Georgia
Home: Nashville, Tennessee
Drafted into WXNA: 2016
Spins: Left (always left)
Fades: Lefter

I think I discovered independent radio growing up in Atlanta listening to the college radio station from Georgia State, 88.5 I think. Then when I went to school in Mobile, Alabama I was shocked to find out there was a very tiny college radio station, all of 10 watts. (Shout out to WTOH!) It was such a small-wattage station they didn’t care whether or not we followed FCC rules. That’s something I had to learn when I became a DJ at WXNA. Hey, you’re not a real DJ unless you’ve been suspended at least once! I love being the selector on Eighties Schmeighties. It beats therapy!

Most played song:Clampdown” by The Clash

Vinyl, CD or mp3? All of the above. Whatever works. Love vinyl, but not a fetishist.

Fave WXNA shows: Free Association, Works Progress Radio Hour, Reggae University, and Punk Not Punks

Pinch-me moment: Interviewing some great artists such as Kosmo Vinyl and Vanessa Briscoe Hay.

When I die: Enjoy Every Sandwich…

Meet Your Wizards: Laura Powers

Wherein we pull back the curtain for a personal visit with one of the wonderful wizards of the X. In this case, the DJ keeping us on Needles + Pins weekly — Laura Powers.

Born: Knoxville, Tennessee
Home: Nashville, Tennessee
Drafted into WXNA: 2014
Spins: Right
Fades: Right

I fell in love with independent radio back in high school when I discovered WUTK, the University of Tennessee’s student-run radio station. Doing Needles+Pins each week makes me feel like that 13-year-old kid hearing the B-52’s for the first time. In an increasingly algorithmic world, I love that WXNA is a place where you can still be surprised and excited by music, whether it’s brand new or just new to you.

Most played song:Sonic Reducer” by Dead Boys

Vinyl, CD or mp3? All of the above. Love LPs but definitely not a format snob.

Fave WXNA shows: Runout Numbers, Bedazzled Paradigm Jukebox, Punk Not Punks

Pinch-me moment: Throwing an on-air dance party with Vanessa from Pylon

When I die: Sprinkle my ashes in the New Arrivals section at Wax’n’Facts in Atlanta