What’s your name and your DJ name?
Katie Reed, KT.
What’s the name of your show?
Fresh From the Factory, Tuesdays, 5:00 to 6:00 pm
Describe your show. What’s its format?
My show is an exploration of my personal record collection. It’s totally freeform, a soundtrack for the moment. It’s exactly what I want to hear at that moment. 500+ LP and 500+ CD collections have all been hand-sourced secondhand or purchased from live performers. I’m lucky to share the collection with someone who has similar musical appreciation. Over half our music came to be through Captain Schmetterling, who collected for a long time. I’ve been collecting earnestly for about four years, although I’ve always purchased music from touring musicians whenever I could afford it.
My love of vinyl started with my parents’ record collection, which had a small selection of music from the early ‘70s, primarily folk, women wailers and my mom’s foray into country in the early ‘80s. We didn’t have a TV until I was a teenager so, instead of a TV screen, what I looked at were album covers and hopefully the lyrics.
What drew you to participate in KMRD?
Absolutely it was the magical and driven Stella Linder Byrne, who so impressed me with her vision to create a community station; the time, the energy and the financial burden of getting the station to fruition are what truly impressed me. I had the opportunity to help in the early days of the station and I was really nervous about having a show of my own. An hour-long broadcast that I created was really intimidating—now I can’t imagine not having an opportunity to send music flying through the air!
What’s the appeal of doing a radio show? How does it fit into the rest of your life (job, creative passions, family)?
I’ve always had difficulty making an on-going commitment and so to have a weekly obligation has helped put a lot of structure into my life. I call my show Fresh From the Factory because of something my dad would say to me every day when I was off to work: “Off to the chocolate factory?” To have the space and a place to do something that is just for me, that I’m doing how I want as well as hopefully being of service to others, is a welcome break from factory life.
What difference has KMRD made in your life?
Being able to justify shopping and acquiring. I also love getting to the public library regularly and it makes it really easy to take chances on music I’ve never heard before because all those dollars at the thrift store really add up.
What are your hopes for your show / for the station?
My hope for my show is that I will be continually inspired by music and the voices, the honesty and creativity of the people who make it. I feel KMRD is by far the most positive addition in a long time to this community that I’ve chosen for myself. My most heartfelt wish is that it continues to grow and provide an outlet for all of the very diverse beings in the land.
What difference has being a DJ made in your life?
I think of the time I spend putting my show together as a way to gauge a place in my emotional self. I’ve tried getting my show together well in advance of my time slot and quickly realized the only truly authentic show that represents my soundtrack of the moment needs to happen just before I go on the air. I spend at least two hours prior to Fresh From the Factory with our music collection, testing and often surprising myself with which songs represent what I’m feeling at the moment. I’m always amazed at the threads music provides, starting from me and connecting to the whole world. I feel as if part of my psyche has a chance to connect outside of myself, whether anyone’s listening or not. Trees can pick up radio waves too, can’t they?