Mariella Negro

How did you first hear about WLFR? How long have you been involved there and when did you become music director?

I transferred to Stockton University after moving away from Puerto Rico back in 2018. I majored in Communication Studies because my dream was to be on the radio. During my first semester, I found out about WLFR and how they were actively looking for student DJs. Once I graduated in 2020, I still volunteered for the station until 2024 when I was then offered the position of music director and community manager.

Tell us about the duties of your job there and what part of it you love the most and what you find the most challenging.

Being exposed to so much music that I otherwise wouldn’t have found is such a unique experience. Every week, I always look forward to getting our mail since we still accept physical CD and vinyl submissions. It’s like Christmas every week! The challenging part is staying on top of all the emails from the promoters. It’s important to set time aside to stay connected with them. Still, it’s been so wonderful getting to know them and check out all the music they send.

What is the process for reviewing new music and what sort of commitment does the station have to exposing your listeners to new releases?

During the academic breaks, I would sit in our production studio and check out the physical CDs that were sent to us from all over the country. I’d label them by genre, which songs were the favorites, and which needed to be marked as explicit. For our digital submissions, I’d put together monthly compilation CDs. A lot of the DJs here prefer to do things old-school with physical media. We have a shelf in our CD library called “the new rack” where new and old DJs alike grab albums and play them for the listeners every day. I’ve certainly gained many favorites that way.

Who is an artist or band that you’ve discovered in the past year or so that has become one of your favorites? What is it about their music you love?

The Altons for sure! I got to see them perform live shortly after their newest release “Heartache In Room 14”. I had already been a listener for a while but when the album arrived at WLFR, it was such a pleasant surprise. Their music is like a warm cup of tea on a crisp morning, a sunset drive down mainstreet or down the shore, and an evening of slowdancing with someone you love in the kitchen. If you’re someone who enjoys their sound, I highly suggest seeing them live if the opportunity presents itself.

Do you have an all-time favorite artist or album you never get tired of listening to?

That’s a really hard question. Rather than a single album, there’s a few artists that I genuinely can’t get enough of. Coldplay, Los Wálters (a Puerto Rican indie/synth band), Bird and Byron, Vacations, Goth Babe, Thee Sacred Souls, The Altons, Thee Sinseers, Monophonics, Arctic Monkeys, Foster The People..the list goes on.

What upcoming 2025 release(s) are you most anticipating the release of?

Bird and Byron are releasing a new album “Steadyrock Dreamstate” on November 14th, (so close to my birthday! 11/11). I hope it means that they’ll go on a solo tour very soon. I’d love to see them perform live someday.

Who is an artist or band totally outside the realm of the music you play on WLFR that holds a special place in your heart?

Honestly, I get a lot of strange stares when I say that Coldplay is my favorite band. I’ve been a fan of theirs for as long as I can remember. Their music got me through some very tough times in my life. I’ve seen them perform live in concert three times so far, and I’m hoping for many more.

If you had the power to instantly change one thing going on in the world at the moment, what would it be?

The deep division and hatred that seems to be spreading around the world. When people realize that this life we’re given is so short and precious, it hopefully would allow them to see that we shouldn’t waste time hurting one another. The world we live in is such a beautiful and special place and it certainly is a gift to wake up every day and experience it.

What event in your life would you say has shaped you the most as a person?

I think there’s quite a few “canon” events that have really made an impact on who I am. I was born in New Jersey, but moved to Puerto Rico when I turned 7. Lived there for about 14 years until 2014 when hurricane Maria tore through the island. My mom had no electricity for 9 months after the storm. In December of that year, I made the decision to come back to New Jersey to continue my education. Shortly after in 2019, I was offered a job as a “professional emcee”. Certainly didn’t sound like a career path that I would ever consider, but it definitely changed my life for the better. Then, fast forward to 2024, when I became music director and community manager at WLFR, it opened so many opportunities to connect with our community in ways I could only dream of. Today, I have the blessing of being able to both serve at Lake Fred Radio and continuing my career as a professional emcee.

If you could choose, what time period in the past would you most want to travel back to visit and why?

If I could, I would love to experience the United States during the 1930’s-40’s, when big band jazz was playing at every club. I would give anything to be taken out on the dance floor and swing around all night.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in Atlantic City that you’d recommend people try if they are ever there?

That’s a tough one! Atlantic City is known for having so many unique culinary experiences. The first thing that comes to mind is Angeloni’s Club Madrid. It really is a blast to the past with their vintage atmosphere, savory yet unique dishes and cocktails. Another place I really love is Amada, which can be found at Ocean Resort & Casino. It’s a great place to share big plates with friends in a very inviting ambiance.

What in your life brings you the most joy?

Working with the students at Stockton and entertaining the folks at the various casinos in Atlantic City.

Lightning Round:

Dog or Cat? Cat! But I love seeing dogs out in the wild.
Morning Person or Night Owl? Night Owl
City or Country? Depends on the mood. City for career, country for getting away.
Beach or Mountains? Why not both?
Watch TV or Read A Book? A good book!
Sunny or Rainy? Sunny
Restaurant or Home Cooking? Home cooking
Pants or Shorts? Pants
Warm or Cold drinks? Warm

Do you have any current favorite shows you’re enjoying/binging? How about a movie (new or old) that you’ve watched recently that you loved?

My favorite movie of all time is “Big Fish” by Tim Burton. Second favorite, The Grand Budapest Hotel. In terms of shows, I’ve really come to enjoy Peaky Blinders.

Finally, If you could have a lifetime supply of anything, what would it be?

Money 🙂