Alivia Stonier

How did you first hear about WXCI? How long have you been involved there and when did you become MD?

I first heard about WXCI from the university Club Carnival that was hosted in the spring a few years back. The previous E-board were playing music across the whole courtyard and passing out t-shirts. I started out as a general member going to a few meetings in 2021 and later went on to become the News Director. Through holding that position I really discovered how much I would love to be the Music Director and help to curate the music that everyone hears on air between DJ’s. I switched positions in 2023 when our previous director graduated and the rest is history, I’ve been loving that position ever since.

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

As Music Director of WXCI I’m always on the hunt for new music that students are enjoying. I will typically check out Spotify and BandCamp for any releases from artists to keep on my radar but I also receive emails from promoters. The bulk of my job is communicating with the lovely promoters to select music that belongs in rotation which we organize from heavy, medium, and light. Each week I select about 20 to 30 songs that I think people will enjoy at the station. I then send out a voting form to hear from our listening community and host listening parties to get everyone tuning in at the station. From there I will chart with the NACC every Tuesday and keep up with emails for charting information. A couple of bonus things that I do as part of my position is a weekly charting show for the top 10 from Billboard, and I also host ticket giveaways through our Instagram.

I would say the aspect that I love the most about getting to do this job is the new music that I find and the way that it’s helped me connect to artists. I personally have an interest in music journalism and interviewing so I’ve been able to talk to some of my favorite artists that I’ve found through college radio. From artists like Katy Kirby to Briston Maroney it’s been an amazing experience to talk to these musicians and understand their creative process. I also really love the vinyl giveaways that’s a perk as someone who collects them.
On the flipside I would say the most challenging part is selecting the music itself and knowing which ones I want to pass on versus put into rotation each week. There’s so much music that we get from so many creative people!

What do you do to ensure the new music that is sent you by labels and promoters gets played by your DJs?

To ensure that the music we choose gets played by our DJs we actually follow a rotation clock that allows them to pick from heavy, medium, and light at certain points during their shows. Getting feedback from students about what they’re enjoying is also really important to make sure that they jive with what’s being played from labels and promoters. I also personally am always spinning these records and making sure that the songs I select are played on my respective shows.

What was your favorite album released in 2023?

So many good albums came out in 2023 but I would have to say my top album was “The Record” by boygenius.

Do you have a favorite artist or album you never get tired of listening to?

I’m convinced I will never get tired of listening to Phoebe Bridgers, Hozier, or Harry Styles. Especially Bridger’s album Punisher. It’s always one of my favorites from front to back.

Is there a 2024 release on the horizon that you are particularly excited about?

I would say that I’m most excited for The Last Dinner Party’s upcoming album Prelude to Ecstasy. The band has just absolutely blown up this past year and for good reason their music is so catchy and I can never get out of my head. Another album that I’m really excited for is Declan McKenna’s What Happened to the Beach? Which at the time of this interview being released I believe is already out but I saw him in concert this past year and it was the most unforgettable performance that I saw in 2023. The energy that McKenna brings to his music is just magical to see live and I can’t wait to see more music from him.

Who is an artist or band totally outside the realm of the music you play on WXCI that people might be surprised to know you love?

I feel like listeners of our station would be most surprised to know that I love listening to hip-hop and rap. Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator are a couple of my favorite artists within these genres.
If you had the power to instantly change one thing going on in the world at the moment, what would it be?
If I had the power to change one thing going on in the world right now it would be the ability to call a ceasefire in Gaza. The issues that have been going on in Israel and Palestine are absolutely heartbreaking to see and I hope that a resolution is reached soon.

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

An event that I would say shaped me the most in my life was actually my birth. I was born with a birth injury that caused Cerebral Palsy so I’m actually a full-time wheelchair user. Despite having a full-time physical disability I’ve been able to achieve a lot of my goals including the things that I have done for WXCI and I hope to continue pursuing these passions.

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

I definitely would want to travel back to the seventies or sixties and attend Woodstock. It just seems like such a fun, unforgettable time period when it comes to the music industry.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in town that you recommend people try?

My favorite restaurant near the university is called The Hungry Pot and they have the best Korean barbecue in town. I highly recommend it.

What in your life brings you the most joy?

I would say my friends/family bring me the most joy as well as the passions that I’ve been able to pursue through journalism.

Lightning Round:

Dog or Cat? Cat
Morning Person or Night Owl? Night Owl
City or Country? City
Beach or Mountains? Beach
Watch TV or Read A Book? Read A Book
Sunny or Rainy? Rainy
Restaurant or Home Cooking? Restaurant
Pants or Shorts? Pants
Warm or Cold drinks? Cold

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?

One show that I watched recently that I absolutely loved was Daisy Jones and The Six. I couldn’t get enough of the season. I also really loved the movie Saltburn, which I know has been quite polarizing online. I think that Emerald Farrell is a genius with each of her movies and the attention to detail that she brings to the table. The performances in that movie were also just unforgettable, not to mention the film featured an incredible soundtrack.

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

It’s a hard call between wanting a lifetime supply of any records that I would want or books. I love collecting records, especially cool pressings or colors that were limited when the album came out. But I also have always loved to read and I’m always finding new books that I want to pick up so either would be a dream.