Alexander Lubeck

How did you first get involved in ‘the music industry’ so to speak? Were you involved at a College Radio Station or have any music-related internships/jobs along the way on your road to SiriusXM?

I was born in Tampa, FL and was very lucky that the school system there has so many amazing public arts schools, which I attended from first through twelfth grades. In first grade I joined my school’s steel drum program and fell in love with music. Eventually I picked up the drum set, playing in jazz, rock and punk bands, and later on I got into recording arts and music production.

My first involvement in the ‘music industry’ was at WGTB Georgetown Radio where I had an eclectic show and eventually became the station’s Events Director (Fun side note: WGTB once donated its FM signal to the University of DC, which later sold it to C-SPAN for $25 million… a strange little radio history detour.)

I also founded Georgetown University Collective of Creative Individuals to foster support for creativity and the arts on campus. We put on events and exhibitions around campus and sold out a show at nearby Songbyrd Music House with only student performers. After I graduated some other students were able to get the club officially recognized and funded by the University. I believe it still is today.

What sort of duties have you had along the way during your time at SiriusXM that have led up to you programming The Loft?

I began my career at SiriusXM as an intern in Music Programming where I honed my basic skills like audio editing, call screening, and coordinating between departments. After being hired full-time I was the assigned Programming Coordinator for Classic Vinyl and Classic Rewind which brought me the opportunity to work with and learn from radio legends like Meg Griffin, Earle Bailey, Dusty Street, and Carol Miller. In 2018 I had the opportunity to build a new channel from scratch, Chillhop, on the SiriusXM app, which performed well with younger listeners and led me down the route of ideating, pitching, and building new channels on the app. I now oversee 20 App-exclusive channels including the popular series of Sleep channels, Lo-Fi channels, Environmental/Atmospheric channels, and more.

In 2019 SiriusXM opened up its new Los Angeles studios and I jumped on the opportunity to move to LA from DC. Once in LA I became the assigned Assistant Music Programmer for SiriusXMU and The Loft – two of my favorite channels on the platform – and in that position I was mentored in programming strategy and philosophy by Chris Muckley, a radio legend in his own right. After a few years of mentorship and Assistant Programming I became a Program Director and took over programming The Loft.

Tell us about your current duties programming The Loft. What goes into deciding what gets added to the channel? Do you have free rein or are there some parameters you follow? What part of your job do you love the most and what part do you find the most challenging?

The beauty of The Loft is that its programming is not restricted by genre or era; it is truly an eclectic radio station. I have free reign in deciding my adds and my criteria is that any track I add must feel fresh in some way, regardless of genre. Deciding what to add is both the most fun and the most challenging part of programming The Loft because there is such an abundance of new music to choose from and I have a very specific parameter – freshness – that is hard to otherwise define with words – I just know it when I hear it.

The Loft’s audience is made up of real music lovers: curious, engaged, and open to surprise. It’s a joy to program for them, and I think we’ve found a great fit in each other.

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?

I can’t pick just one – here are some of my favorite artists that I’ve played on The Loft in the past year:

Yussef Dayes, A.L. West, Oscar Jerome, Ada Lea, Seun Kuti, The Bug Club, SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE, Mapache, Louis Cole, Brainstory, mary in the junkyard, and of course channel favorites Fontaines D.C. and Adrianne Lenker.

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

I could never pick one favorite.. so here are a few:

Algernon Cadwallader – Some Kind of Cadwallader

Frank Ocean – Channel Orange

Andy Shauf – The Party

Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside

JPEGMAFIA – All My Heroes Are Cornballs

American Football – American Football

Who is an artist or band totally outside the realm of the music you play on The Loft that you love? Do you have a teen-years favorite artist or band that you now look back on and feel a bit silly for loving?

My favorite band as a teen was Say Anything. I still think In Defense of the Genre is a masterful album. I don’t feel silly at all for loving them but I can’t say I listen to that type of music much anymore.

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

LA has so much amazing food. I recommend CJ’s Cafe (Pico location, Mid-City), Cafe Milan (Playa Del Rey) for the best bagel sandwich in town, Sake House Miro (Mid-City) for great & affordable sushi, Lucy’s 24 Hour Mexican-American Drive-Thru (Mid-City) for late night eats, and most of all: Gol Tong Chicken (K-town) the best fried chicken I’ve ever had, made by a true artist.

What in your life brings you the most joy?

Playing drums, swimming in the ocean, spending time with my girlfriend Elsa (who has better music taste than me), my family and friends, and my two cats Rocco and Fuji.

Lightning Round:

Dog or Cat? Both.
Morning Person or Night Owl? Depends on the week!
City or Country? City now, retire in the forest later.
Beach or Mountains? Beach.
Watch TV or Read A Book? Tough Q. I don’t read as much as I should, but last year I read Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian and I think about that book more often than any TV show I’ve ever seen.
Sunny or Rainy? Sunny!
Restaurant or Home Cooking? Restaurant.
Pants or Shorts? Zip-offs. I’m told they’re “cringe”… but practicality and keeping your options open is nothing to scoff at.
Warm or Cold drinks? Cold – I love to make a delicious iced latte at home.

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 probably Matilda (1996) which I’ve loved since I was a child. Fun fact, I got to meet Danny DeVito, one of my heroes, while working at SXM. TV-wise, I’ve been enjoying the second season of The Rehearsal. Nathan Fielder is a genius.