Paavo Passi

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

I first heard about 103.3 when I was a little kid growing up in Duluth. My parents are big on radio and they often had KUMD on in the house and the car. I would hear the student program, which was known as The Basement at the time, and I imagined what it would be like to DJ. During my freshman year, I started attending our weekly Music Committee meetings. Soon I made it through the DJ training process and I got on air during the second half of the year. I was a volunteer DJ and club member with our student program Road Salt Radio (RSR) up until the second half of my junior year, when I was hired as MD

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

As MD, my main duty has been reviewing new music and getting it into our system. Other things I do include meeting with and supporting other student DJs, staying up to date with happenings at the station, hosting a weekly hour-long show called Road Salt Rewind which focuses on new releases, and helping to care for The North’s physical media. My favorite part of the job is being in a community of people who are passionate about music, namely our student DJs. While our individual two-hour blocks have distinct flavors, they all come from a place of love. The most challenging part of being MD has been moving. Near the end of the last school year, our station, which was located inside UMD for decades, moved into the PBS North station at the other side of the campus. Because of this, a whole radio station was constructed within the TV station. Everything inside The North had to be boxed up, including our huge libraries of physical music. I took on the task of paring down and organizing RSR’s physical library so we could still find music once it was packed away. This task took several weeks. After that, as we prepared to shift our focus to digital music in our future location, I used any of my extra hours to get RSR music into the system. It was tough to fit this work in on top of my usual duties, my studies, and my other job, but, although the move has been challenging for everybody at the station, it’s extremely satisfying to feel it coming together and to know that I had a hand in it. The job isn’t quite done but, thanks to the hard work of everybody at 103.3 and PBS, the progress is evident and the stress is dissolving.

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

My process for reviewing new music involves listening to tracks from all of my favorite promoters along with other interesting music I have been mailed. I like to give myself a big chunk of time so that I can fully digest what I’m listening to. During the school year, I curate a playlist of new music that I think our DJs will be interested in and share it during our weekly Music Committee meeting, which includes other DJs and student club members. Having their ears on the music helps to diversify the music we play. For RSR shows, we shoot for 30% new music (released in the past 365 days). I often exceed that quota during my Thursday shows because there is cool music coming out all the time. My Tuesday show Road Salt Rewind is and has been focused on brand new music. During this show, I typically play 100% new releases. The North airs lots of new music during the day as well. 103.3’s MD and my boss Christine Dean adds new music for the daytime programming every week.

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 recently got into the work of the Detroit rapper Bruiser Wolf. I dug his feature on Danny Brown’s Quaranta but his spot on Billy Woods’ last record inspired me to check out his solo work. Lately, I’ve had his album Dope Game Stupid on repeat. He has a super unique flow, unlike anything I’d heard before. Sometimes it seems more like spoken word than rap. The record is filled with hilarious wordplay and earworm hooks. I like the way his brain works. I’ve also been doing a bit of producing lately so I’m extra keyed into the clean jazz beats by Danny Brown and Knxwledge.

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

The album I never get tired of listening to is The Unseen by Quasimoto.

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

I’m excited to hear the new records from The Armed and Cory Hanson, I loved their last albums. I’m also excited for the new one from Ami Taf Ra. She’s new to me but I just heard her single with Kamasi Washington and it’s super groovy.

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

I don’t feel very constrained on Road Salt Radio so I’ve played most of the music that holds a special place in my heart, even making my own clean edits for dirty tracks.

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

That’s a tough call but I think I’d redistribute the wealth of the one percent.

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

The life event that has shaped me most as a person is my traumatic brain injury that happened in 2021. It put a lot of things into perspective.

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

Right now I’m thinking the 90s. I like a lot of the aesthetic elements of that era and I love the music. I’d definitely catch some shows like Fugazi and Nirvana. I’m also interested in what Duluth and the Twin Cities were like during that time.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in Duluth/Superior that you’d recommend people try if they are ever there?

Uncle Loui’s Cafe is a classic greasy spoon breakfast spot. It’s a must if you’re in the Twin Ports but try to beat the line. It can get crazy. I love the gyros scrambler with French toast, extra tzatziki, and a few cups of coffee.

What in your life brings you the most joy?

Reconnecting with old friends is a great feeling.

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? TV
Sunny or Rainy? Sunny
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?

The original Dexter has a hold on my girlfriend and I. Recently, I watched Face Off with Nic Cage and John Travolta. It was one of the most entertaining things I’ve seen in a while.

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

Realistically money but a lifetime supply of vinyl would be sick.