Photo Courtesy of WHCL 88.7FM
Do you think your roommate is losing their mind? Have you noticed them speaking into their computer? Blasting custom playlists? Making you be quiet for an hour or two while they tell, what seems to be the empty air around them, “Welcome back! I’m your host, so and so!”
If any of this hits close to home, then there is a 95 percent chance they’re
not
going crazy! Instead, you’ve been lucky enough to witness the new incarnation of WHCL, Hamilton’s student-run radio station. For reasons that need not be explained, it’s looking a little different this semester. For one, hosts have been moved from the Sadove studio to the comforts of their own dorms, with their own computers. However, this change in scenery has not hindered the production of radio content. . Yes, the fancy studio equipment is not in the equation, but the WHCL producers have noticed that this new at-home set up has granted hosts extra time to plan and edit their shows and create incredible content. General Manager Peter Kelly has found that
“people have really stepped up and made their shows really special.”
This season, WHCL has over 100 DJs including some Hamilton alumni! If that doesn’t give the hint that this station is something special, I don’t know what will. All these shows encompass a broad spectrum of genres from rock and roll and hip hop to sports talk and reggae. Each and every one of these shows is worth checking out, but to get you started on this radio extravaganza, here are two shows on the docket this semester:
“Billy and the Jets” Hosted by Lena Schneck, Whitney Ward, and Lily Barnett
— A weekly show centered around music dedicated to a core theme for that week, for example, quarantine or protest songs. Learn about the hosts as they throw out fun facts, opinions, and thoughts on each of the songs and specific genres for the episode. Sometimes tutorials on how to do stick and poke tattoos are thrown into the mix because why not! Tune in on Sundays at 9 AM.
“Shower Talks” Hosted by Julien Swoap and Jacob Wilson
— A weekly show with the goal of creating a natural dialogue around the conversational adventures that can evolve through random thoughts, especially those that seem to pop into your head when you’re simply standing in the shower. Accompanied by music the hosts are currently loving, tune into this show to feel like you’re part of a conversation about alluring topics with music to accompany it. Tune in on Mondays at 3 PM.