WMCN Weekly DJ Profile: Jenny Shin

Photo+courtesy+of+Henry+Nieberg+%E2%80%9919

Photo courtesy of Henry Nieberg ’19

Photo courtesy of Henry Nieberg ’19
Photo courtesy of Henry Nieberg ’19

Each week The Mac Weekly speaks with a DJ on Macalester’s radio station, 91.7 WMCN. This week we sat down with Jenny Shin about her show “Creepers and Sleepers.” Tune in 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays!

TMW: What is your show and what can a listener expect when tuning in?

JS: My show is “Creepers and Sleepers” and listeners can expect house, trance and rap. Last semester, I only really played music, but sometimes I do sessions where I do half talk show, half music, and I’ll bring a guest on. For example, last week, I did a show with my friend, Maude, and we talked about dreams and played trance music. We realized though that we’re not the best at talking on air because we start laughing or get off topic, so I probably won’t subject the listeners to that very often! It was still really fun though.

What do you try to accomplish with having a radio show?

I feel like people typically dismiss rap, house and trance as genres that aren’t really artistic or genius, but I hope that after listening to my show they might change their minds. House is so integral to pop culture, which is why it’s been so distorted to people as this kind of dance club music. And it is, but there are other genres of house that [aren’t] just dance club music. When it comes down to the house music that isn’t popularized, house is about beats that utilize cymbals and synthesizers to create an intense sound and energy. Trance is much more about the kind of emotional and almost intellectual relationship between the listener and the song because it has a long, continuous tempo that fades out in the end, but somehow creates an almost hypnotic feel. Rap is great, period. I don’t think it really needs an explanation for why it’s so good.

How do you select your music?

For house and trance, I have this feeling I get from certain songs and if I get that feeling, I’ll put it on the show. It’s hard to describe the feeling, but it’s sort of how you feel when a lot of things are happening around you, but you’re completely still. [I] don’t know if that makes sense, but I am trying to play more old school rap, so anything from Biggie Smalls to Mobb Deep is also usually on my playlist.

If a listener tuned in randomly, what would they hear?

Probably something from Gantz. I love his stuff. He’s from Istanbul which actually has a very interesting and innovative music scene … He hasn’t come out with anything in a couple of months, but “Etch-Yoyo” by Gantz will always be a classic. If I could have any song describe my show, it would probably be that one.

What was the last song you listened to? Does this reflect what you play on your show?

[Laughs] “How Do U Want It” by Tupac. And yeah, it could reflect what I play when it comes to rap.