Evie Stokes took over KEXP’s Drive Time present this summer season.
Early within the Nineteen Nineties, a younger Evie Stokes clutched a bit of purple growth field below her pillow, turning it up simply sufficient to listen to the music her dad and mom forbade. Stokes snuck listens to 107.7 The Finish, listening to DJ Marco Collins introduce acts like Beck and questioning to herself, “What is that this?” A couple of many years later, DJ Evie Stokes assumes the reins of KEXP’s Drive Time present, a slot she inherits from the station’s legendary Kevin Cole. Her plan? Combine classics—she bought a David Bowie–impressed tattoo when he died—and new discoveries curated from the hours she spends listening to submitted songs earlier than every present. A self-described shy individual, Stokes will nonetheless function the voice of Seattle’s fiercely impartial music station from 4 to 7pm 4 days per week. “It’s tacky,” she says, “however you need to do issues that scare you.”
I discovered myself, from a very younger age, eager to be the individual within the household who bought to decide on what the music was gonna be on street journeys.
I bought into my teenage years and liked issues like Ja Rule and Lil’ Kim and DMX. Issues which, in truth, I nonetheless take pleasure in right this moment.
Once I moved to LA the primary time, in 2007, I began streaming KEXP on the net, as like kind of an anchor again to Seattle.
I reached out to [KEXP DJ] Michele Myers on MySpace and was like, I like your present. I do know I wish to be concerned in music a way.
She employed me on as her DJ assistant on Friday nights. [Eventually] I did the in a single day fill-in spots for some time.
It was my first radio job. I had no concept what I used to be doing. I actually needed to train myself what all the things on the board did.
We had been largely enjoying off of CDs. A variety of the time the CD gamers would skip.
There have been a couple of flubs. Someway I made it by these overnights for 2 years with out ever swearing.
It’s most likely simply the present of pure terror that runs by me, understanding how large of a deal that may be, that retains me from ruining my life.
I like digital music. I like the music of my childhood, so I like all of the ’80s New Wave. I just like the trip-hop style rather a lot. And issues like post-punk and hip-hop.
We’ve got, coming into KEXP each week, like a whole bunch and a whole bunch of songs.
I’ve to evaluation issues actually shortly. It has to face out to me instantly; I normally give issues about 5 to 10 seconds.
The Seattle music scene is alive and effectively. There’s a lot new artwork popping out of Seattle.
I feel we’re doing nice shoegaze proper now. My daughter actually loves Taylor Swift. However she additionally loves Caroline Polachek, she additionally likes De La Soul.
I like pop music. I’ve nothing in opposition to it. Taylor Swift isn’t my favourite artist, however I
can admire a number of the music that she makes.
However I completely love Beyoncé.
KEXP is an anomaly, which has been confirmed many instances. Radio stations proceed to go away, and KEXP continues to evolve and develop.
We’re before everything a spot that champions music and discovery.
KEXP, the neighborhood, has been actually essential for me in my restoration. I’m 5 years sober this 12 months.
One factor we are saying at KEXP is you aren’t alone.
I plan to have lots of enjoyable [on Drive Time]. I actually thrive on the enjoyable, goofy stuff.
Music, clearly, is massively essential in so many individuals’s lives. It’s folks’s life drive.
