Center Stage on Live365: Retro Wave Radio

Center Stage on Live365 this week is Retro Wave Radio - "The Evolution of Alternative." We spoke with station manager DJ Duckie Dale about their history with radio, their station's programming, and we got some music recommendations. Check out the interview below!

What made you get started in radio?

I started my DJ career in 1985. I worked in radio for about 15 years, the rest of the time I DJ'ed in clubs, mobile, and more. I always loved music since I was very young. I remember taking 2 record players and running them through my realistic mixer, pretending to be Rick Dees or Casey Kasem. I also studied music and books for as long as I can remember.

A couple years ago, I started my radio station with Live365, changing formats a few times. I feel I am on the right path now, and people seem to be responding to it.

What brought you to Live365?

Several years ago when Live365 first started, I tried doing a station, however full-time work made it hard to keep it running. This year, I semi-retired from DJing full time, however I missed that element of music in my life, so I came back to where I started my first online station and found my home again. I had looked at other platforms, however Live365 kept calling my name.

What's your favorite part about running your own radio station?

I am in control of every aspect of my station: the music and what gets played when. No one is telling me what I can and cannot play. The alternative scene is so large, and I wanted to bring my knowledge and music skills to people with like minds in music.

Tell us about your station's programming. What can listeners expect when they tune in to your station?

We are an alternative station spanning 50 years of music. We start off with the punk and post-punk of the 70s: groups like the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Jam, with gems from Blondie and Madness mixed in. Moving into new wave from the 80s, we play artists like Erasure, Depeche Mode, and Howard Jones. Then into the 90s, it's all about alternative, grunge, and industrial. Getting into the 2000s, we play music all the way up to new 2021 alternative. Lastly, throw in a little reggae and you have Retro Wave Radio!

We don’t just play the hits, we dive into bands' B-sides and hidden gems. We play 80s at 8 AM & PM, 90s at noon, and new alternative at 2PM. All times in PT. You can find our full schedule at retrowave365.com.

Also, since it's the holidays currently, we feature alternative and new wave Christmas songs 3 times an hour. We are also going to be doing a remix set starting New Year's Eve, running 6PM-3AM PT.

Name one artist that you play on your station that is underrated in your opinion.

The Silencers - "Painted Moon"

What's your favorite music memory/moment?

I remember seeing Oingo Boingo during their "Dead Man's Party" concert. I sat there and thought "OMG this group is going to be huge." The other would be in the 80s when I saw Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and Depeche Mode for the first time. Later when I got into radio, I was able to interview both bands. The last was in 1991 when I started a record pool called "Rocky Mountain Record Pool." We promoted new singles from up-and-coming artists. I covered the western part of the U.S. We helped launch some pretty big singles including P.M. Dawn's "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" and House of Pain's "Jump Around," plus many others.

Please list your top 5 or 10 songs, with a brief reason why each song made your list.

1. "Enola Gay " - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
   One of my favorite groups of all time.

2. "What Do All the People Know?" - The Monroes
   Just a fun new wave song that always puts me in a happy mood.

3. "Nothing Bad Ever Happens To Me" - Oingo Boingo
   This was one of the first new wave songs that turned me into loving everything new wave.

4. "Sample That!" - Bang Orchestra!
   One of the first club songs I ever played. Still as good today as when it was released.

5. "Baby Pain" - Simon F
   This song was one of my favorites from Intaferon. It was later put on Simon F's solo album Gun, however it was very hard to find, due to legal problems with group members. I finally found the record years later, it is also the most money I ever spent on a piece of vinyl. I spent over $300 on it.

Listen to Retro Wave Radio on Live365.com, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram!

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