By Emera L. Riley
Every Monday at exactly 3 p.m., the KDUP's bungalow is blaring music.
Jack Greenwood, the program director at KDUP, describes the noise as “So loud you can barely hear yourself think.” At the same time, he admits, it's a good kind a loud. A, ‘Hell yeah, this is my jam’ kind of loud.
Rachel Rippetoe is at the center of it all, commanding the noise on her show “Indie Underground Hour.”
“Enthusiastic and buoyant, and really creative,” Greenwood described her.
True to her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, music has always been a big part of Rippetoe’s life. With concerts like “Live on the Green,” as well as “Bonnaroo,” Rippetoe has seen such classics as U2, City and Color, the Avett Brothers and Elton John.
“Indie Underground Hour” reflects her unusual musical exposure and her passion for radio and sound.
Growing up in such a musical area was not the only thing that pushed her towards melody. Rippetoe's dad also helped shape her musical identity.
“He bought me my first record, my first record player,” Rippetoe said.
She considers her father one of her greatest musical influences because he introduced her to all the bands she loves.
Rippetoe, a communication studies major, said indie music includes, “bands that are on an independent label.” This gives Rippetoe the ability to show her listeners original music from bands that deserve some serious attention, while playing a wide selection of fun tunes.
“At one point, they (the bands) were on an indie label and nobody knew who they were,” Rippetoe said.
Rippetoe's job as DJ is to expose listeners to these up and coming bands, as well as play the music that she loves. According to Rippetoe, her listeners are mostly people interested in discovering new music.
Rippetoe also works as an intern for the Portland Radio Project. Although originally just a short-term position, Rippetoe was taken on as an intern when she helped write an article during her interview. Her duties include writing and organizing, as well as directing a four o'clock shift on Friday.
Unlike at KDUP, Rippetoe cannot choose a playlist, but makes up for it by speaking about the assigned set she is playing. The Portland Radio Project currently only streams online, but they plan to expand to their own official station in a few months.
Rippetoe sees Portland Radio Project as the future of music.
“When you hear of radio stations being streamed, you feel like they are less legit, like they should be on the air,” Rippetoe said. “But I feel like radio is really turning into an online thing. That's what Pandora is. And that's what Spotify is. A lot more music, and a lot less talk.”
Through their focus on music and the Portland community, Rippetoe said she is learning valuable writing and radio skills by working side by side with radio veterans, such as Rebecca Webb, a journalist and broadcaster with 30-plus years of experience. Webb’s most notable work was her morning show KINK, with cohost Les Sarnoff.
Rachel Rippetoe is committed to the expansion of the KDUP radio station as well.
“She wants what’s best for the station and wants to come up with creative ideas to help promote it,” Greenwood said.
In her first semester at University of Portland, Rachel Rippetoe has found her niche.
“Being down there (at the Portland Radio Project), and helping them with stuff on the radio really makes me feel that that's the place where I belong,” Rippetoe said.
For more information on Rachel Rippetoe and her show, Indie Underground Hour, you can find her on wordpress.up.edu/Kdup, and listen in on Mondays at 3-4 pm.
