Introducing WTJU’s New Rock Director, Barbara Notar
By WTJU Rock
Our wonderful Rock Director, DJLP, has stepped down after four years of service. We are so grateful to DJLP for the time and care she put in to the Rock Department. She will continue to co-host Foggy Notion on Wednesdays, 2 – 4 p.m. We are thrilled to welcome Barbara Notar as the new Rock Director, AKA DJ B-Note, co-host of Midnight Confession, Tuesdays, 11 p.m. – 1 a.m. We asked Barbara a few questions, included below. Please join us in welcoming DJ B-Note as the new fearless leader of WTJU’s Rock Department!
HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT WTJU?
My (now) husband, lived in Crozet while we were dating. When I visited, he was always listening to WTJU on the radio. He often wore T-shirts from one of WTJU’s marathons – he’s a jazz and classical listener and usually donates during the jazz and classical marathons. He is now “strongly encouraged” to donate during the rock and folk marathons as well!
WHAT DREW YOU TO THE STATION?
Once we moved to Cville, I repeatedly told my husband that I loved WTJU’s rock shows and that the DJs played a lot of the music I knew. He suggested I apply to be a DJ which I thought was the most ridiculous suggestion! I had never been a DJ — never even considered being a DJ. When the former rock director (DJLP) called to ask me if I wanted to start training to be a DJ, I was beyond thrilled. It’s been said that I was jumping up and down, but I deny that.
WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION AND HOW DOES IT FIT INTO THAT?
I’m a retired, municipal attorney – meaning I specialized in representing local governments. As a young lawyer, I specialized in criminal defense (private and public defense) and domestic relations. Being a DJ at WTJU has absolutely nothing to do with any of that – which is the goal!
WHY SHOULD SOMEONE TURN ON YOUR SHOW? WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SHARE?
I’m a lifelong rock music fan. I’ve been going to concerts, buying records, CDs, and now records again since I was a kid. In all those years, I think I’ve acquired a sense of what’s good. I listen to a ton of new music, so I’m able to sort through the mass of new releases and play what I think is worth listening to more than once. If you’re interested in new music (and old stuff too), you can read reviews, but I will play new music and tell you about the artist so that you can listen to that artist on your own. I’ve just described pretty much what all the rock DJs do at WTJU. We all play what we love – which is music you’re not likely to hear on commercial radio. And if we can turn you on to one band a show, our job is done!
DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR APPROACH TO PUTTING TOGETHER A SHOW? TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS.
I don’t. I rarely have a theme – I just put together a list of songs I love from the playlists I make for myself – many songs that I’ve heard on other WTJU rock shows. A song doesn’t make the list unless I love it and the song is off an album where the whole album is worth playing.
IF YOU COULD INTERVIEW ANYONE ON AIR, WHO WOULD IT BE? WHY?
Danger Mouse (American musician and music producer) – I love pretty much everything he touches. I’d ask him to bring along Beth Gibbons, assuming they’re still in touch, so that I could fangirl both of them.
WHAT IS YOUR HOPE FOR THE ROCK DEPT? WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO BRING TO IT AS DIRECTOR?
I hope to continue the tradition of rock directors at WTJU who help the professional staff produce interesting, varied and most important — enjoyable rock shows. I bring experience in working with nonprofits that rely heavily on volunteers, so I hope to help fundraise for the station – which is crucial in this time where Congress and the Trump Administration are threatening to cut federal funding.
GAFFS
I’ve had so many gaffs on air – mistakenly playing obscene lyrics, dead air time, mispronouncing the names of artists. My favorite gaff was when I announced the name of the band “Bassvictim” sounding like a type of fish rather than the musical instrument. My friend, another DJ, said, “Did you think the name was some type of fishing boat accident”? But that’s the beauty of community/college radio – we’re volunteers and it’s often imperfect – but that imperfection is relatable and makes it so much more fun.
HOBBIES, INTERESTS, PASSIONS?
Another survival skill for me in addition to music is books. I’ve been reading a lot of rock memoirs lately. I just finished both Neko Case’s and Moon Unit Zappa’s memoirs, both of which were outstanding and sadly similar in the way both women were raised by parents who had no interest in parenting, but who went on to become extraordinary adults. I’ve just started Nenah Cherry’s memoir – whose childhood sounds like the opposite – full of loving and involved people. Obviously, I shamelessly push my reading recommendations on others just like my musical recommendations!
