This Month brought WIDR’s rotation rack a number of different indie-pop records that are guaranteed to keep you going this semester. Our WIDR staff picked some of their favorites for an upbeat playlist full of dance grooves. 1. “Another World”, by Secret Colours off the album Dream Dream The first song on our playlist has a new wave feel with fusions indie pop. “Another World” is a smooth ride featuring ambient layered vocals, perfect for the intro the album, Dream Dream, as well as this month’s playlist. 2. “May 1st”, by Beach Fossils off the album Somersault “May 1st” brings some serious 70’s vibes, with a great bass lead and an acoustic guitar, this laid-back song will have you considering taking the first flight to Venice Beach. Get a piece of summer back with this favorite from Beach Fossils sleepy eyed tune. 3. “Mornington”, by The Lovely Days off the album Arms Wide Open “Mornington” is an incredibly fun, upbeat indie pop song with optimistic lyrics that are sure to put you in a good mood, even for ones who claim they are definitely aren’t morning people. Not enough time for your cup of joe? Give this a spin for your daily dose of giddy-up instead. 4. “Hey, Did I Do You Wrong”, by San Cisco off the album The Water An indie-pop heartbreak tune that features a myriad of acoustic guitar riffs on this track are wonderfully arranged behind exquisite vocals from lead singer Jordi Davieson, giving a recount of his all too relatable relationship woes. 5. “My Number”, by Paper Lions off the album Full Color A pop record that will have you tapping along to the beat, “My Number” features a catchy chorus that upon a few listens will be stuck in your head all day. 6. “Minnesota”, by The Courtneys off the album The Courneys II This record provides a steady bass groove, underneath electric guitar rhythms that sit perfectly atop the songs drums. Singer/drummer Jen Twynn Payne brings an easiness to the track that is both melancholic and exciting, landing it on this month’s playlist. 7. “Cast the First Stone” by Elephant Stone off the album Ship of Fools The final song on our playlist comes by way of this enchanting record, “Cast the First Stone”. The track ends with a long instrumental fade. Elephant Stone comes through with an upbeat dance groove that will leave you feeling good. Listen HERE

Maddie Haynes We sat down with Maddie and asked about her experiences at WIDR FM How long have you been volunteering at WIDR? I’ve been volunteering at WIDR for a little over a year now What is your most memorable moment at WIDR? My most memorable experience at WIDR would have to be getting the opportunity to meet all of the people involved. Without WIDR, I️ probably would not have met some of my best friends! Which bands make up your dream lineup? My dream lineup of bands would be The Strokes, Tame Impala, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Flume. What does WIDR and Radio Evolution mean to you? To me Radio Evolution and WIDR are a means for me to connect with others who share my love of music.

You can listen to DJ No. 9's Special Halloween Playlist here! 1. "Thriller" by Michael Jackson from the album Thriller 2. "The Way It Is" by The Prodigy from the album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned 3. "Cementality" by King Krule from the album 6 Feet Beneath the Moon 4. Krule Love by TA-KU from the album Krule Love - SINGLE 5. Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers from the album The Original Monster Mash 6. Werewolf Bar Mitzfeh by Jeff Richmond & Tracy Morgan from the album 30 ROCK (ORIGINAL TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK) 7. This Is Halloween by The Citizens of Halloween from the album The Nightmare Before Christmas 8. This Is Halloween by Marilyn Manson The Nightmare Before Christmas 9. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) by Sly & The Family Stone from the album Greatest Hits 10. Scream Louder (Flyre Tyme Remix) by Michael Jackson from the album Blood On The Dance Floor 11. Eyeball Skeleton by Eyeball Skeleton form the album #1 12. Eyeball Skeleton by The Reynolds Family 13. Halloween: Theme by John Carpenter from the album Varese Sarabande 14. I'm With Whatever by The Notorious B.I.G. from the album Duets: The Final Chapter 15. Black Magic Woman by Santana from the album Ultimate Santana 16. Booty Beats by Noel Nanton from the album Fu Cha Cul Cha 17. Psycho Killer by Talking Heads from the album Talking Heads 77 18. Psycho Killer (LIVE) by Cage the Elephant from the album LIVE From the Vic in Chicago 19. Derezzed by Daft Punk from the album Tron: Legacy 20. Daft Punk - Inception MASHUP by Jack Conte - SINGLE 21. LVL by A$AP Rocky from the albu LONG.LIVE.A$AP 22. A Beginner's Guide To Destroying the Moon by Foster the People from the album Supermodel 23. Stranger Things by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein from the album Stranger Things Vol. 1 24. Pink Hues, Bad News by Slim Media Player from the album Rythms of the Pacific Volume 3 25. Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell from the album Somebody's Watching Me - Scream 26. Flow by Uppermost from the album Flow - SINGLE

Air Traffic Controller consists of singer/songwriters Dave Munro and Casey Sullivan, Steve Scott, Adam Salameh, and Adrian Aiello. The two met after Munro sent demos home while deployed. Since then, they have been 2015 Billboard Hot 100 Fest performers, been placed on the NPR Hot 100 List, and won Best Indie Alternative Song for “You Know Me” in the Independent Music Awards. Echo Papa is ATC’s newest album and consists of seven songs. The entire album is very upbeat and makes you want to get up and move. You know that feeling you get when a bass line is so powerful that you feel like you can do anything? I totally get that feeling throughout the album. This is an album that I want to listen to when taking a road trip. In my opinion, the album has a pop sound similar to Little Mix and Dua Lipa - especially In After Party and Book Smart. However, there is also a more alternative sound mixed in. I think it’s very present in Live In, which feels very Vampire Weekend. My only “complaint” is that the first five tracks all sound very similar to each other. They seem to flow together and become one long song. It isn’t until the sixth track that the sound mixes up and distinguishes itself from the others. That doesn’t stop this album from being good. It’s a quick listen and is so feel-good that I can’t help but love it. Track Listings: After Party, Live In, Book Smart, Go Time, Keeping Bees, Doubt, It’s You Best Tracks: After Party, Keeping Bees, It’s You

Head Case A variety show with the goal of delivering the most variety possible. It's not uncommon to hear jazz, metal, punk rock, hip-hop, and disco all on one show. "Essentially, it's controlled chaos at its finest." Saturdays 3-5 pm We sat down with DJ Parley and asked about his experiences here at WIDR FM. How long have you been DJing at WIDR? I've been a DJ at WIDR since April of this year, and I have been hosting a variety show ever since. What is your most memorable moment at WIDR? My most memorable moment at WIDR is when I got to remember Chris Cornell over the airwaves. I grew up listening to Soundgarden and Chris Cornell's solo stuff. I also remember being really into the Temple of the Dog album my sophomore and junior years of high school. I loved all of his work, so being able to remember him on the air and pay tribute to him was really special for me. Who would be your dream guest to have on your show? This is a really hard question. I think I'd have to go with Henry Rollins on this one. Black Flag is one of my favorite bands of all time, and I think that Henry would have some really interesting stories from his days in Black Flag, his spoken word career, his roles in many different films, and all of the travelling that he's done around the world. I feel like he would have a lot of interesting things to say, and I'd also love to see how he feels about he produced in Black Flag as he has aged. Specifically, Damaged, My War, and Loose Nut. Some honorable mentions would be Iggy Pop, because it'd be awesome to hear about the peanut butter fights that he used to have at his shows, and I'd love the chance to ask him some questions about Raw Power, as I see it as one of the most essential punk rock albums ever made. Some modern day artists that would be really cool to interview would be Ty Segall and Mac DeMarco, because they just make great music in my opinion, and seem like genuinely down to earth musicians. What does WIDR and Radio Evolution mean to you? I think that WIDR means a wider range of music that is played for people to be exposed to and for people to enjoy. I feel like WIDR is that one friend everyone has that they go to for music suggestions. To me, Radio Evolution means dynamic, and creative hosts and sounds that you can't hear on any other station out there. The two work together to ensure that fresh ideas and content are always being pushed.

This month’s favorites embrace the cool bitter weather with a mix of dreamy vocals and guitar and a sound that perfectly compliments the changing temperature. You can listen on Spotify here. All of these songs blend perfectly with any autumn moodiness you may feel. So put on this playlist, get cozy in bed, grab some hot chocolate and try not to think about those midterms. 1. “Dear Wormwood”, by The Oh Hellos from their album Dear Wormwood. This melancholy folk tune starts off this playlist, evoking a sense of nostalgia and comfort on these cold fall days. The song starts off simple, with acoustic guitar and vocals and builds over the five minutes to create an epic chorus of gorgeous vocals. 2. “Angelina”, by Pinegrove off their album Everything so Far We continue this playlist with a light hearted song from Pinegrove. This song continues with the more folk vibe as it is a simple guitar, drums, and vocals. It creates a gentle fall feeling with simplistic style and sound with heartfelt lyrics. 3. “Next of Kin”, by Alvvays from their self titled album, Alvvays The light vocals create a perfect contrast with the backing instruments. This energetic jam is the perfect tune to put on when you’re trying to get yourself up and ready for the day, even when it’s still dark out. This song evokes feelings of summer as we try to hold on to memories of the warm weather during the chill that is setting in for fall. 4. “Sandy”, by Oh Mercy from their album When We Talk About Love Still keeping the energy up a little, we transition to “Sandy”. The raspy vocals and upbeat tempo create a lovely mix that’s sure to get stuck in your head. This bittersweet love song is perfect for a scenic autumn drive with its catchy melody and lyrics. 5. “Golden Days”, by Whitney off of their album Light Upon Lake Riding off the momentum from the ending of “Sandy,” “Golden Days” dreamy and relaxed vocals feel joyous and familiar. This catchy beat is one you won’t be able to forget. While our days have been dark and gloomy this chill melody is sure to help remind us of those good and golden days. 6. “IHSYA”, by Peaer from their self titled album, Peaer Slowing things down a bit, we bring in Peaer. The soft vocals that are sure to bring comfort. Since the beat is more relaxed than the previous songs, it is a stand out among this selection. This song feels like watching the rain on a Sunday afternoon. 7. “The Cosmos”, by Porches off of their album Slow Dance in the Cosmos Similar to the start of the playlist, “The Cosmos,” starts of simple and slow, a wonderful transition from Peaer. This spacey rock song builds up to a gorgeous climax of sound with a combination of strong vocals and lyrics and powerful melody. This song feels like it belongs at the end of an epic coming of age tale for hipsters, in a good way. 8. “Velvet Gloves and Spit”, by Timber Timbre from their Sincerely, Future Pollution album Ending this playlist we have the sultry sounding “Velvet Gloves and Spit.” This song is slow and just sounds cool and calm. The deep vocals of lead singer, Tyler Kirk, are soothing and the melody alone is enough to lull you to sleep on these chilly fall nights.

If there’s anything WIDR loves more than radio evolution it’s Kalamazoo bands. WIDR has had the awesome privilege of seeing Michigander grow, and I can’t help but feel like a distant step-mom. Back in their early days front-man Jason visited us for a little radio interview in 2015 before their Shakespeare’s Lower Level show. Since then they have gone on tour, done some Audiotree Live sessions, performed at Common Ground, Mo-Pop, and most recently headlined at Bell’s. I like bar shows, especially at Bell’s, but sometimes the draw back with bar shows is that people treat it like the space that it is. Which is fine, but I think there is a respect that’s due to the performer. The audience and crowd for this show seemed to really be respectful(most of the time), of the performer. The opening band of the evening was a band from the Bay City area called Kostka. Their song “The Honest Truth” was my favorite song of theirs that night. It had a sweet build, with lyrics that reminded me of some old Fall Out Boy tunes, but is still remotely them. All of their lyrics felt really full and well done. Their album Shift will be out soon, and it definitely will be getting some spins on the WIDR airwaves. The second band, Fever Haze, was absolutely amazing. Coming from Holland, their band name perfectly encapsulates their fluid fuzzy sound, or as someone in the audience said “they have a fuzzy flannel rock sound”. The audience seemed very fixated on the band, as no one really talked, or danced. Everyone stopped and really listened. Which is always my favorite thing. But its not hard to understand why, they have music that makes you want to really listen. They are not only worth checking out, but will definitely be receiving a lot of WIDR love. Michigander gets better every time I see them. The band has grown in stage presence, setup and sound. The band is officially are three piece now, but still feels very full. The minimalistic set up of their stage only adds to this feeling with emphasizes truly being the band and their sound. Even the slower songs felt like it took over the room. Maybe it’s how powerful Jason’s voice is, or the poetic coziness of some of the lyrics, but you really feel you’re your getting a hug from some songs. The organization of their songs flows into each other very nicely. Never lingering in the mood of a few songs too long. This was probably my favorite performance of them to date, yes Mo-Pop was very cool, but I prefer not sweating my face off and reasonability priced beer that’s actually good and cold. –But also that aside. I think this was my favorite performance by them because of how comfortable the band looked on stage. Their sound of nostalgia and growing pains is theirs, their unique blend of guitar and trumpet is theirs, and their setup, and style and audience interaction is remotely theirs. And watching that combine with the music they have been producing makes it feel much more intimate. Not because the space, but because of all these things work together.

YBOT & WIDR present Music at the Library. The new "Tiny Desk" inspired series showcases WMU music artists performing in a very raw and stripped down environment

Alison Koch "I am from Royal Oak, MI and am majoring in Public Relations with minors in Political Science and Event Management. My dad is a big music guy, so I've listened to a lot of different music over the years. He introduced me to Pink Floyd, which I still love today. Most of the music I listen to now are more indie, punk, or lo-fi." How long have you been volunteering at WIDR FM? I just started this year, so since September. What is your most memorable moment at WIDR FM? Going to my first WIDRAMA and helping plan and book the next one have been the most memorable so far. What would be your dream event/concert/lineup? I just want to go to a music festival where all the artists I want to see aren't playing at the same time. Why WIDR? Over summer I was trying to think of something I could join when I got back to school. I figured WIDR would give me a chance to do some unique stuff and to meet different types of people. There's so much a person can do here. I think that part of the appeal is that anyone who joins doesn't have to stick to just one thing. I've only joined this year and I've already met some really cool people and gotten to do a bunch of fun stuff that I didn't think I would be able to do. What does WIDR and Radio Evolution mean to you? My dad told me that college radio is the only cutting edge radio anymore, since so much radio is the same stuff over and over again. College radio is really the only place playing new and underground stuff. And that's what Radio Evolution means, we get to play more unknown stuff and we also get to work with local artists. We get to connect with communities and artists people don't hear on regular radio.

Waking up isn’t my favorite task in life, and the myriad of time waster later, I’m back. During those 17 hours with the living, I try my darnedest to leave potential unharnessed, and listen to too much music, sometimes obsessing over one song each day. With these songs, something about them made me return again and again and again and again. 1. “Sumer” by Rostam from Half-Light Performed by Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij as part of his solo work outside the band. Half-Light was just released this year, and “Sumer” has been a in my head since. The droning feeling throughout the tune brings me to a place where everything doesn’t seem so fast. 2. “I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That” by Talking Heads from Talking Heads 77(Deluxe Version) Though I’ve listened to this album so many times, this song sticks out as one that I’ve spent my fair share of time wishing you didn’t say such things. Everything to this screams early talking heads. Minimalism, funkyness, awkward Byrneness. 3. “I Got the Message” by Men Without Hats from Rhythm of Youth Another album that I spent too much time blowing through my ear drums, but I got the Message has slowly replaced Safety Dance as my favorite track by Canadian Synth king's Men Without Hats. 4. “I’m Your Man” by Richard Hell from Blank Generation One of my alltime favorite pieces recorded. Blank Generation gives me everything I want in a great punk rock album, and the guitar slaying within “I’m Your Man” set this song apart from man others. While still retaining the flavor of the album Richard presents a little more in one. 5. “Brothers Gonna Work It Out” by Public Enemy from Fear Of A Black Planet In classic Public Enemy fashion Brothers Gonna Work it Out presents a positive message, crazy sounds, and personal awareness that many Public Enemy fans know and love about the Rap Duo. 6. “It’s A Mistake” by Men at Work from Cargo During a time where everyday we sit on the brink of destruction, with war mongering demagogues playing their tricks, and the fact our planet won’t exist looming over us, it’s good to know Colin Hay, and the Men at Work agree with this unfortunate circumstance. It’s A Mistake. Time to just forget about it all on the internet until then. 7. “My Heart Rate Rapid” by Metronomy from Nights Out If you never heard of the English Funky, synth outfit from England called metronomy here is something that sounds nothing like their later work, but is full of some of the same energy, flavor, and dank beats that make up the later albums of this synth poppy powerhouse. 8. “Ana Ng” by They Might Be Giants from Lincoln This song was first shown to me by my late friend, and I wish I could sit with him, and enjoy the sounds of TMBG with him today. After his passing this song never left my head, my ears were filled with the words he use to sing to us back in high school. What I wouldn’t give to heard you sing this song for our choir class one more time. LISTEN TO OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR'S PLAYLIST HERE

YBOT & WIDR present Music at the Library. The new "Tiny Desk" inspired series showcases WMU music artists performing in a very raw and stripped down environment

When I first got my hands on the album, I thought the band was called Concordia. Who would make an album about “Happy Hollows”, I thought. While Concordia wasn’t a strange name for a group, I could hardly imagine an album written about bright, happy trees and the spaces between them. I placed the cd in the player and braced myself for what had to be some crazy post-rock about an arboretum theme park.Little did I know. It soon became very clear to me that this album was not about trees, or the “Happy Hollows” between them. Each song was different, yet heartfelt, and ceaselessly creative. That’s not something that would befit a concept album about cheerful foliage, I thought to myself. I took it upon myself to define “Concordia”, as clearly there had to be something about the name to give me insight into the songs. As it turns out, “Concordia” means “harmony, with one heart”. Suddenly the heartfelt, pleasantly harmonious tunes of the album formed the neon sign I’d been missing. The band was “Happy Hollows,” and the album was “Concordia.” It all made sense now. With this new revelation in hand, I began my journey through Concordia again, this time really listening for this harmony with heart. And wielding this new tool, I unearthed a new world of treasure. Taking us into the brave new world of their third album, Happy Hollows debuts Concordia with Way Home, a fast paced, tight, and ethereal song, speaking of the desire to return to that which you came from and the longing for loved ones. Track 2, entitled “On The Wave,” comes in with ambient, punctual, yet quiet synth bassline, bringing in calming guitar and drums, followed by the poised, reverb filled vocals of singer Sarah Negahdari. One of my favorite tracks off the album, On The Wave talks about accepting that sometimes life is scary, and it’s okay that we’re not in control. Further on, Feel The Moon takes a nod of nostalgia towards Donna Summer’s I Feel Love, with a modern rock and synth-backed seeming update and redirection of the classic track. Taking a new direction as well, though this track is clearly inspired by I Feel Love and perhaps even a little David Byrne, Happy Hollows brings out a more complex instrumental weave to the forefront and broaches the topic of fading love, as opposed to the feeling of love. The next track after Feel The Moon, Astrid grabs you by the collar and takes you on a pleasant yet decidedly synthy adventure, talking of the cycle of love: journeys and endings, and of feelings of belonging. Concordia as a whole lies somewhere between Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense and Little Daylight's Hello Memory. It takes us on a melancholy journey through synthy pop-rock, with creative instrumentation lead by the quirky yet bold singer Sarah Negahdari, and unmistakably solid and present instrumentation of Charlie Mahoney. All in all, Happy Hollows’ Concordia will take your tired afternoons and turn them into cheerful evenings. Feeling a little quirky, this synth-punctuated, pop-rock album leads you on a melancholy journey of of bright, interesting instrumentation and nostalgic, avant-garde vocals with a healthy serving of intrigue.

Kirk Nicholson DJ KEN/Kirk Nicholson (whichever you prefer) has grown up with a love for obscure music. At age 13 he discovered the band Kansas and it's all been downhill from there. From the entire discography of Kansas to a wide array of synthpop, he enjoys just about every genre, though his favorite is probably indie rock or dream pop. How long have you been working with WIDR? I've been working with WIDR for about 5 weeks now. I recently hosted my third DJ session and have been working closely with The Basement Show, which I've really been having a lot of fun with. What do you do? I host a weekly DJ show ( Wednesday nights, 7-9pm) during which we listen to a variety of exclusively new music fresh off the racks, for the first hour. For the second hour, we listen to a full length album from front to back, all tracks included. I spend a lot of time and care in selecting albums that I think everyone can like, and that are well crafted all the way through. I also host the Basement Show on Mondays at 8, which has been a wonderful experience of getting to know all sorts of cool musicians. Favorite album? That's a very tough question to narrow down to a single answer. My current favorite album I've been listening to is a short EP entitled "Do You Know How To Feel It?" by The Diogenes Club. I've really been digging tracks and their simple sounding, yet complex structures. It's kind of like looking at a finished puzzle, and seeing the beautiful picture on it, and then you slowly take a step back and realize the complexity and intricate construction of the pieces that creates the whole picture. What drew your attention to WIDR? I don't remember exactly how I heard about WIDR, but I'm pretty sure it was from one of the many orientation programs I attended in preparation for attending WMU. They mentioned something about student media groups, and I like music and broadcasting, so it all added up; here I am! If you were in the world of Harry Potter, and were in a Hogwarts house, which one would you be in? I would be in Ravenclaw, as I believe I'm somewhat clever and I usually come at things in a roundabout way of thinking. Which can be problematic, but, well. It's good too. What is your stance on the Second Punic War? I personally am glad that the Romans won, and am proud of their superior tactics and eventual outwitting of Hannibal's forces, though not without great cost to both sides. Favorite WIDR memory so far? My favorite memory so far was the first time I hosted The Basement Show, just a few weeks ago. We had a wonderful time listening to Emily White perform a whole assortment of gorgeous singer-songwriter tracks, and I really enjoyed talking with her and some of the other WIDR staff that night. Any closing thoughts? Thanks for the interview, and thank you all for your time. Have a great day/evening, and I give you all my best regards.

See ya next year Audiotree Music Festival!!! Photo credit: Peter Warner & Landon Lacey

DJ Contra Asset has put together a playlist for you guys! You can listen to "We're Dancin' Again" here !