5 Questions with Crizti Walsh
by Dwight Easter
DE - Who’s writing today’s protest songs or anthems of a generation?
CW - I’m not really certain “who” is writing today’s anthems - because it seems like everyone is! In times like these, everyone seems to be up in arms about something...good and bad. I think that so many people have a lot to say about their beliefs and the current cultural environment, that “anthems” have kind of become the norm. More and more artists have become comfortable with using their art to express their feelings and agendas.
DE - Do you have any pre-show rituals or superstitions?
CW - I don’t think I have any pre-show rituals or superstitions. Not to be crass, but it is a job - albeit, one I love. So pre radio show is pretty much about show prep. Now, everything else in life? I’m a black candles at midnight kinda gal.
DE - Who are your idols in the radio industry?
CW - Oh - whew! An easy one! I was super duper fortunate to fall in love with music and radio in the 80s. Living on a farm in the middle of nowhere proved to be challenging. I would attach a clothes hanger to my cheap, made in God knows where, boom box and do every maneuver I could to pick up WHFS from across the Potomac. THOSE folks were my early heroes! Weasel, John, Neci, and Damien ruled my musical world. My older brother and sister opened to door for me musically...but the folks at WHFS opened up the world! Currently, the folks at KEXP amaze me with the things they do, as well as Robert Drake on XPN’s (Philly) Land of the Lost.
DE - What makes you say after your on-air shift, wow! That was a really great show?
CW - Usually, it’s such a relief to get through any day that I’m just thrilled to have done it...and to have the opportunity to do it. Radio is wonky - by that I mean, you’re typically in a room alone. It’s kind of abstract. But when I get messages from or run into listeners, and they tell me that something I said or played made in impact? Man... that lets me know that I may have done something right.
DE - Your absolute favorite performer to see live?
CW - This is definitely a tough one. I don’t go to as many shows as people probably would assume. BUT I have seen some pretty amazing shows, especially with local musicians. It really blows me away when I’m not even a super fan of a band/artist and a live performance blows me away. I have a difficult time picking faves. If they’re good- they’re good and I dig on it! Local or global. Whew! These were hard to answer. Thank you for the opportunity.
Catch Crizti on 96X (96.1 FM and 96X.fm) Monday - Friday from 2 PM - 6 PM, and Sundays from 9 AM - Noon for The Hangover Brunch.
About Dwight Easter: Digital folk artist, family man and bread merchant. Some of the best moments in my life are experiencing the power and influence of great art. I came up in the Norfolk era of the M80’s, Buttsteak, and Antic Hay.