I recently talked to Paulus Van Horne (’16) about his radio show, Organized Noise, on WOBC last semester. 

GJ: How did you come up with the idea for your show? 

PVH: I started planning Organized Noise when I was interning at Q2 Music on the Meet The Composer podcast (part of WQXR/WNYC) with TIMARA alum, Alex Overington (’11). The production and format of that show are heavily indebted to Radiolab and it is no coincidence because both shows are produced on the same floor! I accidentally almost knocked Jad over one time. It was glorious. He does not know who I am am… but no matter! After 2 months worth of long days editing interview tape for MTC, I decided to make my own interview-based music program. I sent out 5-10 emails to composers I admired and received one reply… Since then my ratio has improved as I get in contact with composers through more stable means, like alumni connections or social networks. 

GJ: What are you trying to achieve through these interviews? 

PVH: The abbreviated description of the show is “a show about hearing, perception and understanding in new and experimental music.” I guess that covers a lot of ground but basically I am interested in illuminating how composers of electronic music experience and think about sound. The end goal is to give the uninterested and/or uninitiated ways of approaching these new and often strange soundworlds. As a conservatory student and TIMARA major, I think I often forget my training, that I have had years of music education to condition me to “understand” or “appreciate” (for lack of better words) sounds and soundworlds that may otherwise not be considered worthy of attention or of the definition: “music.” So Organized Noise hopefully, through interviews and heavy sound design, makes some of this music more graspable. 

GJ: Will you continue the show this semester? 

PVH: I think the beauty of WOBC shows are that they allow us all to experiment. I will find something different but equally as rewarding. I have been really inspired by the work of surrealist radio-poet Joe Frank (his show airs on WNYC the hour preceding my show!) and radio drama podcast, The Truth. I think I will do a more story-based program next time around and hope to include more voices from the community and college. Radio is about reflecting and sometimes even creating community, so including residents of Oberlin is really important. …Ideas are still in the works… 

Paulus has featured the following composers on Organized Noise. (*denotes a TIMARA alum)
Paulus Dolden, Christopher DeLaurenti, Peter Swendsen*, Elainie Lillios, Bernie Krause, Maggi Payne, Tom Erbe (author of soundhack), Asha Tamirisa*, Francisco Lopez, Mario Diaz de Leon*