Name: Sophie Johnson
Year: Junior
Major: Strategic Communication
Position: Communications Director
DJ Shift: The French Connection, 8pm on Tuesdays
Natalie: What is your favorite part of your job here?
Sophie: Oh, wow, that’s a really good question. My favorite part is being able to help people find their way around the station, with involvement, and my work in the back end of the station that helps make things run smoothly. There’s nothing like being involved in something that you work hard for and seeing how the work you put in effects around the station.
N: What is your favorite thing about working with the people here in general?
S: Everyone here is wacky and wonderful! I mean you don’t have to be a specific type of person to be involved in KJHK. I feel like generally people like music, and so that is pretty much what we do here along with the different aspects of it. You can make KJHK whatever you want from it, you know? With all the different staffs there are so many opportunities and you meet every walk of life, it’s seriously a great way to get involved. It makes me feel like I have a place on campus.
N: Speaking of music, that is obviously what KJHK is about, who is your favorite artist right now and have you ever seen them live?
S: Oh man. Okay, that’s such a tough one! I would say that the artists that I’ve seen in person usually turn into some of my favorites. It’s a toss up between Japanese Breakfast and Courtney Barnett. Those artists have both meant a lot to me throughout time and I just love a strong female lead. When I saw them in person I felt like I just fell in love with them even more.
N: And then, what is your favorite song by said artists?
S: Courtney Barnett’s would definitely be “Avant Gardner”. It is just such a quirky song, and I love the story telling quality to it. The way her mind works is so interesting and somewhat relatable, I just find it really appealing. Then, I don’t know if i’m allowed to say this song title… Okay, for Japanese Breakfast it would probably be “Road Head”, which is one of their most popular songs but to me it is a classic and it’s the song that introduced me to the band.
N: If you could see either one of these artists tour with another artist, who would that be?
S: Mitski! Totally! I want to see Mitski so badly, and if Japanese Breakfast and Mitski could have made a stop on their tour together in the Lawrence area that would have been so cool! Final answer.
N: How many shows have you been to and which one was your favorite?
S: How many shows have I been to? Oh that’s such a hard question. Can I give like, in the last year?
N: Yeah!
S: Okay, I feel like this summer alone, I probably went about eight to ten shows. Just because it was summer, I had a lot of free time, and they were all just the highlights of my summer. It was my favorite thing to do.
N: What would you tell newcomers about KJ in hopes of recruiting them to be a part of it?
S: I have a spiel: Pretty much that you don’t have to have any experience to be involved and you don’t have to be in a particular major. If you want to DJ you can DJ, if you want to be on live music then you can help out with live music, you’ll get trained in everything and anything your heart desires and meet cool people along the way. There’s really no crazy commitment, so feel free to just try it and experience the wacky KJHK atmosphere.
N: So, I have three more questions but they’re just kind of, really random and fun.
S: Okay, I love that!
N: Are you a dog or a cat person and why?
S: 100% dog. Okay, I can’t say this because you’ll be recording but I had a really bad cat experience. When I was little this stray cat pretty much tried to scratch my face off and I was like ‘Okay I’m done with cats’. So I am slightly scared of them, but dogs can do no wrong!
N: I relate it’s okay, what is your favorite food?
S: Um, I like food that has just a lot of flavor, which sounds silly, but foods that are really intense. I really like spicy foods, I would say curry’s. I really really like curry’s. Because you can’t go wrong, you can get so many different kinds, and they are always interesting!
N: And then my last question is, If you could shadow any celebrity for a day, who would it be and why?
S: I can’t even think of a celebrity off the top of my head. Would you care if I looked at my Spotify?
N: Go ahead!
S: I don’t want to say an obvious one like Beyonce or something, because what would shadowing her do besides make me feel bad about myself? Who is like, a super famous woman who is awesome? I feel like, oh gosh um, I would shadow Michelle Obama, that would be so cool! She’s such a smart, strong, and classy lady. Maybe I could run into Barack Obama throughout the day as well, I would love to let him know he’s been my computer screensaver for years.