KUCR AAPI Spotlight with Dr. Deborah Wong
Why do a radio show on KUCR? Does it complement your teaching?
I’m an ethnomusicologist, and my show is centrally part of my public-facing work as a scholar and teacher. Doing my show is the high point of my week. When I’m preparing my weekly show, I listen to tracks so deeply that time totally gets away from me. Hours go by and feel like minutes. My show reflects on music and social justice, so it’s all of a piece with my classes.
Some people say that rhythm is the foundation of music. Do you agree?
Hmmm, not necessarily the foundation, but an essential element of music. As an ethnomusicologist, I recognize many different kinds of music in the world and assert that music is actually NOT a universal language. It reflects whoever is making it, wherever they are. With that said, I’ve been known to play taiko. That’s rhythm.
As an Asian American, what are your thoughts about AAPI Heritage Month?
Every day is AAPI Heritage Month for me! I’m completely cynical and jaded about multiculturalism as an opiate of corporate capitalism, but I actually love AAPI Heritage Month because it creates spaces for incredibly important community-building. All the special AAPI events held in May aren’t just about visibility and audibility but are also opportunities to explore the terms for self-determination and radical newness… especially in a time of sustained anti-Asian hate. That’s why I’ve featured Asian American and Pacific Islander music on my show this month. During May, I’ll air a total of five two-hour shows of AAPI music from top to bottom. You’ll hear the music of Nobuko Miyamoto, Francis Wong, QuinzeQuinze, Manaiakalani Kalua, Vijay Iyer, Priscilla Ahn, St. Lenox, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Jon Jang, Kei Terauchi, Kenji Bunch, Karl Evangelista, members of the H?lau O Kekuhi, Ruby Ibarra, Scott Oshiro, No-No Boy, Red Baraat, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, MC Jin, Japanese Breakfast, Tatsu Aoki, Madame Gandhi, Equipto, beabadoobee, Jhené Aiko, The Slants, Tatiana Band, the Tahitian Choir from Rapa Iti, etc., etc.
Dr. Wong’s radio program, GOLD MOUNTAIN, is heard on KUCR 88.3FM on Tuesdays 3:00-5:00PM Pacific. Streaming on KUCR.org, the KUCR iPhone app, and the TuneIn app.
