Radio Evolve is a recently-launched endeavor from Evolve Entertainment Network, which was: “created to produce and provide family-friendly content that inspires you. Told through our guests’ unique experiences, our mastered high-quality audio stories offer possibilities and thoughtful perspectives through a familiar shared story with the world’s most fascinating guests in music, food, film, fashion, and business.”
Jeremiah D. Higgins is the executive producer, director of programming and also a host at Radio Evolve, and he told MC about what they have in store for listeners…
Where did the idea for Radio Evolve come from?
In March 1994, when I was in college in Santa Barbara, a new station, KJEE 92.9 FM, went on air. This was a full six years before the first iPod was released and radio was god. Suddenly, KJEE was just there on the dial, introducing us to alternative rock and the “Seattle Sound” for the first time. The station played mainly bands like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Mother Love Bone, and Alanis Morrisette. There were no commercials, no DJs talking. Only grungy alternative music. Every couple of hours or so, a monotone voice would come on the air and say, “KJEE Santa Barbara.” That’s it. It was so novel, so strange, and the music was so good, that before long everyone was talking about it and tuning in. It was our station; it was the only station we listened to; the college kids adopted it. It was gritty, reflecting how we felt; it was the soundtrack to our parties on the beach, it fueled our anxiety as we studied, it was on in the car and the background, always. It never went off.
KJEE and what it stood for in those early days is my inspiration for Radio Evolve Santa Barbara, but featuring indie artists mostly without record deals. Radio Evolve strives to be a station where you can discover new artists in their purest form with minimal interruption. Music keeps us young and reminds us that the world remains exciting, encouraging us to embrace it. Music and those who create it are our guides. I want Radio Evolve to be turned on and never turned off. I want the world to discover the new sound coming from authentic indie artists, just as I did in the ‘90s.
My friend Marc Platt has dedicated the majority of his life to helping music artists get their music on the air. His company is called Radio Candy Media. Along with his music business partner, Jenny Klein, he oversees a handful of radio stations across the world on the Radio Candy Media platform, including Radio Evolve. He maintains relationships with a few hundred additional radio stations.
How does it differ from other indie music stations?
Radio Evolve stands out from other indie stations by primarily featuring local music artists from the Santa Barbara area. When you tune in from anywhere in the world, you hear music by people who live and create in Santa Barbara, giving you a taste of the local music scene. About 90 percent of the music played is from Santa Barbara musicians, while the rest is from indie musicians from around the world.
Who is involved in production, hosting, etc?
I serve as the Director of Programming for Radio Evolve. I receive nearly a hundred music submissions each week. I listen to each and every song submitted to me, and I reply to every artist personally. I have enjoyed every artist’s submission. I consider it a huge honor to receive their music; they have worked so hard, and I want them to know I hear them as artists. The music I have received to this point fits in with our overall “sound,” which is, in general, folk-rock, alternative rock, and pop-rock. We call it “Indie Gold.” We offer various hours dedicated to genres like jazz in the mornings (“Birdland Mornings”) and hip-hop in the afternoons, and “College Indie” to study by late-night, with high-charged garage band sounds to keep up the energy at the end of the day. At midnight, we switch to “Lounge,” featuring artists and DJs to set the mood in the late-night hours.
Another unique aspect of Radio Evolve is the Evolve Entertainment Network roster of talk shows on the weekends. Currently, the Evolve Entertainment Network produces: The Jeremiah Show, celebrating 10 years on air featuring Pop Culture, Music Icons, and Food Gods; The Arwen Lewis Show, featuring indie musician gold; The Mike Gormley Show, featuring the world’s biggest rock stars for the past 50 years; and The Kimi Kato Show, featuring current Japanese music artists and showcasing the colorful world of Japan.
New talk shows premiering on Radio Evolve include Michele Kawamoto Perry’s Expressions of Leadership, which features fascinating entrepreneur stories providing lessons that they have learned. Host Gary Dranow of The Gary Dranow Show sits down with top music artists and compelling voices—from industry powerhouses to local and remote Shakers and Movers—to uncover the stories behind their passion and impact.
What can we expect to see coming up?
I’m very excited to premiere live at The Lost Chord Guitars Residency every Wednesday night this fall, hosted by Chris Pelonis and friends. Chris is a long-time music artist and sound designer who built a state-of-the-art music venue that is the destination for indie musicians and music fans everywhere, a music Mecca just over the hill from Santa Barbara in Solvang. A few of the past notable musical guests that have joined Chris on stage have included Michael McDonald, Jackson Brown, Kenny Loggins, Steven Stills, and Jeff Bridges. You never know who may show up and join Chris on stage! This show will be aired live.
How do you see it growing?
The biggest compliment to me would be if our growth came from music indie artists legitimizing our station by continuing to send me their new music and sharing it with their fans. Equally, it is a success if listeners tune into the station and think of us as the place to hear and discover new talented musicians.
We have a great music network. I will continue to work within this powerful network to spread the word that we welcome musicians on the station and our talk shows. We aim to become the go-to destination for musicians, honoring their hard work and providing genuine support. We are in their corner.
Based on the artists covered so far, who should we be keeping an eye on?
There is a very talented hip-hop artist I’m into named Djauthentic. His music is on fire! He’s going to go far!
Keep an eye on Joe Woodard and Lucinda Lane, Naomi Jane, Arwen Lewis, Nicole Sophia, Manuel The Band, Electron Veil, Robbi Kay, Fran The Singer, Sean Kirkpatrick, The World Is Haunted, Modongo (ft. Kopzen RSA) Tebogo Patrick Mokonyane & Kopano Phillip Mokgotho, Beau James Wilding, Reverend Ross, The Warning, Kevin Virgil Wallace, Old Folk, Chris Pelonis, Lois Mahalia, Jena Douglas, Michele Villegas, Todd Duda, Michael Wilds, Leonard Shubin, Cool Hand Luke, Frode Holm of Chanel 5, John Denicola, and Dear Southern Belle.
Visit radio-evolve.rocks
