Why Tune In? KSSU DJs Tell You Themselves

Ever wonder what makes a college radio show worth listening to? On KSSU, no two shows are alike, and that’s the fun of it. Our DJs aren’t here to stick to a script or follow the same old playlist. Instead, they bring their own personalities, passions, and playlists straight to the mic. One hour you might be learning about underground artists, and the next you’re dancing to nostalgic throwbacks. We thought it was time to let our DJs do some bragging of their own, so we asked them to tell us what their shows are all about and why you should be tuning in.

DJ Bluegoose, Host of Loud Mouth

Tuning into LOUD MOUTH every week is another way to add fun into your life.

My show is all about talking and playing music and then talking some more after that. Topics that range from music (production, reviews, new artists, interviews), sports, video games, movies, life stories/insight, etc. This show is a controlled chaos. 

LOUD MOUTH will be a platform for others as well. I want it to be a community. Even if I’m the host, I am still made by the people for the people.

Everyone has the inner LOUD MOUTH in them. The inner creativity, desire to share, to be passionate. We all have that little kid voice in our head that wants us to do something that might be cringeworthy or laughed at by others but we want to anyway. The rebellious tone that wishes for you to be yourself authentically to the bone. To like what you like and that’s it. Embrace your LOUD MOUTH. 

DJ Chrys, Host of Against The Grain

Greetings, KSSU Blog readers! Chrys here from Against The Grain, the show that exists with the primary goal of putting you, the listener, on to a genre of music you may have never listened to before! From funk to hardcore to art rock to death metal, ATG doesn’t just focus on one subset of musical genres. During an episode, we normally start with a little bit of background on the genre that the episode focuses on for that day. We’ll go over a brief history, important artists/figures, and any sort of political and/or social influences of the time during which the genre in question was new or popular. Once all of that is out of the way, we finally get into what the show is really about– MUSIC!!! Between songs, I’ll hop on air to talk about a specific artist or the importance of the particular song within the broader scheme of the genre.

Now… I understand if there’s some questioning as to why you should take the time to listen to me jibber-jabber about music. Getting into the nitty-gritty of things isn’t for everybody, but! It can be! It should be!! As a member of modern society, or, more specifically, as a member of modern American society, I am well aware of the fact that my days are filled with perpetual consumption of a multitude of things– food, clothing, various natural resources, and most of all, media. Music is a part of the media that we consume daily, and if we as a whole society can consume with more purpose, we move one step closer to a less mindless way of existence. Appreciating what sort of music you consume on a level deeper than what’s considered to be “normal” allows you to understand the context of the art that you’re enjoying– because, YES, music IS art. This context can inspire you to be more politically active, more involved with your interests, or even just influence you to enjoy things more!

So, if you’re willing to possibly start becoming a more mindful music listener, tune in to Against the Grain on the wonderous kssu.com, or through the KSSU app! (I’d be happy to take any suggestions for genres that you want to know more about, so DM me on Instagram: @against_thegrainkssu)

DJ Scout, Host of The Allen Katz Project

Hello! My name is DJ Scout. I host The Allen Katz Project, a talk and music show which airs Tuesdays from 3-4 pm. I take call-ins, so feel free to chat when I’m on air! 

When it comes to music, the tracks I play are usually from video games, TV shows, or movies. For TV shows and movies, think Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” played at the end of The Breakfast Club, The 88’s “At Least It Was Here”, the theme song for Community, or even Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy”, prominently featured throughout 2021’s Free Guy. For video games, expect to hear tracks from games like Plants vs. Zombies, Undertale and Deltarune, Team Fortress 2, Doom (1993), or even Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game.  

Outside of those, generally I’ll play genres like classic rock or pop, so expect to hear bands like Aerosmith or Duran Duran. Sometimes I’ll play famous songs from the early internet, like everyone’s favorite YouTube tutorial music, “Dreamscape” by 009 Sound System, Waterflame’s beautiful “Glorious Morning”, or any one of Kevin MacLeod’s iconic royalty-free tracks.  

I talk about anything. I might talk about the places I’ve travelled to, my favorite activities, social dilemmas, or observations I’ve while I’ve been on campus. As mentioned before, feel free to call in at any time! Whether you’d like to know how my day’s going, or want to pose a question that no one you know would know how to answer, anything’s fair game! Long as it’s clean, of course. :)  

DJ Sammie, Host of Red Ribbon Hour

Are you chronically online? Tired of the same old playlists? Do you like more than one genre? Are you the kind of person who has so many hyperfixations that you need someone to vent to or connect with them about it? Lastly, are you looking for that one show that just ties everything together? Well, have no fear and look no further!

Come and tune in to Red Ribbon Hour! Where the music ties into the fantasy! (the ribbon pun is intended) From vintage vibes to viral trends, nostalgic beats to underground gems, then welcome! Where your playlists and any topic on your noggin gets the aesthetic treatment they deserve.

When I created this show a few years back, I originally wanted to do a podcast, a true crime podcast. But I also knew that I wanted to play music as well. I grew up listening to local college radios because my dad loved getting to know all of these cool new songs and so did I! I felt really cool listening to a plethora of music at such a young age, because now I have the sickest playlists that are mixed with different genres and sounds that can be used for any or every mood. I am also a yapper and in public relations, so I spend a lot of time researching, talking, and keeping myself up to date on things. I personally have a love for all things media, advocacy, entertainment, fashion, and music. And that is exactly what I love to talk about on my show!…with a couple of mentions or explanations of brainrot…

I decided to make my show’s name Red Ribbon Hour because it is classic, cute, and a trendy piece of fabric (it was also everywhere on Pinterest for fashion…plus I love the color red). But this humble ribbon does not belong to a certain thing or era for it is timeless. It is the thing that ties everything together such as gifts, hair, clothing, and even a variety of playlists that will be curated for your vibes, aesthetic, and fantasy! Ribbon is the thing that binds things together and that’s what I want my show to do. I wanted my show to be something that is classic, mentions trends, and can hold together many aspects or topics and bring people with the same likes or even dislikes together. Therefore, enter the red ribbon!

Here at Red Ribbon Hour you’ll find weekly episodes themed differently every week of different genres, eras, trends, nostalgia to underground beauties, and including sounds from all over the world. The mood boards are endless here! I know what I am going to play next week, but you don’t…SO JUST COME IN AND LISTEN! To add the little finishing bow on the top, it all just so happens to slay!

Whether you’re chasing a mood, curating a vibe, or just want something that slays… this is the place to find your personal soundtrack that changes with your mood, your vibe, or even your aesthetic for the day.

Make sure to tune in and listen every Tuesday morning from 11 am – 12 p.m!

If you want to request a theme, topic to be talked about, shoutout, or any song requests, you can DM me on my Instagram @sammie.villagomez. Or you can always pop by the KSSU Studio Booth here in the Student Union!

It’s not just a show. It’s a whole Ribbonaissance.

Don’t miss it. Only on KSSU.

DJ Z, Host of Fromy My Playlist To Yours 

Every show on KSSU brings something different to the table, and From My Playlist To Yours is no exception. Each week, I build a playlist straight from what I’ve been listening to — but with a twist. Sometimes it’s a deep dive into one artist, like a full Justin Timberlake set. Other times it’s early 2000s throwbacks, Bollywood item songs, or even tracks we all loved but somehow forgot about. If you’re curious, I also post my playlists on Instagram @thisisdjz so you can keep discovering even after the show ends.

What makes my show unique is the mix of sounds and culture. Along with English songs, you’ll hear music in Hindi, Spanish, Punjabi, and more. Every now and then I even connect with listeners by speaking in Hindi, making it the first KSSU show to weave in my native language. My motto is simple: “It’s not always the lyrics that matter. What matters is how it makes you feel.” So tune in — who knows, you might just find your new favorite song waiting in my playlist.

DJ Man1c p1×1e, Host of MixMatch

Hi hi hi! ★ My name is DJ Man1c p1×1e and I run MixMatch, a hodge podge show where I gab about whatever music I’ve fixated on that week. I don’t have the skills to make music (yet!) but music is one of my biggest passions and reprieves in life. I spend a lot of time on Wikipedia and Genius looking up information about the bands & artists I love, and I want to share that information with you! I’ll be covering a variety of music, like capturing a genre, going in depth on a specific artist, focusing on a specific “mood” I’ve put together, and even live mixing as soon as I have some practice. Every week on Monday from three to four (3 – 4!), I’m going to do my best to walk listeners through a curated and informative experience. I hope you’ll join me! :-) ★ ☆ ★ ☆ 

DJ Em/DJ OgEmilee, Host of Out of Tune

Hey everyone! My name is Emilee, but on air you can call me DJ OgEmilee or DJ Em. My show, Out of Tune, will be on Wednesdays from 10–11am. It’s basically all about good music and good vibes. Each week I’ll bring you a wide variety of music from across decades and genres. Although I lean toward alternative, pop, and R&B, you can expect a little bit of everything. Music is my favorite way to connect, and I’ll be inviting friends on the show to share their own taste and hang out live on air.

My show Out of Tune isn’t solely about music, I’ll also be sprinkling in fun, random content. That could be life updates, random news stories that catch my eye, philosophical thoughts, quirky facts, or even updates on the TV show I’m currently binging. Think of it as an hour of discovery, laughter, and connection. Tune in! You never know what you’ll get, but it’ll always be a vibe! 

King Fierce, Host of Dynasty Reign: The Unstoppable Frequency

Greetings, readers, students, fellow strangers who may listen to KSSU. I am King Fierce of Dynasty Reign: The Unstoppable Frequency. Today, I will tell you why you should listen to my show.

My show is actually on its 4th season, which means this could be the last season I might do on KSSU before starting my master’s degree. Just a little information about myself, I am a Sac State Alumni who graduated last May 2025 with my Bachelor of Health Science. I occasionally commute to Sac State before work sometimes because I still want to bring intense beats to campus, despite the fact of being an alumni and graduate.

People should listen to my show because it features genres like K-pop, P-pop, J-pop, EDM, Hardcore, Techno, and more genres you could name. I also bring the Top 40s sometimes to my show episodes too, but if you love K-pop a lot, expect to hear 60 to 70% K-pop songs in Season 4 alone.

My show has also included a new genre such as Reggae and Hawaiian Folk. Thanks to my last episode (September 12), I was able to chat with 4-5 Hawaiian local artists, thanking KSSU for playing their songs in California. Hawaiian songs don’t get popular often in California, but with KSSU, they are played aloud to our students at Sac State.

People should listen to my show, Dynasty Reign: The Unstoppable Frequency, because every episode has a different theme. I have also started including previews of what the next episode could look like in previous episodes, basically the last songs at the end of the week’s episode.

The last reason I wanted to share is people should listen because this season might be the last season of the series. I have decided to extend Season 4 into the winter, meaning I may end it by January 2026. It is unknown if I will decide on continuing the show for Season 5, but if I do, I will let my listeners know during one of my shows. And these are the reasons why you should listen to my show. 

DJ Layla, Host of Between the Bars

Hello KSSU listeners! I’m DJ Layla, host of Between the Bars, airing every Tuesday from 2 to 3 PM on KSSU. This is my first semester at KSSU and so far I have been loving it, as one of my passions is music and sharing music with other people. In my show, we delve into various artists and genres from indie and alternative music, curated from my personal playlists to create a unique mood each week. My most recent episodes have included titles such as “Teenage Bedroom Angst”  featuring artists like Cherry Glazerr, 12 Rods, and Hum as well as Riot Grrrr which explored the feminist punk movement born from the 1990s Pacific Northwest scene. If you’d like to add a few chill songs to your playlist or just want to discover something fresh and meaningful, I invite you to tune in and vibe with me. Catch me Between the Bars – Tuesdays, 2–3 PM, only on KSSU.com or on the KSSU app.

DJ Ziney, Host of Signals Over The Zones

DJ Ziney here! I’m excited to kick off my show, Signals Over the Zones, which will be held on Wednesdays, from 12-1pm. This hour will include upbeat pop-punk and post-hardcore bangers, reviews of albums and shows, and of course, me yapping a little bit; because what else is student run radio still around for if not to support young, enthusiastic curators.

I believe Social Bomb, hosted by Eye in the Sky might have been the first show I ever heard on KSSU while driving around town, running errands and idly flipping through stations on the used car’s radio, which was punishing me with faulty bluetooth at the time. But a punishment it turned out not to be. What I was greeted by were students talking passionately about music and topics they liked, and playing songs with aggressive sounds that reminded me of ones I liked to kick and punch around to, in mosh pits at gigs. These were the kinds of melodies I’d grown close to during my growing out of adolescence, and ones that I remain confident will be with me for years after I stop forgetting to drink water while relying on coffee to stay awake for long lectures and even longer commutes. I plan to share some of these artists during my show hour, and I hope some of you tune it and give the show a listen. Even if mine isn’t your style, KSSU has DJs who specialize in all sorts of genres and I’m sure we have something for everyone. 

You can find me on social media @ziney.rx for updates and in-studio footage.