Wake Up Winnipeg: Wake Up Winnipeg - The Interviewer Becomes The Interviewed

I was going through some old blog entries earlier today looking for some information on a older episode of Wake Up Winnipeg and I stumbled across an interview that I had been a part of in march of last year.

Jessica Chase, a media representative and student from The United States sent me an E-mail interview for a project she was working on down south.

The intention, was to get to know the various media and radio representatives she had worked with throughout her studies while in her final year of college. We had met while I was covering the 10,000 Lakes Festival in 2009 in Detroit Lakes Minnesota.

To date, she still stands as the only person who has ever asked to interview me about our projects. I was flattered at the time and also really excited to have someone interested enough in my projects to take the time to interview me on my personal thoughts.

This interview came as aimlessandandy.com was my primary focus, and shortly before Wake Up Winnipeg reached it's one year birthday.

Here we are coming up to two years and it's funny to go back at look and see what I had to say back then and compare it to now with my primary focus being Wake Up Winnipeg.

It's crazy to see how much has progressed since then. . .

I felt it appropriate to share this interview with you, more so with the two year anniversary of Wake Up Winnipeg so that you (our listeners) could get to know a little more about the man behind the microphone!

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An interview with Andru Valpy

Conducted by: Jessica Chase.

Date: Sunday, March 18, 2010.

2011 - CJUM

Name: Andru Valpy

Affiliation: CJUM 101.5 FM / The Aimless & Andy Show / Wake Up Winnipeg.

1) What made you want to get into the music industry?

Well, I would have to give credit to all of my parents for that one.

I was raised by parents who appreciated, loved and understood that music was an essential part of living, and a form of talent and creative release. I was very fortunate that my parents all had great taste in music and were no snob to any particular genre.

Circa Grade 6

Once I was enrolled in band, I essentially stuck with it.

Luckily, the school districts I was raised in had very supportive band teachers who worked very hard to ensure we understood the theory of music.

If it had not been for Mr. P, I may not be as involved in the industry of music as I am now.

2) What is your favorite thing about the music industry?

1995 - My First CD's

Honestly, I would have to say meeting fellow artists, and musicians and industry figures and learning more about the artist as a individual as opposed to 'a famous person'.

Though I respect talent and fame, I appreciate and respect the individual(s) enough to understand that they are just a normal person, like you and I.

I also understand and appreciate the amount of work that goes into a band, and what it takes to make it to a main stage tour.

As a result of this, I usually treat any artist with the same respect as I would a close friend.

It's also interesting and worth noting that the amount of support that is provided in the industry is amazing if you find the right people.

3) How did you start in this field?

I think it started when I was in my 'tween' years. I would go through the record and CD Collection at home, and make personal mix-tapes with cheezy voice-overs overtopped with the music.

I had this whole system down, record my voice with the music in the background. Pause the tape and CD. Pop the tape into the stereo and then un-pause for a true transition.

After that, I guess I was put in touch with my mentor Rich Brother Robbin at a KWFM back home in Arizona and he took me under his wing and started showing me the ropes...at the young age of 13.

2001 - KWFM

I guess he saw potential in me.

The ironic thing is, he's still my mentor, and he still has the same professional interest in me now as he did then.

(Side note: He was actually inducted to the Rock and Roll hall of fame for his involvement in radio broadcasting this year).

Lisa Carr was also always fun to hang out with. Not only did she teach me how to board op, but she also taught me a lesson on the acceptable uses of a payphone and who should not be using them.. (inside joke of course!

4) What is your greatest strength?

If I had to choose a 'strength' I would say my positive outgoing attitude. I aim to please and ensure that my friends, fellow artists, family and fans are taken care of and I help out the best I can.

I find that if you put a positive spin on life, and "do it with a smile" life tends to go by a lot more smoother and you end up getting to experience all sorts of cool opportunities. People like smiles, and I like dishing them. And when I am smiling, it's a true smile! none of that fake stage smile. .. gag.

5) What would you say a character is that an individual needs to have in order to be successful in this industry?

Persistence and determination.

These two things are CRITICAL in growing through the industry. Dreams can come true, but of course in order to make that happen, you need to work for them.

You can dream all you want, but unless you have the actions to make them come true, they would just be dreams.


Exploring CBC studios - 2011

If you are to be taken seriously, you need to take yourself seriously, and show others how serious you are about your project (be it music, booking, media, ect ect).

You also have to understand that in order to grow, you have to invest a lot of personal time, and work at it bit by bit and always find ways of expanding your talent or work.

Miracles and dreams don't happen over night.

For me to be where I am now has taken close to 13 years, and though I'm happy with the way it's heading, I know I have a lot more time to invest before I get to be where I want to be.

And once you get to your ultimate goal, you can't stop.

You have to keep it up. More so in today's day and age with technology changing rapidly, and the sound of music presenting new sounds and beats.If you decide to go into the industry. . . you have to stick with it.

Another thing that is respected, and important in the industry is trust and honesty.

2009 - CJUM

If you are honest and true, artists & industry figures appreciate your work a lot more rather than someone who is in it to get big and famous.

Modesty is important.

If you're entering in the industry, you have to go into it thinking you're not going to get famous. But if you work hard, stay true, and have fun....

Chances are, you might just get to a decent level.

6) What is the most challenging part to your job?

Balance! Finding time for everything.

It's funny, people say "there just aren't enough hours in the week" and I never used to understand what that meant until I got active in the business of music.

At first it was a struggle and a challenge. The hobby that I loved started to feel like "work" and started to lose it's novelty.

But once you get into a grove, and you provide yourself set deadlines, it tends to get easier. Plus, you will typically have people who will help and support you along the way.

2010 - Spinning at J. Foxes

You cannot do everything alone, and if you think you can. You're wrong.

Another thing that is helpful in growing is ensuring you have the right tools and equipment to make it easier for yourself. It goes without saying that a singer needs a microphone, and a drummer needs drum sticks.

I have both!

7) If you could do it all over again, what would you change or do differently?

Well, honestly. I would have tried to find balance sooner in this project rather than later.

As a result of hard work there came a lot of personal sacrifices.

Some of which were super important to me.

Though I have little to regret, there are some things I probably could have learned earlier on and changed before having lost them completely.

8) Can you tell me about a time that you truly felt that you succeeded at a career goal?

Honestly, and I can go on record in saying this, If it had not been for a odd event at my day time job, I may not be where I am today.

2007 - CJUM

Shortly after I moved back to Winnipeg I was working my day job and our office received a bomb threat .

The management team had decided to send us home early giving me the rest of the afternoon off. My friend Karsten knew I was looking to get into radio here in Winnipeg and he offered to take me down to UMFM 101.5 to get me back into the radio scene.

Though I had done work with Clear Channel Communications, and WCCH 103.5, I had not yet explored Canadian radio.

When I started at UMFM, Jared and Michael took me in pretty quick, and here we are 5 years later and I'm still loving every minute I spend there.

Both Jared and Michael have provided a ton of opportunities and have provided some solid advice. They actually provide me with the tools, resources, and knowledge needed to grow, and are always there to answer questions.

Though they have put up with a lot of my stuff, they are always looking out for me, and making sure I grow and learn and take steps in the positive directions.

I should also say, when my co-host and friend Paul joined my team, I knew that our project was going to be something big. We both shared the same views and both wanted to grow with this.

Without Paul and my stations support. I may not have gone where I wanted to.

2009 - Paul and I

I started to succeed more after the launch of our talk show which was suggested by Michael and Jared.

Since Wake Up Winnipeg's inception, we have been invited to some fantastic events, such as The Winnipeg Folk Festival,The Jazz Winnipeg Festival, The Edmonton Folk Festival, The 10klf festival in Detroit Lakes MN and a TON of local shows, both big and small.

It was then that I was asked to contribute to NXeW, a internationally known music blog.

With their help and backing, I was able to start writing about my experiences to share with other musicians and artists.

In about October of 2009 things started to look positive for our project and we started to meet some amazing people who have since provided a ton of support.

We submitted our proposals to Cirque Du Soliel's "Love" in Las Vegas on a Whim, and within a days notice we were invited to the MGM Mirage to see "Love". It was such an amazing experience, and it came at just the right time!

2011 - Joined by New Co-Host Natty

True North Entertainment here in town also showed a lot of support early on in this project and have always done a great job of providing guidance and advice on a lot of local events!

When I got approved by Sony Records and Live Nation to review and interview Three Days Grace, I started to really feel proud about my accomplishments.

It was my first major arena event. It felt like after 13 years of hard work, my efforts and creativity was noticed and appreciated.

The ironic thing was, after all of the excitement and build up, it turned out that I was not able to trade my shift on such short notice!

Sony was nice enough to allow me to send two friends to interview these artists on my behalf, and it was thanks to their advice that The Aimless & Andy Team started.

Luckily Sony actually showed a lot of support in the early stages of our dot com presence and has added to our stations library quite a bit.

Brad Roberts and I - 2010

After shaking hands, and keeping up to date with Sony, it has provided me a new goal to work towards!

I should also mention that Warner, Universal, Maple Music, and other labels and promoters such as supernova.com for the amount of support they have provided too! These friends here have also helped out with shows and photographs!

Finally, The City of Winnipeg, all of the local bands, our friends, local businesses, community politicians, local organizations, our station volunteers (friends!) and most importantly, our fans who have provided advice, content, interviews, and moments of fun and excitement that has truly been overwhelming!

All and all, I am super happy with the way The Aimless & Andy Show and Wake Up Winnipeg are growing, and very thankful, and appreciative of what we have come up with in the 3 years that Paul and I and the rest of the UMFM/Aimless & Andy Team have been together.

I'm also thankful for the the additional 10 years of radio and promotional experience that I have been fortunate to experience!

As Journey once said:

"Don't Stop Believing" ...

"..Hold on to that feeling!"