Meet Connor. He has a friendly face, a great laugh, and may even be that dude on the skateboard who cut you off in the bike circle. Also, if you ever listen to KDVS (90.3 FM) between 2 and 4 AM on a sleepless Monday morning, you may recognize Connor’s voice.
HC (Her Campus): Hey Connor! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
CB (Connor Bard): Hey Saba! Sure! I am an electrical engineer. I want to make headphones and music equipment because I love music. I did improv in high school, and it was a creative outlet for me. It allowed me to express myself in a way I couldn’t do otherwise. I learned that anything can happen on stage, and you have to go with it. I try to be funny, engaging, and charming with mixed results (laughs). I did a stand up class last year in the spring. Our final was a stand up routine. I got involved with KDVS this quarter because my friend told me about it and I thought: why not? It seemed like this great crossroad of music and electronics. I’m usually in the studio working with mixers and record players. It’s a blast.
HC: What made you gravitate toward becoming a DJ at KDVS?
CB: I really like the independence of it–the fact that it’s free-form college radio. There is no restriction on this artist or that artist. I can play what I want to play and what I think other people want to hear. That’s liberating for me because music is a huge part of my life, and it’s something I use as a topic of conversation. Being able to play music helps me express myself and show others what I like.
HC: I know you just started DJ’ing this quarter, but so far, what would you say is your favorite thing about working there?
CB: I like the fact that the music is so diverse, and the people are so like-minded. They may like some really arcane music. One guy may play some post-contemporary Japanese ska…. random music. People like this weird, eclectic music and it makes it so fun. Even if the music doesn’t appeal to me, I appreciate how odd and unique it is, and that it can be shared.
HC: Do you see yourself continuing your work at the station until you graduate?
CB: I want to continue. I just hope I don’t run out of music. That’s a lot of music.
HC: In addition to working as a DJ, you’re also a comedian and electrical engineering student. How do you balance such a wide spectrum of activities?
CB: I try to dedicate portions of my day to different things unless I’m working on something urgent. Comedy is something I can do when I am talking to people. Being an extrovert, I like goofing around with my friends. When it comes to electrical engineering, I do it because it gives me the tools to do what I want to do, even though I don’t consider that field my passion. I see it as a way to give me the knowledge to make headphones or studio equipment. I think it has a stigma for being this hard and nerdy field. It’s school work, but it doesn’t take up all my time and I don’t want it to either.
HC: What do you see yourself doing in the future? What do you hope to achieve?
CB: I guess in the big picture, I want to make headphones, amps, studio equipment, or build my own studio. It would be cool to work as a sound engineer or something in the cross between music, sound, and electronics. I like working with my hands. but I also like listening with my ears. I want a job where I am not sitting at a desk all day doing someone else’s work. I want to do things for myself. I want to be a creator. I want to be creative, imaginative, unique, and special to other people. We’ll see how it goes.
HC: As a comedian, what inspires you?
CB: Good question. I think I take after my dad. He always tells those “dad” jokes, and he’s a very happy and easygoing guy. Sometimes I feel awkward even though I am very social and love interacting with people. There are times when I feel different, and it’s hard to connect. It is as though people can’t understand me. God, it sounds like I’m fifteen and work at Hot Topic. Anyways, I think comedy is a way for me to bridge that gap between me and other people, or mitigate those feelings. Telling a joke and making people laugh makes them feel comfortable and makes me feel validated for my humor. It makes me feel appreciated. I crave it.
HC: What are your top three favorite comedies?
CB: Zoolander, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
HC: Who are your top three favorite artists?
CB: It’s always changing. Right now, I’m really into People Under the Stairs. They’re a hip-hop group. I’m also a huge fan of Logic and Lupe Fiasco. They’re both rappers.
HC: Why do you enjoy hip-hop so much?
CB: I think I like it because it talks about a world I don’t think I will ever be a part of. For example, I will never experience living on the streets or in poverty, using drugs, and other hardships. It’s sort of raw in a way. The emotion behind it can be really powerful.