Equipped with a silver tongue and penchant for creative writing, Dynn Javier is your quintessential artistic overachiever. As a sophomore he has managed a staff of over 300 students for KDVS, UC Davis’ non-commercial, freeform radio station that broadcasts throughout the Davis and Sacramento area. In addition to serving as general manager, he also hosts his own show, Sonnet 18. While his dedication to his craft is unparalleled, it is his charisma and wit that truly make him shine. Join us for a conversation with the devil himself.
Her Campus (HC): Hey Dynn! Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Dynn Javier (DJ): Well, hi my name is Dynn Javier, 2nd year English major and first generation Filipino American. I like music, dogs, lifting weights, and writing poetry. I was born and raised in Orange County by two very loving and chill parents.
HC: So, how are you involved on campus?
DJ: For the past few months I’ve been completely devoted to serving as KDVS’ general manager, which also makes me a part of ASUCD. I also eat at the Coho a lot and go to the ARC religiously.
HC: Very cool. For those of our readers who don’t know, what are KDVS and ASUCD?
DJ: KDVS is UC Davis’ own student-run radio station, available for listening 24/7 at 90.3 FM and KDVS.org. Programming is completely in the control of students and community members, ranging from eclectic and alternative music selections to public affairs to local and global news to UC Davis sports coverage. We are but one of many units under the umbrella of ASUCD, or the Associated Students of UC Davis.
HC: With such large-scale production, how does KDVS stay afloat?
DJ: Aside from being student-run, KDVS is completely independent, non-commercial, and community-driven like most non-profits or grassroots organizations. Contributions from listeners constitute the majority of the KDVS’ budget. This year we did something unique in hosting our first fall fundraiser last November wherein we managed to raise just under $30,000 in one week’s time, which astonished me to say the least. I also had to put my money where my mouth is and get inked after my show raised over $1,200 during its 90-minute slot.
Even though I didn’t get much sleep, fundraising is definitely one of the best times we have at KDVS. It becomes really apparent how much the music and the station and the community mean to us. The shenanigans and high energy programming really keep me going. The staff, DJs, community members, and listeners/contributors really make my week, can’t thank them enough.
HC: I’m sure we all have a vague idea, but what exactly does being the general manager of KDVS entail?
DJ: Being general manager puts me in charge of virtually everything KDVS-related. For us, being “student-run” is serious business, since most big college stations hire full-time career adult staffers to do my job. That being said, I have the final say on fundraising, programming, budget, politics–as much as I hate politicizing–hiring, firing, training, and the works. It’s business as usual.
HC: That seems like a lot of work! How exactly did you become general manager so early on in your college career?
DJ: I wandered down to lower freeborn sometime during welcome week last year and got a tour from the general manager at the time, Ashley Hanson, and fell in love with the place. After committing myself to interning under the music directors and publicity directors and hosting my own program on KDVS, Sonnet 18, for the greater portion of last year, I got called up to take the job and interviewed before the board.
HC: Why the name Sonnet 18?
DJ: Shakespeare deserves as many shout outs as he can get in my opinion, and I thought it sounded cool. It was vague enough to let me experiment with the kind of music I played.
HC: What type of music do you play?
DJ: The show always evolves. I list myself as one of KDVS’ ‘eclectic’ programs. That being said, the show in its current state is very dance-y and high energy. I don’t like sticking to one genre though, that’s sort of the gimmick. I have considered future seasons to be dedicated genre shows though. Sonnet 18-Hunnid for some hard, grimy trap music. Or Sonnet 98, it’d be a vaporwave show.
HC: That’s so diverse! If you had to choose one genre to play for the rest of your life, what would it be?
DJ: I get this question a lot, and I hate it every time. For one, as much as I like using genres and subgenres in conversation, using them to place limitations on sound is super prescriptive and lame. The safe and short answer, though, is jazz. Or even “electronic” too, that’s pretty broad.
HC: So what’s in store for next quarter?
DJ: I’m under direct orders by my parents to “chill out,” but with my term as general manager coming to a close, I’ll be trying to refocus on my writing portfolio and expand my creativity. I’d like to spend some time learning how to dance, for real. It’s good cardio. Sonnet 18 will still be on the grid, too.
HC: Lastly, what’s your advice for people hoping to follow in your footsteps?
DJ: Make the opportunities you want in your personal or professional life come to you. Either that or make them yourself. You’d be very surprised how far you can get if you set a goal and actively work to achieve it. Do everything in your power to get what you’re after. Music-related things especially, it’s more or less entirely on you to get your foot in the door. And never be afraid to ask for anything. A job, project, some help, or whatever. It never hurts. And if you’re afraid of not being super prepared or trained for what you’re doing, just wing it. As long as you put your best foot forward it should work out for the better. There’s always going to be a period of time–especially if you’re in management or administration, this will happen a LOT–where you have no clue what the hell is going on and you just have to jump in. It’s okay; we all make it out eventually.
So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Dynn Javier, creative supernova on the rise. Tune into 90.3 FM on Wednesdays from 6-7pm to listen to him work his magic.