by Meg McAllister
Let me tell you about a magical place, a sonic space where women around the world are celebrated for taking control of their careers, leading their bands, and putting themselves out there loud and proud. This place is called Eclectic Ladyland, and it’s curated by the one and only DJ Saint Annie. You can find Eclectic Ladyland on the FM dial, 91.7FM KOOP Radio, Thursdays 4-5pm (or streaming 24/7 at koop.org).
Saint Annie grew up in a house without a lot of music. She had one cool babysitter who would occasionally bring over Elton John records, but other than that, Saint Annie was pretty much left to her own devices in terms of music discovery. For a lot of kids, that might just mean they get into music at a slightly older age, through friends at school and whatnot. Not Saint Annie, though; when she talks about stumbling upon community radio at a young age, while fiddling around with her bedroom clock radio, her eyes light up. You get the sense that as a kid, she devoured any and all music she could get her hands on. Happening upon local community radio completely opened up Saint Annie’s world and sparked a lifelong pursuit of music exploration. She’s been a self-proclaimed “radio nerd” ever since.
Despite her love for music and radio, she couldn’t help but notice that both were predominantly male scenes. Yes, she listened to Olivia Newton-John, Linda Ronstadt, and Dolly Parton, but as she grew up, she began gravitating towards indie rock and UK indie pop, with bands like The Smiths, The Cure, and Pavement. Where were the women in this rock movement? And why wasn’t she hearing women’s voices on the radio? Saint Annie dreamed of one day being on the airwaves. She always thought the chance would come in college, but was disappointed to find her school’s station in disrepair. For many folks, that’s it. If we miss out on something when we’re young, we often don’t seek it out as adults, but not Saint Annie – she never gave up on her vision.
Nearly two decades ago, Saint Annie moved to Austin and promptly became a faithful KOOP listener. She knew it was a volunteer-run organization, and she always had that voice in the back of her mind urging her to get involved, but some things are simply easier said than done. Even volunteer stations can seem intimidating when you have little experience in the booth. Finally, three years ago, after some end-of-year reflections and encouragement from a good friend, she took the plunge and became a KOOP volunteer and apprentice. Of course, in true KOOP fashion, she was warmly welcomed.
Saint Annie has been collecting music and curating playlists for years, which means her knowledge of music runs wide and deep. She always wanted to host a broad-spectrum show in terms of genre, and despite her love for her favorite male indie rockers, she knew she wanted to create something that put women front and center. Her show would be the antidote to a male-dominated music scene in which women, if represented at all, were often in the background.
On Eclectic Ladyland, Saint Annie is inspired by bands and artists like The Breeders, The Sugar Cubes, and Liz Phair. These women aren’t just in the band, they are the band, and that’s what her hour is all about. Each week, Saint Annie brings a thoughtfully crafted, well-balanced mix to Eclectic Ladyland; the end result is a creative blend that might feature Spanish indie rock, French ye-ye pop, 60s girl groups, and Pacific Northwest riot grrrl punk. Occasionally, she’ll deep dive on an artist, dedicating an entire episode to a woman whose legacy ought to be celebrated.
KOOP programmers know that it takes a lot of work to keep the station running smoothly, and nearly all of that work is done by volunteers. Saint Annie is generous with her time. She’s a member of the Programming Committee and the Production Team. She enjoys advocating for new programs and promoting diversity on the Programming Committee and leaning into her creativity with the Production Team while recording PSAs, underwriting announcements, and basically any of the “official” KOOP announcements you hear on the air.
As a girl, Saint Annie dreamed of being on the radio, despite hardly hearing voices like her own. Now, she’s a part of the KOOP radio community, hosting multiple shows and contributing in big ways both on and off the air. Saint Annie puts a lot of care into Eclectic Ladyland, and it shows. Each week, you’re bound to fall in love with a new song or learn about another incredible woman in the music industry.
Want to hear more Saint Annie on the radio? You can also catch her on Beat Happenings, hosted by an all-women collective with an emphasis on indie, punk, and post-punk music (Fridays 6-7pm). Interested in other shows that celebrate women in music? Check out TeXchromosome Women, (Thursdays, 11am-12pm), hosted by Penny Jo (PJ) Pullus, an hour of radio focused on “independent female singer-songwriters and rock n’ rollers.”