Interview with Franny Thomas, Sirius XM DJ
Thomas Is Host of The Loft's Americana Show "Your Roots Are Showing"
Oct 17, 2009
In recent years, traditional places to hear music, such as the radio, have been slowly pushed to the periphery by technology. In the case of radio, it is Satellite Radio that is the usurper, offering many different choices and stations to the discerning listener that were not previously available on terrestrial radio.
The author recently had the chance to sit down with Sirius XM Satellite Radio on-air personality Franny Thomas. Franny is the evening DJ at the Sirius XM channel “The Loft,” and host of her own show on “The Loft” titled “Your Roots are Showing.” Franny proved to be an insightful guest, clear minded and refreshingly passionate about music.
Suite101: How do you think Satellite Radio has changed the music industry?
Franny Thomas: It's given the music industry a lot of new ears. Its a way to get music out to people that might not have had an outlet before-- different choices and different listeners that are listening for something new and exciting and using satellite radio to find these new artists, musicians, and genres.
S101: You are on the same channel [The Loft, on Sirius XM] as radio legends such as [New York City DJs] Vin Scelsa and Meg Griffin, both have been very influential on changing [the author’s] own musical education, if not life.
FT: Meg Griffin has become like my big sister and Vin . . . The first time I heard of him was reading a biography of Townes Van Zandt, he was quoted all over it. Then I found out he'd be working for [The Loft] . . . Pretty exciting.
S101 Ever think about the lives you might be changing?
FT: Ahhh, to me I am just a nerd in a room, playing music and talking into a microphone, lives changing is probably the last thing I think about. I just imagine anyone listening as someone sitting in my bedroom listening to records with me.
S101: Your show ["Your Roots Are Showing"] is about Roots and Americana music.
FT: Well, 'Your Roots Are Showing' is a weekly specialty show I do which focuses on modern music that isn't afraid to take a look back at the rootsy, the country, the American-y side of things. But I'm also on air every weeknight and I tend to infuse some of that rootsy-ness into every show I do. because, well, nothin' makes my blood pump quite like a big sip from the jug of twang.
S101: How would you define roots music?
FT: There are a lot of different directions you can go in when defining roots music. What we're talking about here, on my show, is anything that is willing to take a look at the roots of American musicbe it folk, country, rock, blues, and mash it all up and turn it in to something that pays homage but also brings it up to date.
S101: Who was your all time favorite guest in the studio and why?
FT: Oh man! There have been so many good ones, but for me personally it is Magnolia Electric Co. That band changed and saved my life and has been part of my musical diet since I was younger. They came in to do my show and I had to pinch myself over and over and over again.
But we've had so many monumental bands and artists in the studios. Drive-By Truckers have been in a couple times, along with Patterson Hood doing a solo session, Centro-Matic, Old 97's, it's kind of a dream to get to show up to work and realize "oh yeah, Lucero is coming in tomorrow" (and Lucero IS coming in tomorrow!)
S101: What is your favorite album of this year so far and why?
FT: This new Lucero record is monumental. 1327 Overton Park, but I've only gotten to spend a few weeks with it.
S101: I have not heard it yet.
FT: Oh man, you gotta! It has horns! My little girl dreams have come true, Lucero with horns!
S101: In his time, Gram Parsons envisioned a joining of rock, country, and blues. This has pretty much come true in the whole Americana/ Alt-Country genre. Where do you see the future of music heading?
FT: Well, I'm no visionary like Gram Parsons so I can't stand here on a soapbox making predictions and declarations. I just hope the world keeps producing sounds that make hearts happy, people dance, brains think, and ears entertained.
Despite Franny's claim that she is no visionary, her insight and passion for music makes her time on The Loft well worth listening to. Franny Thomas can be heard evenings on “The Loft.” Her show, “Your Roots are Showing,” in on “The Loft” on Sundays at 6PM Eastern Time, and replayed Thursdays at 2PM and Saturday at Midnight.
AIC101
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