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WZRD
Basic Info:
- Website
- wzrdrock@gmail.com
- 6 Reviews
Interview with WZRD:
1.Why do you have a wizard rock podcast?
Jamie: Because I love Wizard Rock very much and at the time we started there were none! We thought we should change that.
Amy: Because at the time Wizard Rock was still quite new and we both wanted to start a podcast. It was just around the time that Wizard Rock was beginning to take off and we thought it would be great to do a podcast about it!
2. What do you personally get out of hosting a wizard rock podcast?
Amy: I've found that being exposed to so much new and almost "raw" music has reawakened my interest in live music. It's also a great feeling to give musicians a chance to talk about their music and their fandom. And of course Jamie and I have made a lot of friends through doing the podcast!
Jamie: That's almost exactly what I was going to say! She's absolutely right. I love the people we get to meet and the friendships we get to create through our work on it. The Wizardrockers are some very cool people. I'm completely in love with live/acoustic type music, even more than I was before.
3. How long have you hosted the podcast?
Amy: since March 2006 but we began planning in November 2005
4. Does your podcast have a particular style/slant and if so what influences that?
Amy: We wanted it in the beginning to be fun and informative and to reflect our personalities a lot. As time went on we found that people responded to us being our crazy 3am, no sleep selves just rambling, having fun and listening to good music. We try not to take the podcast too seriously.
Jamie: Well, I suppose we do have a style... and it's evolved since we started the podcast way back in March of 2006. We sometimes have interviews with the bands, we talk, and we play Wizard Rock songs throughout the cast, like a radio program! We just really wanted to incorporate us and the wizard rockers while playing songs and maybe expose people to songs or bands they'd never heard before and of course, ones they already know and love!
Amy: Oh, we also wanted to have it like a little satire of a radio programme!
5. Do you plan to continue having episodes even though the Harry Potter series has been completed, and why?
Jamie: Absolutely! We don't plan on stopping anytime soon. We still love it. Wizard Rockers are still rocking! We aren't going anywhere.
Amy: Yes. We do. As long as there is Wizard Rock we will make podcasts. We'll be doing this until we're 90 and no one wants to listen to us anymore.
6. What is your favorite part of being on a wizard rock podcast?
Jamie: Again, the people. I like getting to know them and of course the lavish parties. :)
Amy: I think my favourite part is when people email us or message us about the podcast or asking us things. I think that's really nice. From the off we wanted it to be interactive. We were tired of hearing podcasts that were all about the hosts and seemed almost to ignore the listener. If people emailed us to say that we should adopt a WZRD goldfish and give him a segment we'd probably do it. We've both always wanted the podcast to be about you as well as Wizard Rock.
Jamie: Hahaha. He can be our new mascot. I say we call him Ginger.
Amy: Or Bob!!
7 What is your least favorite part of being on a wizard rock podcast?
Jamie: That's very easy. The editing of the podcast. I won't lie, sometimes it's a pain, but it's worth it.
Amy: No, I think it's the editing and the fact that we can't keep up with posting podcasts regularly. We gave up apologizing ages ago for the gaps between episodes because that's just life. We're both at college and finding times that work for us both to record is difficult, as is finding guests and time to edit.
Jamie: Exactly!
8 What advice do you have for potential future wizard rock podcast hosts?
Amy: Hmmmmmmm! I'm not sure. I don't know if I could say anything except be yourself. Have fun. And editing can fix almost anything.
Jamie: Don't eat the shellfish! Just kidding! Pretty much what Amy said. Also, I'd try to stay as organized as you can. It just makes things easier to put together later.
9.How do you explain wizard rock/your podcast to people who are new to the genre or to people who (heaven forbid) have never read Harry Potter?
Jamie: I've actually had to do this quite a bit lately! I basically say that there are so many intricate storylines in the books, so many things and characters that we don't see completely because it's from Harry's point of view, that Wizard Rock is a way to help us think about it! It's just plain fun as well...then they look at me like I'm nuts, but I don't care!
Amy: Wasn't it a Mugglecaster who said "I judge people on whether or not they have read Harry Potter"? I generally don't explain. If I have to I'll say that Wizard Rock is music based on Harry Potter. But honestly there are, by now, SO many facets of Wizard Rock that it would take several days to give an accurate description. Also I maintain that it's way cooler than it sounds. :)
10. Is your podcast completely DIY, and do you think that being completely DIY is an integral part of being a wizard rock podcast?
Amy: Yes. We do everything ourselves and even though it's actually painful at times, the feeling when we get an episode finished and uploaded is fantastic. It's such a buzz and a feeling of accomplishment. And editing can be fun... sometimes... Theoretically I would say that it doesn't need to be DIY. You could always pull a Mugglecast/Pottercast and have some editing elves or website elves. Jamie and I actually slave over every aspect of everything. We're good at different things, I think. Jamie is good at working out how to work websites and various programs and getting me out of horrible technical disasters and I'm better at being all over the place and rallying the troops, and outlining what we're going to talk about or play on the podcast.
Jamie: She's right, although we've been sharing song picks here lately, which I like.
Amy: Yeah. Generally Jamie picks the music unless I hear stuff that I really like.
Jamie: Which is quite a bit since... well, you can tell we love the wrock! :)
11 Is there any specific message you would like to share with your fans?
Amy: Thank you so much for listening! Every day I am surprised to see that WZRD has had more downloads. Please don't ever hesitate to get in contact with us if you have any ideas for the podcast or questions. It's your podcast too!
Jamie: Thank you for supporting us! We couldn't do it without you! Remember, we love feedback! Don't hesitate to get into contact with us. It amazes me how wonderful the fans and Wizard Rockers are! We love you guys!!!
