DJ Nicole Ryan was the host of the 2012 Camplified tour. She went around to numerous camps and got the crowd roaring for all of the acts lined up to perform for campers across the nation. We got to chat with Nicole about her career in radio and what it was like to travel with Camplified. Check out what she had to say below!
Fanlala: When you’re in the station, what is your mindset? Are you talking to 10 million listeners in your head? Or is it a one-on-one conversation like I’ve heard about in the past?
Nicole Ryan: If you think you’re talking to ten to twelve million people, you’ll go crazy. When I’m in studio, it’s just me and three guys who are like brothers to me. And what I do is just pretend like I’m out to lunch with them. I pretend the mic isn’t there. People just want to hear us having a conversation, they’re just listening in. You can’t act like you’re talking with a million people. It just has to be a few friends. That way everything is more natural, and it makes for much better radio.
F: What did you learn from being a part of the Camplified tour?
NR: Camplified helped me realize how many people I’m actually reaching. I felt super well-known when I was on tour, and it made me realize how much of a reach that I actually have. I felt looked up to by these kids. Since we’re really the only family friendly channel on Sirius, it was a big deal. It was great watching the bands we play on the channel, and it was really inspiring to know that I’m looked up to!
F: Do you have any memorable experiences with the Camplified artists that you’d like to share?
NR: I didn’t realize how many people knew me (I need to bring more glossies and sharpies next time!) I love the whole idea, and I’ve never been a part of anything like that. When I was younger, I went to camp, so it really took me back. I felt so excited taking pictures with the kids, playing guitar, it just brought me back to my childhood. Camplified is a great way to do that, feel like a kids again.
F: You said you attended camp when you were younger? Do you have any stories?
NR: It was a one month long camp that lasted all of July, and it was the best time of my life. It was the closest thing that resembled college. My parents told me college would be like camp, it just lasts a lot longer.
It was great for me, I had my first kiss at camp. We had a blast TP’ing everything, we had color wars. Looking back, I wish I had gone for a whole summer camp. It was never enough. It was a whole new level and just really cool.
F: What made you decide to get into radio?
NR: I was just really in the right place at the right time. I went to school for communications, and I really wanted to work in the entertainment industry. I started temping on Sirius XM early on, and they would have me doing voice work in different situations, I would do promos and things like that. I got friendly with the guys on the morning show, and they wanted a girl. They knew I had such great chemistry with everyone, so I was asked to audition. I didn’t know what I was doing. It was terrifying, but I kept at it for a week, and everyone loved it. They made me entertainment reporter, covering pop culture, celebrities, and gossip. None of it was planned, it’s just a crazy story that ends up with me working in radio!
F: What on-air stories do you have for us? Something wild that’s happened on air.
NR: will.i.am was in one day, and he was just not cooperating. He wanted to mess around, and I was like “Listen! If you don’t get serious, I’m gonna come over and knock you out!” I was kinda joking, not really, and he smartened up. He was really cool to have in studio.
Taylor Swift was another great story. We had her in before she really took off. Taylor was beet red, and just shell shocked. It turns out she had listened to us for years. So it was a blast talking with her. Now, whenever we have her, it’s like seeing an old friend. It’s very humbling knowing that Taylor Swift was a fan of ours.
We loved talking with DJ Nicole about her time in radio and on the Camplified tour. If you listen to her on Sirius Radio, give her a shout out in the comments section below!
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