Anthony Carew
Presents The International Pop Underground
Unpopular pop-music at its most pretty and profound.
How did you first connect with Triple R?
As teenager, lovingly listening to Karen Leng's Station to Station in a pre-internet era. I first appeared on air when I was 20. Richard Moffat was actually filling in for said program, and he invited me on to play records; I came excitedly bearing Neutral Milk Hotel's just-released In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. Shortly thereafter, expert training from former bossman James Young had me doing fills via my own bill-paying skills. Since then, the years've run like rabbits.
What/when was your first show?
Well, this is it. I started - same bat time, same bat channel, same bat pretensions - in 2000. I guess I'm like a piece of the furniture now.
What's your favourite Triple R story?
One year, one Radiothon I was off travelling the globe, leaving my loving fans broken-hearted and empty-handed (or something like this). Woody was in charge of the phone-room volunteers on the eve, and, in my absence, decided to ask them all what they thought I looked like. Some had very involved, elaborate, imagined descriptions. None were close.
Your favourite other Triple R program and why?
Dance Cadaverous. Because the good times don't miss a beat.
What does Triple R mean to you?
Liberty and justice for all. Or, quite seriously: freedom! The freedom to play whatever I want, at all, is the most beautiful thing in the world. Being able to take some random song by some random band from some random country and play it unto the world is something I treasure. I feel like I've played more Chilean pop in the past couple of years than anyone in the history of Australian broadcasting.
The studio door has accidentally jammed shut with you stuck inside. If there was only one CD in there with you what would you want it to be and why?
In the interests of interesting radio: the Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs.
What's the question most asked of you by callers to the station?
Q: Where's your accent from? A: My mouth.