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KXCJ new DJ Deep Field interview

KXCJ-LP, the Valley’s very own community radio station, has a new DJ. Rob Lark, under the name DJ Deep Fields, hosts his show “Exploratorium” every Tuesday night from 8-10 p.m.
Lark, talking about the inspiration for his alias, said, “In astronomy, a Deep Field image is captured when a telescope focuses on a seemingly empty patch of the night sky for an extended period. When the composite images are assembled, they reveal a stunning sight: The patch is far from empty, but filled with countless galaxies, each housing thousands of stars. This concept resonates with the music I play. Upon first listen, it may seem bare and devoid of conventional musical elements. However, if you train your ear to listen closely, you will discover a universe of musicality unfolding within it.”
Exploratorium represents the 23rd live show hosted by a local DJ.
New to the Valley as well as being new to KXCJ, Lark and his wife moved up to Southern Oregon from the San Joaquin Valley a little over a year ago. “We really enjoy it here. It’s fantastic! The place reminds me a lot of where I grew up (the South Island of New Zealand). I love the hiking trails and the peacefulness of the area,” said Lark, adding, “I landed my dream job as a front-end engineer at Discogs, which is based in Oregon.
Discogs.com is a free online database and marketplace for music releases; connecting collectors, sellers and music fans worldwide. It’s an amazing platform to learn about and discover music.”
He isn’t new to broadcasting, though. He had his own show on “True Vinyl Alternative,” a Chicago-based radio station, “which was the only 100% vinyl radio station in America at the time. Back then, I managed a record store and would spin vinyl from the shelves. I recorded my shows at the store in California and emailed them to the station. I enjoy being on KXCJ-LP a lot more, as you just can’t replicate that feeling of being live in the radio station,” said Lark.
KXCJ boasts a deep range of music and they like to think there is a little something there for everyone. Lark explained, “I have rather unusual taste in music, so my show might not appeal to everyone. When I went off to college, I would stay up late and record the college radio station. The DJs played music that sounded like it came from another dimension, completely blowing apart my preconceptions about what music could be. With my show, I hope to provide that same space for listeners, showing them that the range of expressions in music is much broader than they previously imagined. I also became friends with people who DJed techno at a local club, which sparked my interest in DJing.

“I started spinning European drum and bass records that I imported from my local music store. European drum and bass from the early 2000s had a dark and heavy sound, often incorporating samples from horror films. The songs had a specific structure with dance sections being punctuated by deep atmospheric interludes. I always found those dark beatless moments of the music to be my favorite.
“Over the years, I gradually sought out artists that were making and releasing what I learned was called dark-ambient or drone music. If you listen to my show, you’ll hear instrumental, melancholic, and minimal dark- atmospheric music. The first hour is a bit easier to get into, especially for newcomers to the style, and then the second hour gets darker and more intense.”

According to Lark, during the show, listeners have the opportunity to participate in a trivia contest and win vinyl or CDs. Additionally, as a passionate reader of popular science books, on the hour he includes a short reading from a book he is currently exploring.
Want to hear something new? Want to win a vinyl recording or CD or hear an enticing snipet from a book? Tune into 105.7FM Tuesdays from 8-10PM on your radio dial or stream live at www.kxcj.org.