Greetings brothers and sisters of Metal,today we will be chatting with a young lady who is doing more than her share of trying to spread the Metal wealth to the masses.

           Her name is Julia or ( JJ ) as she is better known to her adoring fans and friends.

          JJ is a unique 21 year old college student who actually isn't just interested in Frat parties and Football games on campus but she is a DJ and station manager for WERW College radio at Syracuse University in New York (USA).

          She is also host of the UVTV ( Underground Video Television ) web cast on the internet.

          The reason this is of any interest to all of us Metalheads out there is the fact that JJ is a Metal fan as well and with her radio show and internet podcast, she is bringing Metal music and videos to fans who may not get to experience them otherwise.

         Lets face it gang, unless you want to shell out a few bucks for satellite radio, most standard radio stations Suck and as far as videos on TV go, MtV 2 and the Headbanger's Ball are the only chance we have to see any cool vids of our favorite bands and if you are lucky you might get to see 5-6 of the same old stale censored vids in a one hour show amidst the bombardment of commercials so lets just say.....we are definitely starved for something new to bring the music we love into our black little hears and homes.

          So let's have a little chat with the woman responsible for feeding our  Metal hunger........

Metal Pit : Hey JJ ,thank you so much for squeezing us in to your busy
schedule so we can find out more about the cool things you are
involved in.

JJ:   No problem, I love doing stuff like this. It's very flattering!

Metal Pit :   You are a college student at Syracuse University in New
York and also DJ and station manager for their radio station WERW, how
did you get involved with radio?

JJ:    I honestly never considered a career in radio until I got to college, and then it was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. In the first week of my freshmen year at SU, I was at a student organization fair, just looking around and seeing what there was to get involved in. I didn't even see WERW's table at first, all I heard was "Hey, want to be a DJ?" and I instantly was like, "Yeah!" I signed up for more info, and the rest is history… Over the past four years I've worked my way up from a freshman DJ with a 1-4am show on a Monday night, to the General Manager and Hard Rock Director in my
senior year with two prime time shows.

Metal Pit :   Tell us more about what you and your show are all about?

JJ:      Before I started doing radio and UVTV, I always loved music, but never thought I could make it into a career. And now, as cliché as it is, I'm realizing that there is something out there for everyone, and as underground as Metal may be, there's still a huge following for it, and definitely a place to make yourself into whatever you want. I'm not necessarily trying to be a role model, but I do want to show people that there is another side to metalheads besides the "goth" stereotype that outsiders perceive. The shows are about bringing metal to the masses, and if people notice me and think I'm doing a good job, then I can't really ask for anything more.



Metal Pit :   On your webpage you talk about "JJ's Metal Mania" and "Open Bar with Anthony and Julia", they sound like a lot of fun. Can you tell us more about these shows?

JJ:       I've been doing "JJ's Metal Mania" from the beginning with WERW, and that's just 3 hours of pure uninterrupted Metal. The great thing about the station is that we're free-format and commercial-free, so we can play un-edited music and there is no limit to what we can and can't play. So on Metal Mania I play every kind of metal you can imagine, from Norwegian black to American thrash, grindcore to NWOBHM- you name it, I'll play it. My other radio show started this past fall, "Open Bar with Anthony and Julia." My friend Anthony and I just talk about whatever we want, from our personal lives to pop culture, and we offer drink recipes and alcohol trivia in between. It's nice to be on the radio, and be humorous for a change.

Metal Pit :   College radio has been a saving grace to most of us over the years who have to suffer with watered down commercial standard radio, have the local fans supported you and what you are doing?

JJ:    Oddly enough, most of the feedback I get on my shows are from peoplethat aren't even college students. Unfortunately, metalheads are few and far between at SU, which could be frustrating, but I have found an audience online. Now that I'm thinking about it, I don't think I've gotten any bad feedback from locals, so I must be doing something right!

Metal Pit :   Unfortunately some college radio stations do struggle with funding and trying to stay on the air, have you encountered any of this and if so what can we as Metal fans do to help out?

JJ:       Money struggles are something I know far too well with my station. There's another radio station at SU that's FM and Top 40, and because of which, they get a lot more funding than WERW. We're always struggling and there's probably always going to be a problem here and there, but it's college radio and that comes with the territory. We might not be perfect, but it's a learning experience for everyone involved. Monetary donations surely help a lot, but what's even better is just
that people listen and care. Maybe if the "powers that be" that grant us money knew how valued we were, they would give us a little bit more. Support is what keeps college radio up and running.

Metal Pit :   Believe it or not, I first heard Slayer's "Hell Awaits" on college radio in Pittsburgh and I have never been the same since. I think what your doing is great for the music that we love and I hope it can continue.

JJ:      It's been a great experience, and it's sad that I'm graduating soon and leaving the station, but I hope there's bigger things for me in the future! And hopefully there'll be some young metalhead that'll take my place and keep it alive in Syracuse…

Metal Pit :    How did you first get into Heavy Metal?

JJ:    When I was younger, I remember loving music and loving performing, but it took me a while to find something specific that really got me going. In middle school, while all my girlfriends were getting into the bubblegum pop stuff like *NSYNC and Britney Spears, I felt like the odd one out because I wasn't into it like they were. I had all those CDs though, because being into something was better than nothing. Going into high school, I was into modern punk and that was ok, but it wasn't satisfying. And then a friend of mine had me listen to Arch Enemy one day, and it hit me- HARD. It was a little scary at first, but the more I listened, the more I identified with it. High school isn't such a great time for a lot of people, and it definitely wasn't a great time for me. I started doing my own digging and found bands like Hatebreed, As I Lay Dying, Pantera, and Kittie, and it was a done deal. Metal single-handedly got me through high school and has continued to become part of who I am. My tastes have changed, personal favorites have changed, but don't expect me to get into reggae anytime soon. I like other genres of music as well, I don't think any hardcore metalhead listens to Metal and that's IT. But at the end of the day, if I want to feel good, if I want to feel empowered, I'm putting on heavy metal. End of story.

Metal Pit :    What is the Metal scene like in Syracuse, both on campus and in the town?

JJ:    I wish it was better. On campus it's virtually non-existent, kinda just when you see someone on campus wearing a Metallica or Cannibal Corpse t-shirt, you give em a little smile and flash em the horns, haha. In town it's not much better, but it's getting there. No matter what, there's a general acceptance in Syracuse for all kinds of music, which is great, and more venues are starting to open up.

Metal Pit :    I see you are a fan of the band "Straight Line Stitch", I am also a big fan of their's and think Alexis is an amazing vocalist. Can you tell us some of your favorite bands and if you had the chance who you would interview on your show?

JJ:     Straight Line Stitch is fantastic, and I think they're really bringing something new to the table. I actually met Alexis briefly in the bathroom of a Kittie and Dope show this past July in New York City! It was kind of a chance encounter, but she was very friendly and humble, and I hope they continue to do well. It's hard for me to list my favorites, because there's a lot! One band that I absolutely love though is Lamb of God. I think they are incredible musicians, and they've never put out a weak album. Everything they've done has been stellar. I want to interview everyone really, but I think it would be amazing to interview Dee Snider. Probably not who people would expect me to say, because my musical tastes are generally heavier than Twisted Sister, but I think he's probably one of the most knowledgeable people in metal, period, and he would make for a really interesting
conversation.



Metal Pit :     What are some of your favorite live shows you have seen this past year?

JJ:     I got to see GWAR twice this year, and they probably put on the best lives shows ever. Both times I saw them this year, I brought a couple of my friends who had never seen them before, and the combination of good friends and the craziness of GWAR made for a ridiculously fun and out of control night. I also got to see Kittie this past summer for the first time, and that was great just because I've been a fan of theirs for so long, and they didn't disappoint.

Metal Pit :   Being a college student and running a radio station I
think would be enough for most people, but not you. Can you tell us
about your role in UVTV?

JJ:     Ha, never enough for me! If I'm not running around all the time busy as hell, I'm bored. I started doing UVTV around March of 2006, when the producer, Rich Stahle, found me through MySpace and my radio show. Over the past couple years, I've hosted a handful of shows for them and it's been a fantastic opportunity. UVTV is based out of Chicago now instead of Syracuse, so I don't know how regularly I'll be hosting, but where there's a will there's a way. Rich and I keep in touch, and hopefully I'll be working with UVTV for years to come.

Metal Pit :     How can fans find out about UVTV?

JJ:    The website is www.uvtv.info, and the podcasts can be downloaded on iTunes. It really couldn't be easier to get your metal fix.

Metal Pit :     I actually subscribed to the webcasts on I-tunes and I am really enjoying the vids, alot of which I have never seen before.

JJ:    Nice! It's true that you can find bands that you've never heard of before or really given the time of day, and they can become your favorites. I've found a lot of bands myself through UVTV that I've come to love.

Metal Pit :    You have a few webcasts devoted to Women in Metal which is something very important to us here on the Metal Pit. What is your opinion on women in the scene today and do you think of yourself as a role model for any young people who may want to follow in your footsteps?

JJ:    I think that now is one of the best times to be a woman in the metal scene. Women like Lita Ford, Doro Pesch, Angela Gossow, and Girlschool have already paved the way, and now we have women like Maria Brink, Otep Shamaya, Candace Kusculain, and Tarja Turunen… The list is endless, but to me, these women are inspiring. I mean, their talent alone is amazing (and their attractive to boot), but in addition to that, these are not weak, timid women. They are just as tough as the men and aren't going to take shit from anyone. They're their own people with their own thoughts and it's not just about being a pretty face anymore. They're the whole package, and that's what I'm aiming for in my career. I don't think I'm a role model, not yet. But hopefully someday I'll be as respected in the business as any other metal persona, female or male.

Metal Pit :    What advice would you like to give to any young women who want to follow in your footsteps?

JJ:     I think it's very important to keep your mind open and aware. What's great about metal is that it both has a rich history and is always evolving, so it's good to both know your roots as well as keep up with the trends. You can learn something from everyone you meet. But you should also follow your gut. Don't be afraid to take chances, but also know when something just seems plain wrong. And most of all, don't try to be someone you're not. It's exhausting, and eventually someone will see through it.

Metal Pit :     Despite never getting any support from commercial radio or television, I think Metal is stronger and more popular today than ever, do you agree and if so what do you attribute this too?

JJ:    I do agree, and I think it's because people are getting sick of what the industry is producing. There's so many entertainers that are huge right now that are either talentless, or exactly the same as 10 other people, and I think the general public is starting to realize how boring that is. I mean, I don't ever expect to see the Billboard Top 200 filled top to bottom with metal act after metal act, but I do find it to be more popular now than it was a few years ago.



Metal Pit :     You are not only a Metal celebrity but you are also a fan, do you play any instruments or sing?

JJ:     I don't quite think I'm a Metal "celebrity" yet, but thanks for the compliment, haha! But I do sing and play the piano. Piano is more of a fun hobby for me… I kinda just learn songs I like by ear. I've been singing though for as long as I can remember, and I'm actually in the Hendricks Chapel Choir at SU. Kind of strange for a metalhead to be in a chapel choir I suppose, but everyone in it is of different faiths and we're all just there because we love to sing. Singing is something I get a lot out of, personally, and while it would be nice to do something with it in my career, it's not my top priority.



Metal Pit :     Living in a college town has to be a blast, can you tell us any off the wall stories that you have been witness to or
personally involved in? (Don't worry, we put the kids to bed hours ago so don't be shy, haha)

JJ:     Hmm… Well, you could say I'm a typical college student, I do go out and party with my friends. I've seen the good and the bad of it all. But one thing I will tell you is that if I'm drinking somewhere and someone starts talking to me about music… it's hard for me to stop! Once you get me started I will tell you everything I know, and what I think (and occasionally try not to make fun of people when they listen to shitty music). One time though I remember being at a party and a couple of dumb freshmen boys got into an argument with me about metal. They obviously had no idea who they were messing with. They kept trying to tell me that AC/DC were the pioneers of heavy metal and that Ozzy wasn't in Black Sabbath. I think I tried to explain to them how wrong they were, but they weren't listening to me, and I just walked away. They laughed at me as if they won… and then I laughed at them when I saw them both puking outside. That's some heavy metal karma if I ever saw it!

Metal Pit :    You are going to be graduating soon, what are your plans for the future and are you going to try to stay in radio or TV because you seem like a natural at it?

JJ:   Ideally, my dream is to be just a respected Metal personality. I want to do as much I can! I'd love to keep DJing, do some more television stuff, work with other metal companies- clothing companies, record labels, promoters, concert venues… But realistically, I'm just hoping I get a job come graduation! We all know how rough it is for the entertainment business and the economy right now, so I just hope there's something for me. I'm definitely on the lookout for opportunity.

Metal Pit :    Is there anything about yourself you might want to share
with us that maybe your fans do not know?

JJ:    Right now I'm working on a new website with my best friend Elise called www.reigninblonde.com and that's a lot of fun for both of us. It's a blog where we just write about all things Metal and post pictures and videos about everything in the scene, as well as ourselves being silly. If people have enjoyed my radio shows and the episodes I've done for UVTV, then they should definitely check this out as well! As far as interesting facts… hmmm… I can tap dance! I tapped for 12 years, so I guess you could say that I'm METAL from head to toe! Also, I have a knack for being really cheesy, haha!

Metal Pit :    JJ, on behalf of myself and the Metal Pit we want to thank
you for doing what you do and for chatting with us today. It was a
lot of fun getting to know you a little better and we wish you a Happy
New Year and success in your future plans.

JJ:    Thank YOU! It's been a pleasure. I wish you all the best, ROCK ON!