Music has been a part of their lives since they can remember. Now, they’re taking the next step and letting their creativity run wild.

Sophomore Jamie Aldridge can’t remember what it was she liked about music from the beginning. Sophomore Alex Simons remembers singing and playing the piano at age 4.  They are two very different people, but they possess the same passion for music.

Getting startedBoth women agree that sometimes they need more depth from music, something other than mainstream. They said the radio feeds the public the same thing over and over again, and that’s not fulfilling. Their love for music and need for more variety started their journey towards an online radio show known as “The Hapster.”

Aldridge initiated the radio show after hearing one of her business professors talk about the days when he had done the same thing. She then approached Simons, a friend, to help her out.

“We have good taste in music,” Aldridge said. “If anybody should do this, it should be us.” Hosted by Jammmey Rock (Aldridge) and A SIZ (Simons), “The Hapster” launched March 12.

The construction process was stressful and long, but they were ready for the first show to be up. 

Regardless of what their busy schedules bring, they find time for music. Music follows them wherever they go, whether they’re on the way to class, doing homework, or driving.

“Honestly, I don’t think I’d be happy if I didn’t have some connection to music in general,” Simons said.

Aldridge has always enjoyed finding new music her friends have never heard. She enjoyed the thrill of finding music that would then show up on the radio a month or two later. She said she has always had an ear for what’s going to be popular.

Simons has been involved with music since a young age, but at age 15 one of her friends, who she calls her a music guru, inspired her to become more involved. In high school she began to listen to bands like the Flaming Lips, Jack’s Mannequin and Animal Collective. None of the three is usually heard on the radio or grouped with mainstream music.

However, both girls find mainstream music a necessity.

“It’s catchy,” Simons said.

Sophomore Andrew Wilson, a mutual friend since their freshman year at St. Edward’s, thinks Aldridge has a wide taste in music that will appeal to different groups of people. He also said he  thinks Simons will appeal to hipster listeners.

Producing the showTo make this show work, both girls have been willing to collaborate with one another. They each make a list of song ideas for their radio play list and present it to each other. They listen to each song and then decide what is right for the show.

“We have to check and see how it flows together,” Simons said.

They have a system of grouping the songs that fit a specific genre, so the music isn’t all over the place. The show is composed of about three-fourths alternative and one-fourth mainstream and hip-hop tunes.

“There’s stuff we like, but haven’t heard on the radio yet,” Aldridge said.

“It was diverse and interesting and entertaining because it was music I’d never listened to before,” said sophomore Samantha Aitken, a friend of Aldridge and Simmons for two years.

ProgrammingNext, they must physically buy the music offline to avoid any problems with copyrights. The music is downloaded, converted to the MP3 format and uploaded to the website. According to Aldridge, as long as the songs have been purchased and she has the rights to them, there should not be a copyright problem.

Previously they had hoped to update each week, but with their busy schedules, they have decided once a month would be best. Simons said if they get the hang of things, they may run once every three weeks.

“I’m okay with it not being major,” Aldridge said. “I just want my friends and family to look at it if they have time.”

“We thought that was the easiest way to get the word out,” Aldridge said.

Austin’s radio marketAustin is known for its live music scene, but not so much for its radio scene, said Simons.The state of Austin’s radio scene surprised her because of its music reputation. She said that radio and the music industry are dying out because of the switch to online content. To be successful in radio, competitiveness is necessary.

“You’ve got to be the best,” Simons said.

Radio stations are competing with the Internet, while online radio hosts, like Aldridge and Simons, are competing with music sites like Pandora.

 Regardless of the competition, the two are jumping into the radio industry and seeing if they can swim.

“It’s kind of a side project thing,” Simons said. “If it takes off, it takes off, but it’s not expected.”

Simon and Aldridge hope to post a new playlist before the semester ends.You can find “The Hapster” by going to www.live365.com/stations/jaldridge2208.