OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: Still Playing Favorites

Hello again, my Padawans!

It’s Tuesday, which means it’s almost time to turn on the microphones, fire up the decks, and head Off the Beaten Track once again.

Tonight’s show begins at 6 PM Eastern on Jedi Council Radio, and I’m continuing a theme that I’ve discovered I really don’t want to give up yet:

Favorite songs.

That sounds incredibly simple, but the more shows I build around the idea, the more I realize how enormous the subject really is.

There are favorite songs you’ve carried around for decades.

There are favorites from your favorite bands that may not necessarily be the songs everyone else would choose.

There are songs connected to particular people, places, summers, cars, relationships, concerts, apartments, jobs, mistakes, victories and moments in your life.

Then there are those songs you completely forget about until you hear the first few seconds and suddenly think:

“OH MY GOD, I LOVE THIS SONG.”

Those are some of the best.

That’s What I’m Digging Through Right Now

Lately, I’ve really enjoyed going through music without feeling like every show needs a narrow genre or decade attached to it.

I love themed shows. I love deep cuts shows. I love building programs around a particular band, artist, era or musical idea, and there will absolutely be plenty more of those.

But there’s something wonderfully freeing about sitting down and asking one very simple question:

What do I really want to hear?

That question can produce a pretty wild playlist.

A rock track might lead me toward alternative. Alternative might send me toward new wave. Suddenly I’m playing something funky. That reminds me of an electronic track. Somebody sends me a request that throws the entire show in another direction, and fifteen minutes later we’re somewhere I never expected to be when I started.

And I love that.

That unpredictability is a huge part of what Off the Beaten Track has become.

Your Requests Are Part of the Show

I also want to keep reminding everyone that requests are encouraged.

Not merely tolerated.

Not something I reluctantly squeeze in because somebody asked.

I actually enjoy them.

Your requests can completely change the direction of an evening, and sometimes somebody requests a song that makes me wonder why I haven’t played it in years.

There really isn’t a genre rule here. If you want to hear something, ask.

If I have the track, I’ll try to play it. If I don’t have it and it’s reasonably easy for me to obtain, I’ll see what I can do.

That interaction is one of the reasons I enjoy doing a live show instead of simply assembling a playlist and pressing play.

You’re part of Off the Beaten Track too.

A Little Station Update

For anybody who has recently discovered what I’m doing, Jedi Council Radio is more than just the Tuesday show.

The station runs around the clock whenever the technical gods, the internet connection and the broadcasting software are all behaving themselves. 😆

Outside of the live programs, the station is generally wandering through the music library on its own, which means you really never know what might appear next.

That’s intentional.

I like radio that can surprise me.

I grew up loving that feeling of hearing something come through the speakers and needing to know, “What IS this?”

I want Jedi Council Radio to keep some of that spirit alive.

No giant corporate playlist telling us the same handful of songs need to appear every few hours.

No algorithm deciding that because you liked Song A, you apparently need seventeen songs that sound exactly like Song A.

Sometimes music discovery should be messy.

Sometimes it should be accidental.

Sometimes you should hear something completely outside your normal listening habits and discover that you love it.

That’s exactly where Off the Beaten Track lives.

And There’s More Happening

I’m continuing to work on music, DJ projects, radio ideas, visual projects and everything else that seems to find its way into my creative universe.

Some things eventually become full projects. Some become future radio shows. Some start as ridiculous ideas that I mention jokingly and then, three days later, I’m sitting there thinking:

“…wait. That might actually be really good.”

That happens more often than I should probably admit.

And that is one reason I want to use this blog for more than simply saying, “Hey, I’m on the radio tonight.”

If you subscribe or regularly check in here, I want you to actually know what’s happening.

There will be more specialty shows.

There will be more deep dives.

There will be more music.

There will undoubtedly be some experiments.

And there will definitely be more occasions where I go wandering down some musical rabbit hole and invite all of you to follow me.

That part probably isn’t going away anytime soon.

Tonight, Though, We’re Playing Favorites

So tonight we return to the record collection.

Some familiar favorites.

Some songs I haven’t played nearly enough.

Some favorite songs from favorite artists.

Probably a surprise or two.

And whatever requests all of you decide to throw at me.

🎧 OFF THE BEATEN TRACK WITH DJ JEDI

📅 Tuesday, September 1

🕕 6 PM Eastern

📻 Jedi Council Radio

💬 Requests are encouraged!

You can also keep up with DJ Jedi through Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, as well as the website, where I’ll continue posting news, show information, projects and assorted transmissions from my little corner of the musical universe.

If you’ve been listening for a while, thank you. Seriously. Whether you’re there every Tuesday, tune into the station occasionally, read these posts, send me requests, share something I’m doing, or simply tell me you enjoyed a song I played — I appreciate it.

And if you’re new?

Welcome aboard.

There are very few rules around here.

Love music.

Stay curious.

Request something.

And don’t be afraid to wander a little bit off the beaten track.

See you tonight at 6 PM Eastern.

May the Music Be with You!

— DJ Jedi

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