Yesterday on Facebook, popular Seattle DJ Sharlese Metcalf announced that she will be stepping down as host of KEXP's local-music specialty show Audioasis after 10 years in the position. (If you're interested in applying for the job, go here.)
Metcalf will still hold down a slot on the station's Sunday night electronic-music showcase, Expansions, and will occasionally contribute to and sub for Audioasis. She also serves as KEXP's Education Coordinator and on the board of the Northwest Film Forum. In addition, Metcalf is involved with the TUF, False Prophet, and Techno Dad music crews.
Metcalf thought long and hard about the decision. Her work with NWFF and as Education Coordinator proved to her "that there's a lot more to the local music community than just the music. There are things that are making it hard for artists to live in the Seattle and when I play a band on the radio and find out that they have moved away, it makes me think about accessibility, affordability, medical resources... so many things and I just need to explore what different things I can do to help the greater local music community. I have spent 10 years on Audioasis and while I'm in love with the show, I guess I feel like I've done a lot with the show and something like a local show deserves new breath. I'm grateful that I was on the show, it was my dream come true and now I have new dreams."
In an interview on Slog, Metcalf outlined her ethos for Audioasis:
I believe that Audioasis should act as a resource for PNW music, so it's super important that I have new music every week. I'm always on the hunt... It's really fun to be limitless and tell the story that I want to for three hours. I experiment with ambient, beats, and all different styles to truly represent electronic music the best I can.
Metcalf has done an excellent job championing the regional music scene, and she's set the bar high for her successor. If her accomplishments thus fare are indicative, she will surely foster more and varied positive developments for the area's culture.
