“The fact that we all have this platform to kind of have our own hour, two hours, three hours, is really cool.” Said WMEB DJ Liz Dunn.
WMEB 91.9 has been a campus staple since 1964 and has continued to deliver the very best in local and non-local underground musical talent and student-born entertainment. But who are these people behind the voices? Last week, we spoke to Benji Kuebler at WMEB 91.9 and were guided through his fabulous film criticism program, “Cinemascapes.”
This week, we went back and spoke with another voice, Liz Dunn, Vice President of All Maine Women, Team Maine Student Ambassador and President of the Hammock Club, who hosts her show “Downeast Cadence.”
Dunn’s program is a fabulous showcase of Maine-borne talent, as she highlights solely local bands from Maine and songs that are about Maine. Each week features the best the state of Maine has to offer, with artists like the ‘Oshima Brothers,’ ‘Louisa Stancioff’ and ‘Chris Ross and the North.’ That is exactly how she likes it, being a very proud and passionate Mainer herself.
A real All-American Mainer, she attends hockey games with her friends, concerts featuring local bands and engages in all sorts of outdoor activities. “People say that I’m, like, a very stereotypical Mainer,” Dunn said, “Like I’m into outdoor stuff, I ski, fish, all that stuff.”
Liz Dunn grew up in the town of Hebron in Southwestern Maine with her parents. Her music tastes were fostered through listening to the radio with them and going to live concerts. “There’s a garage in my house, and growing up, the radio was always on while my dad worked on cars,” said Dunn, “and mom always had the radio on in the car. Mom and I also went to concerts together.” Since becoming a DJ at the station, Dunn says that it has given her the ability to further connect with her family despite being so far away. “My parents still listen to the radio a lot of the time, so they would always listen in and they still do,” Dunn said.
However, her passions do not lie within music, as Dunn’s true passion lies in middle school education. “I’ve always liked working with kids,” said Dunn. “I think they’re fun. My first job growing up was a camp counselor.” Dunn had initially been studying a STEM field at the University of Maine before transitioning to education and doing observations for student teaching at the Leonard Middle School in Old Town. She expresses a deep desire to work more with people and share the thrills of science with the youth.
Though she has only been with WMEB for a year and a half, Dunn looks upon her experience positively, especially with the staff and other DJs with whom she has interactions.
“It’s really nice to get to know them,” Dunn said. “Because then I would see them around campus and it would be like a new familiar face.” Dunn has attended many events conducted by the station, including their concerts and collaborations with the student government. As Dunn herself has stated, “It’s been really fun.”
Be sure to catch Liz Dunn’s show, ‘Downeast Cadence’ every Wednesday evening from 6-7 p.m., only on WMEB 91.9.
