Arts
The voice of Christmas
You know it’s Christmas when radio makes the move to big, bold public venues, and the hosts have their cheeriest voices to usher in the spirit of the season.
Radio plays a significant role in bringing the joy and good vibes of Christmas to households and work spaces around the country.
In this week’s Magazine we speak to some of your favourite radio personalities about what a season of celebration means for the voice behind that mic.
Tracy Holsinger, ‘Wake Up With Tracy’ on TNL Radio
Tracy returns to airspace after a hiatus of 12 years. “I’m loving it! I didn’t know how much I missed the morning show vibe until I came back,” she says.
TNL is live at Majestic City until the 24th of December-it’s a tradition that began when she was first on air and gets bigger and more inventive every year; plenty of games and competitions happen on site and on air, alongside a photo booth.
“Our December programming is always about more music and we know from the feedback that our listeners love that,” says Tracy of planning for the month of December.
“There’s a lot of additional advertising during the season, so we work with our sponsors to create promotions for their products well in advance.
Danu
The promotions themselves are exciting – lots of deals for the holiday season. Plus we do lots of giveaways on air – this month I’ve hosted special guests like resort wear specialists Rum Punch, Shehan Karunatilaka and Chhimi Tendulf-la to name a few, and they’ve all given gifts to our listeners, which is lovely.”
Does being thrust into the limelight during the season affect how she views her role as a radio personality? Sort of-“yes, I have had to say goodbye to my T-shirts and ripped jeans” but not really- “but there’s not a huge change really.
I’ve hosted TNL’s live shows and on site promotions since I first began working with the station, so interacting with audiences as Tracy from TNL Radio is not something new. I enjoy meeting our listeners – it’s good to know who you’re talking to every day.”
Most requested (on the show): Lean on by Major Lazer and DJ Snake and The Light by Disturbed
Danu and Jovi, ‘Lite Café’, Lite87
These two have acquired somewhat of a reputation for no holds barred, unrepentant commentary on Sri Lanka’s inanities. Now you can catch them live at the Arcade Independence Square as they host their morning show from the venue.
Gem
“It’s our first time at the arcade,” says Danu “the promos are bigger than ever before and the venue is incredible! We get heaps of interaction.”
“We maintain a very close bond with our listeners,” they say when asked if putting faces to familiar names has struck them anew.
“We absolutely love the fact that we get to see our listeners face to face as we already created fun relationships with them through their text messages.” Planning their Christmas shows is fun business, we’re told-“we start planning very early because we want it to be spectacular! But we also draw inspiration from our private lives so it’s always fresh and exciting.”
Most requested: ‘Mary Did You Know’-Pentatonix
Gem and Blessie, ‘Evening Vise’, E FM
Ah, Gem. He of the infamous prank calls. Blessie, the savvy co-host who keeps him on track. Together the duo has taken the helm with E’s evening show-they’re the voices that will attempt to keep your sanity in check while you battle through some good old Lankan traffic.
Blessie
It’s not easy business- the evening show is one of the toughest assignments to be dealt-yet they do this with admirable gusto, especially now at the Crescat Boulevard, their home for the next few days.
They’ll be working through Christmas, but this inevitability is accepted with a certain amount of sangfroid. Their temporary abode at Crescat comes complete with couches and many, many cups of coffee.
Blessie says, “We love it when our listeners walk in, because usually we’re the ones doing the talking to them-so when they come in and start chatting to us it’s really nice.”
Gem adds, “Somehow we’re never at a loss of things to talk about! Plus when you see their reactions you kind of up your game a bit.”
Most requested: ‘Grandpa got run over by a reindeer’-Weird Al Yankovic
Dominic and Asanka, ‘The Morning Fix’, Yes FM
When we walk into the temporary Yes FM Studio at Echelon Square we receive a welcome of the kind longlost relatives usually get-these two have momentarily mistaken us for listeners wandering in for a quick chat. “It’s super nice to have people walking in!” they explain.
Both Dominic and Asanka are returning to radio after a lengthy hiatus. “The response we’ve had is phenomenal,” says Asanka. They’re in the middle of a major Star Wars promo, and seem to be having an absolute blast.
Dominic and Asanka
They’ll be working through Christmas-except the 25th-but say that this is part and parcel of what they signed up for-and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Most requested: ‘Little Drummer Boy’-Justin Bieber