Alicia “Bruce” Mitchell recently joined CPR’s OpenAir team of hosts, bringing Colorado music lovers a new voice to discover independent music.
As a Colorado native, Alicia has her finger on the pulse of the state’s thriving music scene and loves to introduce listeners to new music with carefully crafted playlists.
“It’s fun to connect different genres in unexpected ways and transport listeners from one sound to another,” says Alicia. “The Beatles have been my favorite band since I was a kid, but I’ll listen to almost any genre I can get my hands on – from hip hop to mariachi.”
Although she grew up making mix tapes and reading up on her favorite artists, Alicia didn’t realize her passion for radio until her junior year at Colorado Mesa University when she became music director of the student-run station KMSA.
“I practically lived at the station,” she remembers. “I became a leader—hosting multiple shows, helping to revamp the website and managing the studio’s transition to a new building on campus. I fell in love with the work.”
Alicia continued to manage KMSA while completing her bachelor’s degree in history. After graduating, she worked in environmental conservation for a few years, but decided to switch paths and pursue a full-time radio career when an opportunity opened up at Grand Junction Community Radio’s KAFM. During her tenure there, she hosted new alternative music shows and directed music, production and web content before signing on as the music director for KGNU in Boulder.
Alicia hopes her new role at Colorado Public Radio will expose local talent to a larger audience and engage the Colorado music community, from Denver to Fort Collins.
“I’m excited to be a part of a team that is so obviously dedicated to up-and-coming musicians, especially those who are local,” says Alicia. “I hope my work at Colorado Public Radio will continue to garner community support for new and local music, and build even deeper connections to the Colorado music scene—with listeners as well as musicians.”
