OpenAir Digital Producer
Twitter @OpenAirCPR
Daniel Mescher

Daniel Mescher is the digital producer for Indie 102.3. He has produced Inside Track and contributes to CPR News’ Colorado Matters program.

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in psychology and statistics, Northwestern University.

Professional background:
Daniel joined CPR in October 2013 as digital producer for OpenAir. Prior to that, he interned for WXRT in Chicago and also served as business manager and student DJ for WNUR in Evanston, IL. More recently, Daniel was a Blueprint Math Fellow in the Denver Public School System and also provided support as an OpenAir volunteer.

Q & A

How did you become interested in music?
My first foray into rock music came via the Beatles. “Breakfast with the Beatles,” hosted by Terri Hemmert on WXRT, became an unbreakable Sunday morning ritual. The Beatles led to the Stones who led to the Clash who led to Joy Division, and so on and so on. Somewhere in there I bought a guitar and taught myself to play along with Dad’s Neil Young records, sealing my passion for music forevermore.

How did you get into radio?
I remember staying up late listening to stations like WXRT in Chicago, eagerly awaiting song after song and recording my favorite tracks onto cassette tape (this was around the turn of the millennium, so I was a little behind the time with technology as a kid).

My older brother went off to college when I was in middle school. When he came back home to visit, he detailed how he became involved with his campus’ student-run station. So on my very first day of college I sought out the student radio station and found work as an apprentice on a show dedicated to the music of Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, a program for which I eventually took over hosting duties. My radio story came full circle when I found an internship with XRT, the very station that sparked my interest as a rabid young music fan.

As a music radio employee, my goal is and always will be to spread the joy that I received on those late nights hunched over my stereo.

How did you end up at CPR?
I moved to Colorado after graduating college to work as a full-time math tutor. As summer approached and school would soon be out of session, I decided to reach out to CPR about writing for OpenAir. I worked as a volunteer for several months generating digital content and supporting the station at events like the UMS and Raise the Roof before joining full-time. I am so grateful and lucky to work at a station as remarkable as Colorado Public Radio and I am certainly glad for my initial decision to get involved as a volunteer.

Favorite music?
This is always a difficult question, but my stock answer is: whatever moves me, be it emotionally or physically.

  • Indie 102.3
    A Color Map of the Sun is the fourth album Pretty Lights album of a discography that blends together nearly seamlessly. It is the sound of an established voice in electronica completely taking over the reins on a grandiose effort with manifest success.
    By Daniel Mescher
  • Indie 102.3
    Alela Diane’s latest album, About Farewell, is about, you guessed it, saying goodbye. The Portland-based folk songstress’ full-length comes in the wake of her divorce from guitarist Tom Bevitori, who had played on and co-wrote Diane’s last album, 2011’s Alela Diane & Wild Divine.
    By Daniel Mescher
  • Indie 102.3
    Eight years removed from Mazarin’s breakup, Stoltzfus has bided his time since his last creative output, and as a result Light Heat is an intensely contemplative, focused, and highly enjoyable effort.
    By Daniel Mescher
  • Indie 102.3
    Colfax Speed Queen’s Satisfaction Intended gives the impression that the four-piece has had its share of after-hours festivity and debauchery along their namesake avenue. Here the band has penned eleven charmingly boisterous odes to rock and roll, and homemade amphetamines...
    By Daniel Mescher
  • Indie 102.3
    One needn’t look farther than the title of Montreal four-piece Hooded Fang’s third full-length release to know it’s their darkest yet. Gravez, the follow-up to the Polaris Prize-nominated (and aptly titled) Album.
    By Daniel Mescher
  • Indie 102.3
    Tuesday night’s show at the Boulder Theater began with a meditative acoustic set, then after a short break they played a more spontaneous electric set, both highlighting tracks from their newest album Fade.
    By Daniel Mescher
  • Indie 102.3
    Unafraid to mix pop sensibilities with unique and charming experimental rock delivery, Maps & Atlases stopped by the Larimer Lounge for one of their final tour stops.
    By Daniel Mescher
  • Indie 102.3
    Ezra Koenig and company return with their finest album to date, Modern Vampires of the City. Recorded in Los Angeles as opposed to the group’s native Brooklyn, the album finds the band with a variety of new instruments and genres in their repertoire...
    By Daniel Mescher
  • Indie 102.3
    Blake’s genius lies in his ability to effortlessly blend his gorgeous soul compositions with his electronic freak-out proclivities, his pop side with his experimental side. The result of his matrimony of genres is a fine sophomore effort and one of the year’s best so far.
    By Daniel Mescher