By Colton Walker
Photo Editor
On a cool Saturday morning in February, as most students are just starting to wake up and fill the booths of the Commons, PLU senior Francisco Aragón has been holed up in the LASR booth preparing to go on the air for the 100th time.
His show “Rock On w/ Cisco Aragón” has been broadcast for the last three years and is one of the longest-running programs in PLU student media. Francisco said he started the weekly music and talk show in January 2016 and has been on the air almost every Saturday since. In a typical episode, Francisco will review current events going on locally, nationally, or internationally and give his own unique spin on the stories.
While not giving his take on a trending topic, Francisco will play music from a carefully curated playlists that he’s made for each show. “I play it all by ear” Francisco said, “Every once in a while I dedicate one or two days a week to make a bunch of playlists ahead of time.”
His show’s 100 episodes have become a checkpoint of success for student media programs. Though the show’s formula wasn’t fully fleshed out when the host first started going on the air.
“I of course took the time to think ‘I want to do music’” Francisco said. “The full idea of it I wasn’t sure where I would go or where I would be in three years time but I wanted to do something about music.”
A big fan of the broader rock genre, Francisco said he will play anything within the realm of rock or other music within the crossroads of the music category. He often samples blues, rap, R&B, jazz, and folk just to name a few other genres.
“I definitely have to think about mixing classic rock with modern rock because I think the two can blend together and that was the original theme of the show,” Francisco said.
In the world of mass media, the format of radio broadcasting stands out to Francisco as a unique medium to present himself to the world.
“I think if I can’t be seen, I can always be heard,” Francisco said. The audio-only format is appealing to many listeners who tune in to both traditional FM/AM radio and internet radio platforms like PLU’s LASR. Francisco said, “With radio you get a very impromptu, casual sort of deal. You don’t have to think about your appearance like you would if it was a talk show on TV.”
Francisco is very happy with the 100 episode achievement, though had no idea he would come this far at the very beginning. He said that he was very proud of his show and encourages other students to involve themselves in LASR, regardless of their major.
Anyone interested in catching an episode of “Rock on with Cisco Aragón” can tune into LASR Saturdays at noon. The show is also available on Facebook.
