SCATV Member of the Month: Athena Moore

Inside the SCATV studio is a monthly blog post where SCATV staff interviews members, to learn a little bit more about who they are and their background. There will be a set series of 10 questions that they’ll answer. This month, we hear from Athena Moore, a SCATV & Boston Free Radio member! Learn more about Athena in September’s Inside the SCATV Studio. Here is a link to her website:http://www.athenamae.com and to her collaborative radio show: http://coolkidsradio.com/.

1. Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Athena! I’m a full-time book conservator, part-time bookbinder, resident artist at Washington Street and 1/3 of the Cool Kids Club.

2. What was the strangest job you’ve had?
It was probably my first – I worked in a donut factory, but because I was too young to operate any heavy machinery my main duty was to fill and frost the donuts. We had these machines full of jelly that you use to inject the donuts – turns out that if you set them to 99, they’ll explode in your hands. The hijinx of it all!

3. What was one of your first BFR productions (your own or helping others)?
My very best friends Matt and Alex and I have been doing the Cool Kids Club since Day 1 of BFR – every week since February of 2011! There’s, like, 350 recorded hours of our friendship.

4. Who were your early creative mentors or source for inspiration?
Speaking radio-specifically, my earliest and most significant inspiration was probably Dr. Demento. I used to stay up late on Sunday nights to tape record every single episode. All of the stuff he played was super far-out and silly. I loved it. I still tend to be the one who plays the dumbest possible music. Beyond that, I’ve always been struck by anyone who’s just really doing them – I probably have more documentaries about and albums by Queen because I’m so into Freddie Mercury. He was just so BIG, like, here I am, dig it.

5. How do you get past creative roadblocks?
There’s a bit of whining and thrashing about, followed by some obsessive cleaning and selective avoidance. Eventually I just sit down and start lying things on top of each other. I’m super visual. I don’t work all that well conceptually, so I have to just handle materials and stick them together to see what might happen. I also really, really have to go to my studio and be in a dedicated space because I’m very easily distracted.

6. How has BFR been a positive influence in your creative media career?
Prior to being a part of BFR, I hadn’t really done a lot in the way of collaborating. At the beginning of Cool Kids Club we all kind of realized we were control freaks, which was pretty interesting. Compromise is a great thing in creativity. Generally working on my own had kept me from having to do that, but it’s been a huge help. So many of the arts and media groups I’m involved in now are self-run, which is both liberating and challenging – coming up with creative solutions in those environments can be a slow road, but it’s so rewarding.

7. When did you first feel successful?
I think it must have been the first year my Odyssey of the Mind team won a competition. I was a very shy nerd as a kid, so when my third grade teacher recommended me for the group, my parents were totally on board. I was way scared at first, since the whole point is to interact with other kids and share ideas. It ended up being one of the best things I did growing up. I think I actually floated up to accept my first medal at that competition. Ever since I’ve been really, really into being good at things. Ask anyone.

8. If you could have entrance music, what would it be?
Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now

9. What’s your favorite spot in Somerville to hangout or visit?
The Prospect Hill Monument – I remember climbing it in the snow years ago when I was first apartment hunting in Union Square, way before I really even knew Somerville. It’s got the most incredible views. I like to use it for a sort of Rocky moment, too – hauling all the way to the top at the end of a run is pretty great. Plus I got married there!

10. In 140 characters or less, how would you pitch your radio show?
Forgotten and misbegotten popular music gems with discussion, deconstruction, and jokes.