21 Tales of Tastemakers: Mel Bertoldi

Among other reasons, Tastemakers is awesome because it provides a crash course in music journalism through several media: print, online, and radio. Of these three outlets, I’d have to say that the one I’ve had the most fun with throughout the past two years is radio. Enter (at your own risk) my experience with the wonderful, often linguistically caustic world of Tastemakers Radio.

Being brave had never really been my thing- at least not until after I’d taken my first steps into NU’s WRBB recording studio. Laptop clutched in my clammy hand, my nerves wouldn’t let up until after the first few segments of our technical difficulty-heavy time slot were through.

I’m pretty positive that it was during the recording of “Episode One” that my newfound friend, Tastemakers Radio cast mate, and current Marketing director Andrew Phan (AKA DJ ShortRound) anointed me the on-air title of “Old School Mel.” I’m not going to act like being dubbed with an alter ego/radio moniker truly changed me, but it certainly helped me to think of music in new ways. The creative banter that segments like “Hit It And Quit It” allowed for among my (at the time, all-male selection of) co-hosts and I, let me attack industry topics with a tone conducive to such a gangstress that I could say what I really felt. And similarly, sticking with such a tone meant that I could hide behind Old School when offering my two cents, however unconventional (and often, off-base) it may have been.

For the remainder of the first season of Tastemakers Radio, Old School Mel ranted, raved, argued, and rap battled her co-hosts, while I personally learned a hell of a lot about the artists they were all interested in. Later that year, during summer and the beginning of “Season Two,” Old School was supplementing ShortRound’s interview questions with musicians for bits on the show.

By summer’s end, I wasn’t nervous giving my opinions for our radio show anymore, nor was I hesitant to speak with bands for Tastemakers or other media. Part of this was because I’d grown confident enough in my thoughts and comfortable enough with my co-hosts to do so, but their friendliness and the connections I’d made via TM Radio also helped. Meeting weekly to record our podcast wasn’t a nerve racking test of my musical prowess anymore; it was another way of hanging out with the pals I’d been chilling with since meeting them.

In short, of course TM Radio and Tastemakers as a whole has definitely helped me to define my identity as a college student and grow professionally. But what trumps both those benefits are the priceless connections I’ve made with like-minded music lovers who enjoy fostering beef between one another over MCs, gadgets (MicroWHAT?), and amateur rap verses. Good enough for me.

That’s my “Tale” and I’m sticking to it, so take it or leave it. Or, if you’ve read along this far, just hit it and quit it.