It’s the same 15 questions we always ask, this time answered by DJ Milo Minderbender, host of Milo After Hours. The 2-hour program airs Saturdays at 11 p.m. The program is Sarasota’s weekly late-night listening party for the best new sounds in rap, hip hop, electronic music, loud guitars and a whole lot more!
DJ Milo Minderbender, Milo After Hours
Where did you grow up, go to school, study, etc.? If you did not grow up in Sarasota or Manatee, what brought you here and when was that? I was born and raised in Massachusetts, and my education and career have led me to a number of cities throughout the U.S. I went to Northeastern University in Boston for undergraduate studies in chemical engineering, then moved to St. Louis for graduate education in chemical engineering (Washington University) and public health (St. Louis University). I moved to the Suncoast in 2020 for a temporary change in my surroundings, and was fortunate enough to meet the love of my life.
What is/was your career? I work as an applied research scientist in the healthcare industry — I try to combine what I’ve learned in the fields of engineering, epidemiology and biostatistics to see that patients receive the care they need. My job titles have been as varied as Data Scientist, Quality Manager and Senior Manager of Reporting & Analytics.
What’s your earliest music memory? I remember my father always had a radio on in the bathroom when he was shaving in the morning, and he often whistled along. The first cassette I bought with my own money, as a 6-year-old, was Lionel Richie’s “Dancing on the Ceiling.”
Are you a musician? Have you ever been in a band? Written music? Yes, all of the above! I started with trumpet in elementary school. I switched to guitar as a teen, and started writing songs within the first year of picking it up. I spent a few years in a hardcore punk band in the early aughts. My first guitar teacher made me learn a ton of classic songs from the 1950s-1970s, and it really helped me understand very early on how a song gets put together.
DJ Milo spins records at clubs and events throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties, including on the People’s Patio at Fogartyville!
What was the most memorable concert you experienced? I had the pleasure of catching the Sun Ra Arkestra, along with dozens of other great artists, at the 2024 Newport Jazz Festival.
What band/artist was your last concert and where? I saw Selwyn Birchwood with his full band at Fogartyville!
What was your connection to radio before WSLR? When I lived in northern California 2015-2020, I was a DJ on KFJC 89.7 FM.
How did you discover WSLR? I just started looking around for local radio and venues after I moved to the area. Having moved a number of times as an adult, and understanding that I have pretty specific interests, I knew I had to be proactive about getting situated.
Describe the format of your show. How has it evolved since you first started? I focus on four domains: beats, bars, out there sounds, and loud guitars. “Beats” can include anything from electronic music with a heavy percussive component, to instrumental hip-hop, to tribal drumming and more. “Bars” means rap. “Out there sounds” include things like ambient music or the avant-garde. “Loud guitars” is my shorthand for a wide range of hardcore punk, heavy metal, doom metal, etc… I wanted to offer the station and our listeners access to some sounds that I am familiar with, and that might have been lacking from the existing program lineup. I play a lot more new music now than I did when I started — I’m able to do this because I developed a good workflow for taking in new music, deciding if it’s eligible for my show, and keeping it in my rotation for about 6 months. I also no longer worry about hitting all four guiding domains consistently — some weeks, you might not get any “loud guitars”; some weeks the show might be almost all hip-hop; or occasionally I’ll just play a lot of death metal.
How do you find the music that you play? I have a proactive approach that includes being on the mailing lists for record labels and bands that I have an interest in, regularly reviewing certain online music magazines (mostly: Pitchfork), music reviews in print publications I subscribe to (mostly: The New Yorker), scanning the concert calendars at area venues, and listening to the other shows on WSLR, of course!
Why is sharing music with others important to you? Music can be a transformative force in people’s lives — helping them think differently about themselves and the world around them, getting through a difficult period of time, or acting as a catalyst for movement— how wonderful it is to simply dance and feel at home in your body!
DJ Milo demonstrated the ins and outs of turntables with participants in the WSLR Radio camp.
What is the most challenging part about producing your show? I switch between media formats often (vinyl, CD, streaming), and this isn’t always an easy thing to do with our current studio and mixer configuration. I’m confident that the planned remodeling of our studio and technology will help quite a bit.
What is the most rewarding/fun part about producing your show? When someone tells me that I turned them onto a new artist or scene.
What are some of your other creative / athletic / intellectual pursuits and/or volunteer work? I am an avid yogi, cyclist, reader, and cook. My wife and I serve as fosters for a dog rescue. We are currently fostering Ezra, a young labradoodle. (Editor’s note: he also utilizes his creativity and problem-solving skills as a member of the WSLR+Fogartyville Board of Directors.)
What do you see when you look outside your kitchen window? My wife loves gardening and landscaping, and is transforming our backyard into paradise.