Kim Jirik
Presents The Drift
How did you first connect with Triple R?
My first awareness of Triple R came from the Triple R stickers that were sprawled around my primary school in the early-90s. However, it wasn't until I became interested in a diverse range of music in high school that I realised Triple R featured it all.
I started on radio with Syn before making my way to the Triple R grid through Room with a View, Graveyards and the odd fill.
What/when was your first show?
The Drift is my first show on Triple R. It's been running since late 2006.
What's your favourite Triple R story?
I've had the opportunity to meet some of my favourite artists through my involvement at Triple R. Towards the end of 2007, John Cale came into the studio for an interview with The Ghost. After the interview, I grabbed John and asked if he could record some station IDs. It was approaching December and I was starting to collect IDs for my annual Christmas Special. I'll never forget the look John Cale gave me when, after doing the standard "You're listening to Triple R" IDs, I casually asked "And now could I get a: ‘This is John Cale wishing you a Merry Christmas'?" He raised his eyebrows and smirked slightly (the most animated he'd been the whole time) before wishing everyone at Triple R a very Merry Christmas.
Your favourite other Triple R program and why?
To and Fro. They're always worth staying up for. The night I heard Kill Devil Hills, Qua and Julee Cruise in the same show, I was hooked. Good music, great insights and excellent guests. I'm always a little worse for wear on Wednesday morning.
What does Triple R mean to you?
I fondly remember my introduction to Triple R. From discovering Biggsy's fiery call-to-arms every Friday morning, to The Ghost's ability to feature Tibetan chanting, Japanese Psychedelia and New York Hip-Hop in the same show, to Johnny Topper's unique groove on a Wednesday afternoon. Triple R, to me, is a place of endless possibilities, and a place that never fails to surprise, challenge, entertain and inform.
The studio door has accidentally jammed shut with you stuck inside. If there was only one CD in there with you what would you want it to be and why?
'Flutter' by Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Quintet. This is one of my favourite albums of all time, yet I've never played it on-air (well, once at 1:30am when I was filling in for Wake in Fright). I often shy away from playing some of the more esoteric music in my collection. But when there's no alternative, well...
