10 Questions with Shaan Subra

Staff Writer

Shaan Subra is one of Perth’s hottest young radio talents, holding down jobs both as an on-air announcer with Nova and a casual presenter role at PerthNow.

Shaan answers 10 questions from Radio Today.

Who/what inspired you to choose a career in radio?

As a kid I was obsessed with the TV show Frasier, I watched an episode every night and wanted to be just like him. He was an intelligent, witty Doctor on the radio, who only had to work 3 hours a day. After realising I wasn’t smart enough to be a doctor, I did the next best thing – pursue a radio career.

Most memorable on-air moment so far?

After I graduated from University, I went over to the Phillipines for 3 months to work at a station. They didn’t let me on air at first, but one day the electro lunchtime DJ was sick, so I went on.

I researched the hell out of some Filipino EDM tracks and did some pretty good breaks. After half an hour on air, all these messages started coming through the socials and text lines. Everyone was asking who is this ‘British’ guy on radio – ‘he’s cool’. It was this moment of realisation that I am finally doing what I love and I was just so excited for the rest of my radio career.

What was the most awkward moment you had in your early years of radio?

While a song was on air, I was trying to instagram my new pair of shoes. After 10 seconds of dead air I realised that the song had finished, I panicked and just started saying words, not making any sense at all before quickly firing off the ads. (122 likes, some regrets)

What’s one radio skill that you’ve mastered, and what’s one radio skill that you’re currently working on?

How to take the station off air. Keeping the station on air.

How do you prepare for your shift on-air?

I check out anything that’s trending on Youtube, Facebook and current affairs. I scroll through Novas website and socials to see whats happening and skim through the brekky/drive shows for grabs. I find searching the hashtag of your city on Twitter is also helpful for local content.

How does the person you are on air differ from the person you are off air?

I try and be myself as much as I possibly can on air. I have unique interests and thoughts on pretty much everything. People seem to find that amusing (I still don’t really understand why but I just run with it)!

What’s the one piece of advice you were given that you can pass along?

If it doesn’t need to be said, don’t say it.

Sum up working in radio in three words.

Turbulent, Exciting, Red-Bull

What’s your dream radio job?

Nova Drive

If you weren’t working in radio, what would you be doing?

Both my mum and grandma were professional dancers and I was supposed to be the third generation star. Not the best conversation telling both of them I wasn’t going to be a dancer.

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