Online edition of Sunday Observer

I’m the same person on air/off air. I just be myself without having a split personality. It’s the easiest way to success. You can’t be experimenting different things cause you are guilty deep down.

The stations that play your favourite music "Turn it on to your number one hit music station...Yes FM" Or the station that helps all living things to survive, Sun FM. And them Radio stations won't survive without their DJs; the relentless talk, the cackle and the works.. Meet two of the most heard DJs on radio as they talk about their work.

"The show caters to those who are on the move as far as the morning is concerned. It's like this, the early part of the show would be heard by kids who prepare to go to school, the middle section is for the working crowd and the latter is for moms at home."

"Well it's the morning and anybody would want to listen to music they are familiar with. You want to hear the kind of music you recognise. The `Morning show' doesn't play music that's too fresh nor does it experiment new stuff. It's a mixture of contemporary hits. You'd be able to hear a song you are familiar with, any time of the day on Yes FM. The formula has worked for us."

"Well, it's hard to make somebody laugh, especially in the morning when you are all groggy. It's one of the hardest tasks a DJ has to do. I've been here, doing this since 1999, and it's a bummer having to get up at 4.30 in the morning but making `em laugh is something I love doing. You can't really explain how you do that and it all depends on the listener. As far as I'm concerned, I don't have any problems. Just be yourself and it'll definitely fall into place."

Very good. Listener participation is amazing as we have an in studio SMS facility. We share a lot of jokes, the response is phenomenal. We get people calling in to say they enjoy the music. Honestly, if a show is successful, it's because of the people who participate."

* What kind of music do you envisage the listener would love to hear as the day wears on?

Our night programmes change everyday. Tuesday, we have a show called `Quiet Riot' from 9 pm to 12 mn which plays slow rock. Wednesday, it's the `Dave Coz', a jazz session.

Thursday, it's the `Chill out' project, a blend of jazz, hip hop (black music). The week day afternoon has a call in request show called `Express'. From 2 pm to 6 pm, we have a fax-in request show called `Super Fax'. On Saturday we have our Yes FM Top 20 from 10 to 12 noon. On Sunday, from 10-7 pm it's `Ten In a Row' where we play 10 songs back to back with no commercials. 7 pm to 9 pm it's the `Dave Coz' show again after which we play four hours of `Love Rhythms'.

Of course I do. I'm the same person on air/off air. I just be myself without having a split personality. It's the easiest way to success. You can't be experimenting different things cause you are guilty deep down.

Keiko (Sun FM) does the afternoon show called `Middle of the Road' and the `Hot 40 big hits' on Saturday.

Well the show is from 2 pm to 5 pm. Mostly school children, house wives and people at work listen to the programme.

Current hits. Mostly pop hits and I try to squeeze in a bit of rock as well. I luuurve rock.

Well you've got to talk about stuff that's relevant. You've got to talk sense and stuff that connects. Plus you've got to tolerate people who call in and ask weird questions. So I play DJ cum psychologist. Actually you've got to inspire them and come up with deep thoughts and obviously play good music.

Pretty good. I've no idea how long I've been doing this show but it's fun. I don't know how many fans I have. But it feels good when people call to tell you that they miss me if I couldn't do the show. Cause for a change somebody bothers to call you to find out how you've been and not for a request.

I love working here, it's a reason to wake up in the morning. It's like three hours of freedom. To be alone in the studio surrounded by your fav. music, looking out at the city of Colombo, what more could you ask for?

* What kind of music....do you envisage the listener would love to listen as the day wears on?

During my show, it's a bit mellow. It's the time people are trying to relax. In the morning Jason plays the hits, catering to a more mature crowd. It's adult oriented while TJ caters to the masses during his fax-in request show. Every weekday we have a request show from 5 pm to 8 pm. On Monday night we have a show called `Late night Love' from 8 pm to 12 mn. Tuesday it's `Back Tracking', Wednesday, it's R&B, Thursday it's dance music and Friday it's the `Weekend eve' show. Saturday during the hot 40 hits, we dish out hot gossip, news and star news, it's a lot of fun listening to. On Sunday we have a call-in request show called `Dial a tune'.

Um.. yeh. I am myself but it's sad when you know that you can't come up to their standards. But I guess it's OK.

Be myself. "Rave but behave" It's better to be hated for who I am than loved for what I'm not.