Eumir Abela

How did you first hear about WECS?

My freshmen year, a student that helped me move into my doors saw my guitars and asked if I was interested in doing a show at the campus radio station. Thanks Grayson, for that.

How long have you been at WECS? What is your history there?

I have been at WECS since my freshmen year when I became an on air DJ

What are you most proud of accomplishing/changing at WECS?

Becoming a director, it was an honor adding music into the rotation system that I liked and other DJ’s liked

How does WECS make itself known throughout Willimantic? What sort of things do you do to connect with the community?

We hold live concerts at our school and also at the sole record store in town, Willimantic Records, owned by the Joe Malinowski

What do you love most/dislike most about Willimantic?

What I love most about Willimantic is the quiet feeling of Eastern Connecticut
What I dislike most about Willimantic is the lack of music venues

What artist/band have you heard for the first time this year that has impressed you the most?

The Boston, now Brooklyn-based band Crumb amazed me on my first listen. It is indie pop done with a jazz backdrop that reminds me of Mild High Club and BadBadNotGood.

Do you have a favorite artist or album you never get tired of listening to?

An artist I never get tired of listening to is Real Estate. An album I never get tired of is My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West.

What is your favorite live show you have ever attended?

The best live performance I have been to this year was Mild High Club at Rough Trade Brooklyn. Pavo Pavo opened for them and both bands were phenomenal. The songs off the record translated great live. The lighting was pretty low-key, however, the musicianship for both bands were the key components of their performance. I highly recommend seeing both bands.

What is your best childhood memory?

Going to Mets games with my dad at the old Shea Stadium.

If you could choose, what time period in the past would you most want to travel back to and visit

I would definitely want to be my current age of 20 in the 1990’s. I would want to see Michael Jordan and the Bulls play.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in town you always make sure to take guests/visitors to?

Do yourselves a favor and go to Tacos La Rosa on Main Street. Best Mexican food in this part of Connecticut bar none.

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?

My sound professor always says, “Command + S your projects at all times.” This really made second guess if any of my sessions that I am working on is actually saved. Thanks Travis Houldcroft!

Lightning Round:

Dog or Cat? Doge
Coke or Pepsi? Coke
Morning Person or Night Owl? I need to be a morning person to get school and work done. I need to be a night owl to get any music
done.
City or Country? City
Watch TV or Read A Book? I like to stop and go as I please, so reading a book
Sunny or Rainy? Sunny
Dine or Delivery? Dine
Beard or Clean Shaven? Beard
Pants or Shorts? Pants

Do you have any current favorite TV show obsessions?

If you consider watching the New York Knicks as TV, consider that my favorite.

And finally, and most importantly, Christmas Music: Love it? Hate it? Discuss.

If the Christmas music tends to be jazzy and have a swing to it, then I automatically love it.