Hear Thamindu’s show, No Pressure Zone, Sundays 8-9 PM.
1. Are you from Kamloops? If not, where are you from and how did you come to be in Kamloops?
I’d say I am. I was born in Edmonton, and my family spent a little time in Cranbrook, but we settled in Kamloops before I’d started kindergarten.
2. Are you a student volunteer? If so, what are you studying and does volunteering at the station help with your studies?
I was a student volunteer—I started with the X in December 2021, during the second year of my degree. I majored in Ecology and Environmental Biology, and wrote an honours thesis on animal activity monitoring techniques.
3. Are you a community volunteer? How do you think volunteering at the station supports your engagement with the Kamloops community?
I also volunteer a couple days a week at the hospital’s renal clinic. I love volunteering at CFBX because I get the chance to learn about and promote local initiatives. There’s plenty of events I’ve attended after broadcasting a promo for them. It’s really made me a more well-rounded person.
4. What is it about volunteering in general that appeals to you?
I think to experience the real world you need to engage with it… if you simply observe it, it might as well just be a display. It’s a privilege to have the time to volunteer, but time spent interacting with the world is time well spent.
5. What other hobbies and interests do you have outside of doing campus/community radio?
Even before I started at CFBX I’ve loved exploring different kinds of music, putting them together into different mix CDs. Putting them together into a radio program was a logical next step. I love watching movies at the Paramount, and I’ve got a soft spot for knitting on a loom.
6. What is your show about? What would a listener hear when they tune in?
The No Pressure System is eclectic, but instead of playing every type of music each show, each week has a different theme, usually focusing on a few genres and the connections between them. It gets pretty internationally-focused at times as well. If I have a “pocket” that I slide into more often, it’d probably be jazz or hip-hop.
7. What makes your show unique? Why do you think listeners are interested in your show?
Really, my show’s unique because it’s my vision of what a radio program should be like—and everyone else’s show is unique for the same reason. Tune into CFBX and you can listen to dozens of unique ideas about what radio can—and should—be.
- What does campus/community radio mean to you?
All sorts of music, picked by people who really care, playing right through your radio. And they’re having fun, too! Anything you consume is better when the people who made it had fun doing so.
- What shows at CFBX do you like and listen to regularly? Why do you enjoy them?
Ska on the X (Wednesdays 7-8 PM) is always a ton of fun, especially since I don’t listen to ska that often. Jazz On The Rocks (Fridays 5-7 PM) is an absolutely world-class jazz show—Shelley’s a phenomenal host. I also want to shout out some up-and-comers: 3600 Minutes (Sundays 4-5 PM) with Graesen is a super fun mix of sports and eclectic music, while the Beef Man Rock Show (Tuesdays 6-7 PM) is a classic college-radio rock experience.
- Name an artist you discovered through your time at CFBX that you’d like others to know about.
There’s plenty! We’re privileged, at CFBX, to receive awesome albums from all sorts of artists. This year, I’ve been blown away by Dana Sipos’ “Golden Molten” and collections of Dave Soroka’s music. Mothland Records are always putting out cool DIY pop. Any jazz record from Cellar Music Group is bound to be enticing. And shoutout to Gary Daggitt from Vanderhoof BC, who’s prolific with really fun, well-executed folk concept albums.
11. Is there a local musician that you would like people to pay more attention to? Why?
Mother Sun’s a fantastic outfit, every project I’ve heard of theirs is super tight and perfect for summertime. Recently there’s been a rapper called Kam Flair who’s been rapping about local issues and doing it well—check out his bandcamp! Lastly, I was really impressed by two tracks (“Crushed” and “Creature”) sent in by one Sarah Doan recently. You can listen to those on streaming services.
- Do you enjoy attending live concerts? Why? Can you tell us about your favorite live concert that you’ve been to?
To be honest, I’m sort of a homebody… the only concerts I attend are by the Kamloops Symphony/Thompson Valley Orchestras, as well as the cultural programmes by the Chamber Musicians of Kamloops. Even if you don’t see yourself as the kind of person to go to those events, I think you should go at least once—you might surprise yourself. This year, the CMK’s “Colours of Bulgaria” and “Journey to Japan” really impressed me.
- What do you hope to do with your show in the future? What direction do you see your show moving?
The future’s very hazy for the No Pressure System, and that’s not a bad thing. When I started, the focus was more on hip-hop and classic soul. For a time, it was more of an international show, and nowadays it features more local music. I’m excited to see where the tides take it next.
