Since he was a senior in high school, freshman Garrett Hill has been looking forward to DJing his own show on Radio CUH. In March, Hill saw an Instagram post on Chaminade University’s page featuring the college radio station, and now he’s finally in the hot seat.

The 18-year-old “always knew” he was destined to work on radio because of his extensive music background and radio experience from junior high. Hill is the only student currently hosting Radio CUH, an online radio station.

“I knew that once I got here, that to have a show … not only would it be really fun, but I knew I’d be pretty good at it,” said the radio personality, who coincidentally went to Chaminade College Preparatory middle school through high school in California and now attends Chaminade University. 

“Music has always been there” for him, and he attributes his music preferences to his father. Since Hill was 4 years old, he grew up listening to “everything” from ’80s alternative like The Police and The B-52’s to jazz like Frank Sinatra and Louis Prima.

Listening to public radio shaped the Communications major’s broadcasting skills. News radio stations like National Public Radio to FM stations local to his hometown in Chatsworth, California, have helped Hill discover his voice. He draws inspiration from Steve Tyrell on KJazz 88.1 and “Kevin and Sluggo” and ​​Greg Beharrell on 95.5 KLOS.

“My show is an amalgamation of everything I know,” Hill said. “I’m drawing inspiration from all these different sources and all these different hosts that I like. I look at what they’re doing and I think how can I do that and maybe make it a little better or incorporate it.”

His Radio CUH show, The Garrett Hill Show, is a blend of his favorite music, music history facts, and stories of his everyday life. Every Wednesday and Sunday, Hill hosts from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The online radio station has acquired a loyal following. Friends, family, and fans tune in to the airwaves to hear Hill on the microphone.

“I have this sort of regular group that calls in,” said Hill, who receives no college credit for his work as a DJ. “Sometimes it’s my friends playing characters. Cousin Vinny comes on every once in a while, who’s like an Italian New Yorker.”

Communications professor Tom Galli, who supervises the college radio station and teaches Internet Radio (COM 361), is “thrilled” that the freshman is enthusiastic about DJing for Radio CUH. 

“The nice thing about having an underclassman is that he’s gonna be around for a while,” Galli said. “My hope is that he’ll recruit people who’ll get more friends involved. If he brings two people … they bring two people.”

Galli describes the radio station at Chaminade as an “underutilized resource” that students should take advantage of. If you’re interested in hosting a talk show for Radio CUH, contact Galli at [email protected]. Prospective DJs can expect a quiz to ensure they understand the internet radio laws and hands-on training on the system.

Radio CUH has been streaming 24/7 since November 2011 thanks to faculty members like Cliff Bieberly and Galli. Ten years later, the independent college radio station broadcasts to local and international audiences. So tune in here to Radio CUH.

Off air, Hill has sought other music endeavors. The self-taught musician is well-versed in an assortment of instruments such as bass, guitar, drums, piano, banjo, and harmonica.

“As much as I like talking on the radio and stuff, I feel like a lot of what I do is listen,” he said. “I listen to art and what it means. I try to pick things apart. I think I’m a very intricate person, whereas I’ll really analyze something. I try to make sense of things. When it comes to real life, it’s the same way. I really try to be involved with my friends, with school (to a certain degree), and with my own art as much as possible. I feel like I’m a very purposeful person. I’m not gonna do things just because. I have a lot of method to the madness.”