Harcourt By Name, And Hardcore About Music By Nature
By Andrew Regan
Nic Harcourt was born and raised in Birmingham, England but nowadays he is cited as one of the most influential DJs in America, as musical director, and host of flagship show, Morning Becomes Eclectic on radio station, KCRW.
Broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College, KCRW has become known as a ‘tastemaker for the world’ in terms of music, not only giving 'up and coming' and unsigned artists their first exposure in the States, but also more often than not, raising the profile, sales and success rate of any band or artist it features. One of the station’s trademarks is its frequent in-studio sessions, which often feature artists that have never before recorded sessions for radio stations in the States.
Harcourt has claimed, albeit tongue-in-cheek, to have a lot of clout within the industry and has suggested that many executives listen to his show 'Morning Becomes Eclectic' while stuck in morning traffic jams on California’s notoriously busy freeways. The truth is, Harcourt is influential and does possess a good head for a tune. His track record speaks for itself. He was the first DJ in America to play Franz Ferdinand, and was also among the first outside of the UK to recognise the talents of Radiohead, Travis and Coldplay. When a demo CD by Norah Jones found its way to his desk, he played it on his show, and helped Jones secure a lucrative record deal, as well as global stardom, in the process. It happened again when he played a demo by Jem.
This all makes for impressive reading, even more so when you consider that KCRW’s schedule
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[Rogue Traders] Way To Go (Jubbsys Remix)
[Wahoo Vs Rihanna] Make Em Shake It Pon De Replay (Jubbsys Bootleg)
Red Light Green Light by Limp Bizkit
Talk It Over by Grayson Hugh
Faint by Linkin Park
1979 by Smashing Pumpkins
The Real Slim Shady by Eminem
I Begin To Wonder by Dannii / JCA
Something Got Me Started by Simply Red
is dominated by news and information programs – Morning Becomes Eclectic, which broadcasts from 9am until 12 noon every weekday, is the only daytime show to prominently feature music. A weekly version of the show, titled Sounds Eclectic, is syndicated to a number of other stations in the country, making Harcourt a nationwide celebrity. He also appears regularly on BBC Radio 1’s Zane Lowe show, discussing the success rate (or lack thereof) of British bands in America, as well as reporting on new bands from the States headed Britain’s way. Harcourt’s reputation as a musical visionary has also earned him work in Hollywood as musical consultant/supervisor on such movies as ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ and ‘Igby Goes Down’.
KCRW often promotes and sponsors live events throughout the Santa Monica area, supporting both obscure and popular acts. Forthcoming shows of note include Regina Spektor, Shelby Lynne, Yo La Tengo and Rogue Wave. Those looking to attend these shows can find a variety of hotels in Santa Monica, many of which are within the modest budget range of the average teen fan.
Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.
