Fever 104 Bangalore’s RJ Rubina Patel started her career nine years back with a satellite radio station WorldSpace as a content executive and also hosted a retro show ‘Dil Dhuntha Hai’. Later, she was a core part of the launch team of Fever FM and then moved to Dubai where she managed music of its biggest Bollywood radio station- City 1016 besides hosting its request show ‘Chill Tonight’.

Currently she hosts a night show ‘Fever Flashback’ that takes listeners down the memory lane and provides them with a platform to express their love stories, relationship problems, thoughts and worries, all in a relaxing environment of retro music.

Popularly known as retro queen, Patel hosted a day-long 17 hours non-stop marathon as a tribute to the legend RD Burman on his birthday.

In a chat with Radioandmusic.com’s Tarachand Wanvari, Patel speaks about her experience in the radio industry, her love for retro music and her strong connect with the listeners.

Excerpts:

What attracted you to music and radio? Especially retro music?

Music and radio have played a very important role in my life.  Ever since I was a child, I would sit in my room and listen to music all day long. I grew up listening to retro music but my passion and love for retro music increased after I got my first job.

How easy or difficult was it getting into the industry?

It wasn’t that difficult for me to get into the radio industry. One ad in my college changed my life. The ad said ‘If you love old and new Hindi music contact us’ and after I auditioned there was no looking back.

How different is it working for an Indian employer like Fever than from a broadcaster like WorldSpace and an international radio station like City 1016 in Dubai, both professionally as well as on the personal front?

Each and every experience was different. At every stage and in every market you learn something new and as the audience expectations change you learn to adapt! Every moment on-air has helped me grow to where I am today!

Any special memories from WorldSpace and City 1016?

While I was working with WorldSpace, I remember there was a captain, who would send me an email everyday. His emails would give me details about where they are sailing and he would share his life stories with me. I would be surprised at the things he would share. Other than the captain’s emails, I still have all those letters and postcards that I used to get from our fans across the world. It’s very special.

In City 1016, each day was memorable, but I can never forget how some of my listeners came to the airport when I was leaving Dubai and moving back to Bangalore, just to see me off, and said they will miss me and the show. Even after I left Dubai I still get calls and messages from my fans on my birthday.  This is something I will cherish all my life.

What other roles do you play for Fever besides that of an RJ?

Well, everybody helps in making the station a special experience for the listeners. Everybody pitches in and helps out. Officially, my two roles are hosting my show Fever Flashback as the night RJ and handling the music of the station as its Music Manager. Apart from that I also assist the PD Harsha Shivaram in planning and executing all the special days and events that we organise in order to make the station a little more delightful for the listeners.

You are relatively younger than the music that you play… how do you do that?

When you love something, age really doesn’t matter. Contrary to popular belief a lot of school kids call me and request for their favourite song and say they love the music I play.

Retro music will always be special to people who love Bollywood. ‘Munnis’ and ‘Shielas’ might come and go but ‘Pehla Nasha’ and mere ‘Sapnon ki Rani’ will never be forgotten. I spend a lot of time every day talking to people from the industry, watching old Hindi films and of course I read a lot of biographies and books on Bollywood.

You recently did an all day show on RD’s anniversary. Care to share some details on that?

Kishore Kumar and RD Burman, these two legends have always been extremely close to my heart. When we were planning to do something special for RD Burman, we came up with the idea of an all day RD marathon called U, Me and RD. I loved the concept as I felt this was the best tribute I could give to my favorite music director.

A lot of hard work, long days and sleepless nights were put into it to ensure that we get the right playlist and trivia that people have never heard before. We spoke to many people from the industry.

The main objective of the Marathon was to give all Pancham Da fans a special musical treat. A lot of his fans expressed their love for his music, answered questions about him and won many exciting prizes.

This day ended in a very special way, as many fans came to the studios to meet and congratulate me.

Tell us about some good/funny/bizarre experiences as a jock? How does your family react to some of the situations during the show?

There are many special moments as a jock. On my show Fever Flashback people call in and share their life stories with me. There are also some unforgettable and emotional moments amongst them. One of them was when a guy called and said I wanna apologize to my parents on-air and said I am sorry mom and dad, I have cancer.

There have been some cute moments when some fans have proposed to me and asked me out on-air.

On the family front, my love for radio is something my family is very well aware off. I wake up in the middle of the night, look for my phone and make a note of some ideas so that I can use it on my show the next day. So they know nothing can stop me!

Any RJ idol of yours? Why is he/she your idol?

It has to be Darius Sunawala. He is so funny and charming on-air. Off air he is a great friend and an encyclopedia. He knows it all.

What else in life apart from RJing?

I love to cook. When I’m not dreaming about my show, I’m dreaming about what I’m gonna cook and eat after it! The biryani I make is quite famous.

Any words/advice to aspiring RJ’s and radio listeners?

Advice for aspiring RJ’s --- don’t learn to talk, learn to listen!