Music is the universal language. In The Alternation, student-run radio station at Gulf Coast State College, there is a show that adopted that phrase as its motto and used it to create an inclusive mood that invites people from all backgrounds to enjoy and learn about Latin-American music.

Fusion answered the need to add variety to an already entertaining music program on the station. The show’s core resides in its name; a fusion of Spanish and English, a fusion of the old and the new, and a fusion of Latin-American music genres. This concept results in a fusion of listeners of different ages, gender, and ethnic origin.

The program, which is getting close to a year on the air, was created from a school project for the Radio Production class. The requirement was to develop a concept for the student station that was entertaining and had a positive impact on the community.  The Alternation’s management welcomed the idea; Dr. Erika Goines, Digital Media program director, immediately supported the program; Tom Hoots, Sound Engineer at GCSC, mentioned the need for a Latin music show in the community. Mentored by Dana Erskine, The Alternation’s manager, Axel Feliciano, also known as Dj Jok3r, started putting together Fusion.

The success of Fusion lies in its mix. The show counts with mix-sets that include a variety of Latin-American musical genres, inviting the audience to dance and have fun. The sets, seamlessly mixed by Dj Jok3r, include everything from classics to just-released music. In between the music segments, the listener enjoys the latest news from the Latino music scene, curious facts of their favorite artist, and a weekly list of future releases.

Fusion’s most expected segment every week is “A Look Back in the History of Latin-American Music.” This segment takes the audience on a musical journey through the history of a region, a country, a specific genre, or the trajectory of an artist. “It takes long hours of researching, interviewing, validating, recording and editing, but we want to give the audience information that they can trust and at the same time enjoy and learn about the Hispanic culture” said Fusion’s host, Dj Jok3r. Currently, during the Holiday season, “A Look Back” is taking the audience through the Christmas traditions of different Latin American countries.

Fusion brings cultural awareness through entertainment. The show producers wish that the message of union and equality spreads through the community while enjoying the music and learning something about their musical history.

The show airs every Wednesday, 5 to 7 PM (CST) on WKGC 90.7HD3, The Alternation. It can be streamed on thealternatioradio.com and the TuneIn application. If you would like to contact the show producers with your comments or suggestions, reach them at djjok3r808@gmail.com or their social media channels: djjok3r_808 at Instagram and Facebook, djjoker2 at Sound Cloud, and Dj Jok3r at YouTube.

Alex Feliciano - Fall 2021

Student Writer