Meet The Hosts: Anna Ballantyne

1. How long have you been with WNRN and how did you get started?
I think that I may have hit the three year mark by now. I’m friends with Mark Keefe and he thought my accent would be fun to have on the air…

2. What should WNRN listeners know about your show, and/or your music tastes?
I’m an indie punk rock girl from way back, and still love discovering those new bands who put in the hard graft. Bands like Lime Garden, Sports Team, Yard Act, English Teacher and SPRINTS made my listening year in 2024.

3. What’s your favorite, recent music discovery?
Palmyra. I can’t get enough of them and tell everyone I know to listen to their music.

4. What might be an unexpected artist on your personal playlist?
Clipping. There’s something about their two albums ‘There Existed an Addiction to Blood’ and ‘Visions of Bodies Being Burned’ that really grips me. And then there’s the pace of Daveed Diggs’ rapping!!
Run the Jewels also feature on my go-to playlist – particularly RTJ4.

5. A couple of firsts: What was the first concert you ever attended? What was the first album you ever bought?
My first concert was a family trip to Wellington to see Billy Joel at Athletic Park. I was 14 and blown away by the experience!
The first album (CD) I ever bought was with my hard earned, and hard saved, paper run money – The Eurythmics – Revenge.

6. What would be your 1-3 Top ‘Desert Island’ albums? The ones you would want with you if stranded on a desert island. Why?
Desert Island Discs… hmmm… The Cure – ‘Disintegration’, Radiohead – ‘The Bends’ and Iron and Wine – ‘The Shepherd’s Dog’.
Those are my top-three, all time, albums.

7. What are some of your favorite hobbies/things to do outside of music and radio?
I enjoy watching movies and TV – our list of shows to catch up on keeps growing!
Travelling to new places.
Spending time with my siblings has become even more fun, the older we get.
I’m also always happy to be on the sideline of a variety of UVA sports teams as well as MiLB games.