Featured in People
Jana Savanapridi: The Buzz
By Dan Pearson
Published on 11/09/2002

Who: Jana Savanapridi, 25, of Groton.

Why you should know her: As general manager of 91.1 FM WCNI New London, Savanapridi will oversee a power upgrade from 500 to 3,000 watts. Over the next three years, WCNI will change frequency from 91.1 to 90.9 and begin broadcasting from a new transmitter that will send the listener-supported station's signal into additional parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Long Island.

Raised by radio: A native of Huntsville, Ala., Savanapridi is a 2000 graduate of Connecticut College with a triple major in Asian studies, Chinese and history. When I was a student, I was pretty frustrated, I was ready to drop out, but then I got involved at WCNI and I just basically started spending all my time there. I just about lived there, she says. WCNI made me learn to love New London.

New London calling: In the last three years, Savanapridi has contributed to many arts groups in New London. She writes for State Street Primer, the city's new arts 'zine, has designed web sites for local clubs, and has, through WCNI, booked and promoted rock concerts. This year, Savanapridi will host a music show on cable access television and will co-host a weekly independent and foreign film series at Station 58. She is also producing a documentary film on the history of WCNI and independent radio in the region.

Budget rock showcase: Inspired by a love of garage and budget rock bands past and present, including the inimitable Mummies and The Stooges, Savanapridi has been instrumental in attracting some of the nation's premiere garage bands to the city, including The Cynics, Lyres, The Fleshtones, Chargers Street Gang, The Make-Up and The Damn Personals. Savanapridi says she has been inspired by Fugazi, a Washington, D.C., band who run their own record label and encourage their fans to be as active as possible in the booking process.

Guided by voices: After the Make-Up show at Secret Theatre, I felt lousy because we had lost so much money putting on the show. But Ian Svenonious (lead singer of the Make-Up) said, Don't worry, at least you're doing something unique. If everybody just gives up and goes to New York, there won't be anything else going on anywhere.' Remembers Savanapridi: That was a turning point for me. It really got me excited and made me really think about New London's potential. A lot could happen, as long as we don't lose all the people to the big cities.

Dan Pearson 
 

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