Interview with Kristen Grove, pt. 1
If you’ve ever spent any time in Milan, you’ve likely heard of Radio 105 dj’s, Kris & Kris. At first glance, they might appear one part Howard Stern show, one part Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. However, behind the delectable duo’s entertaining banter lies thinly veiled messages of positivity that are calculatedly meant to reassure and empower Italy’s youth. In this week’s interview, Geoff Cook interviews Kristen Grove, the American half of Kris and Kris, about her recent relocation to Hawaii and its impact on the radio show, and her budding music career, and the power of nature.
Base: You’ve recently decided to do what most people only dream of: To work remotely from paradise. Can you talk about what provoked your move to Maui?
Kristen Grove: I could give many reasons that make sense–high taxes in Italy, strong euro, cold, humid winters, few surf-able waves–but the real reason to be sure is my new family. I’ve heard so many times (with a hint of terror) that when you have kids YOUR LIFE WILL CHANGE. Admittedly that phrase annoyed me and made me jittery at the same time. Now that I have a 9-month old I have a new take on that old line. I’m looking at my daughter all day and, like any parent, find myself wanting her to enjoy and trust life. I spent the first few months of her life musing about how I would teach her this. I realized that set the example by living my life to the fullest and by going for my biggest dream. I have to take the plunge and trust life myself. If I do this, she will follow.
Maui was not my first attempt at this. I left Indiana when I finished college and set up my life in Italy. At the time it was a huge leap of faith and it worked out. It was what I needed at the time. I worked for MTV, Rai Television and got a great radio DJ job. Over the years I have developed a better idea of what paradise would be for me. I learned to surf and I fell in love with yoga while the winters became more and more oppressive.
B: When did you start the radio show?
KG: I’ve been with Radio 105 for the last 7 years, I actually started out from the Miami Beach studios while I was there working for MTV Latin America.
B: Regarding doing the show from Maui, what’s your set-up there? How does it work?
KG: I actually did my first solo, remote broadcast when I was working on my second album in St. Augustine, Florida. It’s pretty cool what technology can do these days. I set up a makeshift studio here in my spare bedroom. Basically I hook up a little device to an ISDN line and can do a live broadcast directly through my station in Italy. They worry about compressing my voice and making things perfect.
B: And with the show, 105 Aloha, you’re also going to do a blog with photos?
KG: I’ve had a hard time so far with photos, so far it’s been raining for 2 weeks. Welcome to paradise! But yes, I’ll be posting some stories, short videos and pictures as well as Twittering.
B: How did Kris & Kris come about?
KG: I went to the University of Bologna and ended up staying in Bologna for my first 5 years in Italy. Kris was also living there and doing some ‘country modeling’ like me. I don’t think we’ve stopped talking since the day we met. She heard that MTV was looking for new VJ’s so we set out to make a demo video. Looking at it today, it’s hilariously horrible.
Anyway, they invited us in for a few trial runs and then called each of us separately asking if they could hire just one of us. We told them it was all or nothing, that they’d have to take both of us, and eventually (after I’d given up all hope and moved to NYC) they called us back and gave us the job. We were so excited, I had just left Italy and moved to New York three days earlier and suddenly had to hurry back to do a commercial!
B: At the same time, you were modeling, hosting parties…?
KG: I wish I had some of those first fashion shots… what a laugh! Italy is a true fashion center. Even in the smaller towns there are always fashion shows in the square and little stores doing their own ad campaigns. When Kris and I were working, there was a sort of small models guild made up of all the models who weren’t living in Milan. Everyone had their ‘contacts’ and when someone would find out about a show or a job, we’d then call all the other girls to work. We ended up working almost everyday, traveling in carpools all over Italy. It was a fantastic way to discover the country, learn about hairy Italian invoicing and basically discover Italian women and culture.
I eventually moved to Milan and began to get some ‘real’ modeling jobs and ended up landing some great campaigns, like la Perla, and appearing in fashion shows, like Valentino’s Piazza de Spagna show.
B: You studied in Italy. Why did you decide to go back and make it your home?
KG: I needed the cosiness of Italy. America was flipping me out at the time. I was feeling anxious in places like Target and Walmart. I wasn’t feeling close to anyone or anything. In Italy, I was able to get a coffee in a small café and be served by name. I could go to the fruit and veggie market and just point to what I wanted while a the owner selected the fruits. It seemed so much more community based, so much less individual. I was also allowed to just become whoever. It was a sweet, cozy way to becoming an adult and attaining a certain freedom.
B: You definitely play a role on air that Italians gravitate toward. How would you define this role?
KG: That is such a big question and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. I love Italy and Italians so much. I care a lot about the youth coming up right now. There are so many screwy roles for both men and women, so many old traditions that don’t allow the youth to really branch out and find out what really ignites their passions. I try to be an example and promote a healthy critical sense. Our radio show is based on positivity.
Stay tuned next week for part II of this interview.
To read part II of this interview, click here
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