When asked why he decided to pursue a career in radio broadcasting, Cayle Campbell had a very straightforward answer.
“I like to talk.”

Despite his modesty, Campbell’s aloof comment is not so far from the truth. He is an interviewer by nature, but one who is equally comfortable on either side of the microphone.

Campbell is just a few weeks from graduating the radio broadcasting program at Algonquin, where he hosts Ottawatch, an interview and music show he created to showcase local musical talent in Ottawa.

“Ottawatch came from my admiration of a show that was on this station last year called Sounds of the 613, and it was a couple of guys doing interviews with local bands. I’ve always been able to approach bands and have loved hanging out with them after the shows,” he said. “So I really wanted to continue that. This year we had the option of pitching our own specialty shows and so I pitched the idea with my co-host Cory Cross for a show that put the spotlight on the local and underground music scene.”
It was Cross who came up with the show’s name, because, as Cayle said, “I’m horrible at coming up with names for things.” 
But hey, what’s in a name?

In his short time as the show’s host, Campbell has interviewed successful artists such as Lights, the Johnstones, Ill Scarlett and many more, as well as countless less well-known but equally talented acts.

“My job entails doing two interviews a week, producing them, mixing them down and just getting really connected with the local scene, but there is so much more to it,” said Campbell. “The workload for this course is ridiculous. I spend about 15-20 hours a week preparing for a one hour show on top of the rest of my work. Between writing, booking, going to the venue, producing the interview, and post-prod, it can be pretty hectic.”

But Cayle’s hard work has paid off, and Ottawatch has become a hit with listeners and musicians alike.
“The great thing about Ottawatch is that it gives people who don’t have the time to seek out their local music, an outlet to experience it easily and to have a good time doing it. It’s one of the only radio stations I’ll listen to,” said Sheila Smith, 21, an avid listener.

“My band recently did an interview with Cayle and I was extremely impressed with his professionalism and his attitude both on and off the air, he’s a really great guy and it’s nice to see someone like that getting attention for the awesome work they’re doing,” said local musician and Algonquin graduate, Sean Strasbourg.

Campbell credits his lifelong love affair with music as the origin of his current domination of the college airwaves.
Since he was young he had a strong passion for music, and was always listening to local stations, calling in as much as he could for contests and tours of the studios.

Fortune favors the bold, and with six jobs lined up already, including bartending, two bands and part-time radio and music production work, it is clear that Campbell’s take-no-prisoners work ethic and his unique vision have secured his fortunes for the near future.

He plans to leave Ottawatch as an example of what can be accomplished with some hard work and the right attitude, and to move on to break new ground in sound elsewhere.

 He wants to focus on continuing to interview bands and to hopefully launch a new website that could create an Ottawa band network.

“I want to use this great medium to help bands find missing members, book gigs, get exposure and just really advance the local scene.”

However, Campbell has some words of caution for other young students thinking about getting into radio broadcasting.
“If you enjoy your social lives … don’t!”