Sister Sylvie setting up her playlist on the Home Grown Music Show
“You just heard some music from the Grateful Dead, the Band and also Phish. This next one is from Phil Lesh and Friends; hope you enjoy it. You’re listening to the Home Grown Music Show with Sister Sylvie. Keep it locked on the Lion 90.7 FM.”
These are the words of Sister Sylvie – a weekend D.J. at the Lion FM radio station in the HUB-Robeson Center on Penn State’s University Park campus. An affiliate with the Lion for over a decade now, she runs the Home Grown Music Show on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to three o’clock PM. The show revolves around classic roots rock and blues from the 60’s and 70’s.
“I guess I’m kind of a hippie,” she said. “It’s good music that makes you feel good and people connect with it. That’s also where the name of the show comes from. The music is very natural and, well, home grown – so it makes sense.”
Sylvie uses the sound board to pan up the next track
Sylvie was born in Korea and moved to the U.S. when she was a young girl. She said her friends started calling her Sister Sylvie and the name stuck. She chose to remain by that name for the purpose of the interview.
When asked about how she started at the Lion FM, Sylvie said it began as a small gig just helping out around the station and it eventually grew into a weekly show.
“It just sort of happened,” she said. “I got involved when I first came to Penn State and it took off from there.”
The Home Grown Music Show gets plenty of love from listeners – not only in State College but around the country as well.
“I’ve had people calling from Florida, California, Nevada; all over,” she said. “It feels really good to know that people are listening and appreciate what you do. I’ve had people tell me the songs I play have gotten them through the weekend. It’s very rewarding.”
As far as her life outside of the Lion FM, Sylvie chose to keep that private as well.
A bird’s-eye view of the Lion FM studio as Sister Sylvie answers a caller’s request
Although we may not know Sylvie as a day-to-day person here in State College, Sister Sylvie is known by many niche listeners throughout the country as the Home Grown D.J. – and the person who makes the soundtrack to their weekend.
“You’re listening to the Home Grown Music Show. Now back to one of my favorites from the early recordings of Bob Dylan, this one’s called ‘Boots of Spanish Leather.'”