Today we’d like to introduce you to Le Schlippy
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m Schlippy, a college radio DJ on WCSB Cleveland 89.3FM. I host a weekly program called Over The Hump with my co-host and life partner Bill, airing Wednesday nights from 11 PM to midnight. From its inception, Over The Hump was designed to be a community-driven show. We invite local guest DJs each month, giving Cleveland’s DJs a platform to showcase their talents live on air through exclusive live sets. Week to week, we play locally produced dance and jam tracks from Cleveland-area producers and bands, supporting local talent and the local scene. We also spotlight the local dance and jam events and artists scheduled to appear around town. Throughout the month, we offer ticket giveaways to lucky listeners to help remove financial barriers and make music events more accessible to those who wish to participate in these communal gatherings.
Beyond my radio show, I’ve expanded Over The Hump into an online presence on Facebook and Instagram, where I compile and share a weekly list of dance and jam events happening around town. I stay up-to-date on events, providing detailed descriptions of each event, including the genres and overall vibe. I aim to create a centralized space where people can easily find and explore Cleveland’s dance and jam music scene.
WCSB Cleveland 89.3FM is a non-profit, alternative, freeform college radio station broadcasting from Cleveland State University. Unlike commercial stations, WCSB is not driven by capitalism. This independence allows us to express ourselves freely through music, speech, and art. We aren’t paid to play anything or say anything by anybody. We are free to speak our opinions, share our music tastes and knowledge, and exist purely as a community effort. WCSB hosts free public events (such as the annual Halloween Ball and Record Fair), ticket giveaways, and an eclectic range of programming, offering something for everyone. Listeners can listen live on their radio with the dial tuned to 89.3 FM or explore WCSB’s programming, stream live, and access archived episodes at www.WCSB.org.
I discovered WCSB Cleveland 89.3FM by chance about four and a half years ago. One night, while flipping through radio stations in my car, I stumbled upon a college radio program that was informal, ridiculous, and absurd in the best way possible. It felt like I was hanging out with the hosts, even though it was a one-way interaction. It almost felt like the hosts I was listening to were old friends of mine. It resonated with me deeply. As a Cleveland State University student, I immediately looked up whether CSU had a radio station, and sure enough, it did. I applied right away, and the rest is history.
About three years ago, I found my way into the dance music community and was immediately drawn into the rabbit hole. Being in a dark room, surrounded by strangers who eventually became friends and extended family, moving freely to repetitive, progressive beats in a judgment-free, safe space where individuals can explore and express themselves authentically became home. It was everything I had ever searched for in a community. Watching a DJ take control of a room, like a shaman guiding a sonic journey through beats, melodies, and rhythms, is awe-inspiring. The way the people move in sync creates a transcendental shared experience of love and connection. These experiences are deeply spiritual to me. Dance music shifted the trajectory of my life, making me a more loving, authentic person. I truly believe it can do the same for others if they open themselves to it and embrace it.
At its core, dance music is about community. The community is a living, breathing entity, and without the people supporting it will no longer exist. We all do our part to support. Whether going and dancing, promoting events, inviting others, creating platforms and spaces for performance, or telling others about the local artists, we bring the community strength and longevity. The dance music community feels like an extended family. We look out for each other, uplift one another, and foster a sense of belonging while being able to be our truest selves. It’s a kind of utopia that I hope becomes more prevalent in our society. Over The Hump is my tribute to the incredible dance community because it deserves a voice.
Over The Hump – “Connecting the homies through the airwaves”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My biggest struggle has been balancing my passion for radio and music with my professional and academic life. Over the past two years, I’ve been pursuing a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, which has been intense and demanding. Juggling coursework, job hunting, and obtaining my license while also dedicating time to my creative pursuits and keeping up with daily responsibilities has been intense. But truthfully, I wouldn’t have it any other way. My passions fuel me, keeping me motivated and constantly inspiring new ideas and goals.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Recently, I’ve been focusing more on honing my craft and practicing DJing with vinyl and digital formats. As a physical and digital crate digger, I continue to develop an extensive collection of music knowledge and strive to share the sounds that move me. I’ve played a few events here and there, but 2025 is the year I take it more seriously.
I’ve also been working towards creating more events surrounding music and DJs in the Cleveland area. Recently, I took the initiative to partner WCSB Cleveland with Case Western University’s college radio station, WRUW 91.1 FM, to launch a recurring vinyl DJ event series called “Vinyl Explorations.” This series will feature a rotation of college radio DJs, showcasing diverse mixes exclusively on vinyl records in a freeform, genre-blending format. The events will be free to the public, reinforcing our mission to connect college radio with the broader community while strengthening the connection between Cleveland’s remarkable college radio stations and allowing DJs to hone their skills on the decks in a live setting.
Our first event will be at Sacred Waters Kava Bar in Lakewood, OH, on April 11th, 2025. Stay tuned for more upcoming events.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk-taking is essential to growth and prosperity. I have always been a risk-taker, which has resulted in mistakes of all sorts, but the thing is, I never regret my mistakes. Mistakes are essential for learning and growth, and I think we need to embrace them more as humans. Without taking risks, I would not have the privilege to be where I am today.
In music, risk-taking is also essential. I am inspired by DJs and artists who take risks during their sets and experiment live. It provides the listener a unique experience while keeping them on their toes. As the wise Detroit Techno legend Carl Craig once said, “A DJ who never takes risks is just a playlist.”
Let go of society’s expectations, let go of the opinions of others, let go of your biases, let go of everything you thought you knew, embrace your fears, find what moves you, and follow your heart to your passions. Life is too short to take the simple path of avoiding risks. You might be surprised at what you can accomplish when you learn to let go and set yourself free.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wcsb.org/wcs3_class/dj-schlippy/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_schlippy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086322402558
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/schlippy
