Meet Brianna Meighan of The Roosevelt Tape in Downtown Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Meighan.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles to first-gen Belizean parents. So the culture I was/am blessed with has been super rich. From food to dialect to music – I’ve loved it all, but music has always been something I’ve loved, not actually playing or creating the music, but experiencing it. Record stores, concerts, long rides with the radio on – Music and all of its variability has always left me bright eyed. I always want to discover new artists, new sounds.

Fast forward to these last four years in Phoenix, I landed an internship at Entercom radio in downtown Phoenix in 2017 to pursue Marketing with the Psychology degree I was getting and actually ended up in promotions and from promotions to administration and from administration to on-air/programming.

After what I’d now call a drought of and almost a lack of passion for musical discovery for a few years, I met long time on-air host and voice of the valley, Natasha Castles at Entercom in 2019. She and I bonded over our love for music and through very organic conversations Castles invited me to partner with her in her, then, upcoming pilot show called “The Roosevelt Tape” where her dreams of showcasing local phoenix artists, underground gems, and various other sounds of good (and often unheard of) music would come to life. I was ALL for it and so the journey began.

Has it been a smooth road?
When Natasha asked me to partner with her on The Roosevelt Tape, I was about a month out from graduating college – so between trying to finish strong (emphasis on TRYING, haha) and taking on this new, exciting role… I definitely struggled to prioritize some responsibilities. Following the completion of school, moving into a full-time role on our radio station’s promotions team, and all of life’s other personal woes the road has definitely had its rough moments along the way – mentally and emotionally more than anything. Be we just keep going… it’s important to just keep moving.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Roosevelt Tape – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
The Roosevelt Tape is a progressive music show for the R&B-soul music lover with an alternative electro funk, and hip hop twist taking place on The Valley’s Hit Music Leader, LIVE 101.5, every Sunday night from 9-11pm.

Unlike your standard radio station song selections – you get a little bit of everything on the Roosevelt Tape: Snoh Aalegra, Tame Impala, Anderson Paak, Boogie, and the list goes on! Each Sunday is special… And quite honestly, very different from the week before. You may get a few of the same songs, usually the ones we’re really feeling at the time or a few show-long favorites, but the amount of new sounds that we come across each week allows us to create unique set-lists every show.

I’m proud of what’s to come! Particularly the series of pop-up events we plan to hold around the valley called “Red Theory” where we’ll get to provide this same live, local & unique sense of discovery for our audience – in real time. With experiencing and ‘feeling’ the music being something I seek out in the sounds I vibe to- actually being able to curate a space and experience is like a fairytale.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like the best about Phoenix is the growth I’ve seen in the businesses and communities I’ve been apart of. When I first moved here from Los Angeles in 2015, I couldn’t help but describe everything as boring or not excitable. As time’s gone on however I’ve found that you really have to explore Phoenix- there’s something here for everyone. You just have to find it. Phoenix just keeps booming and I can definitely say that I am proud to live here and be apart of all the magic that’s taking place.

Contact Info:

• Email: TheRooseveltTape@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroosevelttape/?hl=en; https://www.instagram.com/bamghn/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RooseveltTape; https://twitter.com/vibewithb
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYLSZ_Sm3NDkyhk9VR0kw

Image Credit:
O’Shea Tometi and Elizabeth Segura

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