Jon Schober left home in Texas, traveled 900-plus miles north and enrolled at the University of Minnesota for just one reason: Radio K.

So it was "a glorious day" last January when the junior urban studies major became music director at the student-run station (104.5 FM, 100.7 FM, 106.5 FM, 770 AM and radiok.com).

His responsibilities include programming 14 hours of eclectic, independent music each day and booking bands for in-studio performances.

He also picks Radio K's priority artists, which now include Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Best Coast, Here We Go Magic, Tame Impala and Wolf Parade. He discovers many bands, like Phantogram, from the 50 to 75 albums arriving every week.

Schober gets paid for 20 hours a week but puts in 40 or more. He has an internship contributing to a local music blog and will resume his full class schedule in the fall.

Schober is from north Texas, the Dallas suburbs, an alternative music wasteland far from the sonic oasis of Austin. His introduction to independent music began in high school, discovering popular blogs like Stereogum and Pitchfork as well as college radio online. (He had played viola for eight years and still loves classical.)

His college search came down to schools with the coolest stations. The U of M won out because of Radio K and because it was more affordable than anything back home.

Schober immediately volunteered at the station. He completed DJ training, working a late-night shift for several months before getting on the regular schedule. He's on air now from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

Three and out with Radio K's Jon Schober

• Favorite in-studio performance?

We had the Besnard Lakes in, a band I first saw in ninth or 10th grade. I've loved them ever since. They make this really epic, sprawling music. The session was absolutely incredible. I was in seventh heaven.

• Band you'd love to have in the studio?

Best Coast. It's a sunny, very garage-rocky pop record. Their music makes me very happy and it calms me down and releases my stress. So hopefully we'll get them, I believe, in September. (Best Coast will play a show at Triple Rock on Sept. 16.)

• As a native Texan, how are you adjusting to winter?

I would take a Minnesota winter over a Texas summer any day. (You're) sweating for six months because it's over 90 degrees every day. The snow is gorgeous at first, and you can bundle up. North Texas is hot, humid and there is a ton of smog.

Three more and out with Schober

• Found any Texas-worthy barbecue here?

I have not. I have been on and off with being a vegetarian after I left Texas. Every time I go back, I have to have a breakfast burrito. And I can't go without the chili. Or the bacon. Or the meat.

• Are you ever not listening to music?

On the weekend, I've got to take a break. I'm usually at work one day on the weekend and then the other day I just go to the coffee shop, read a book or do some other work.

• What do you do to relax, away from music?

Get out in nature. I'm going to Colorado hiking for a week. And not have any distractions, just clear my head.