Justin H.
1. When did you get involved with 88.1FM?
As a DJ my first involvement was waaaay back in 98’ or 99’. One of my friends was a host and, at the time, he was hosting a 2 am to 6 am overnight. I came along to help him stay awake and have fun and when he moved to New York I just stayed on.
2. What show(s) do you currently host on KVSC and what programs have you hosted in the past?
Well, right now I don’t have a regular show—but I am looking to be a regular fill-in on things like Sisters and Frets. Mostly I’m down to give anything a shot learning about new music is kinda why we do this. My regular shows in the past were Insomnia Heaven, Eclectic Breakfast, and from time to time I would fill in on Frets, GCRC, and once Thriving on A Riff.
3. Please list some of the artists and musicians you consider to be a must play on your show(s).
Artists that tend to find their way into my shows include: Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Greg Brown, Guante, Leonard Cohen, Atmosphere, Spider John Koerner, Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Beastie Boys, Utah Phillips, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Hold Steady, Doomtree, and the beat goes on….
4. Why are you involved with independent community radio at 88.1FM?
I like finding new things to listen to and enjoy. Also I have always enjoyed ‘playing DJ’ at parties and making mixes. I’m old enough to have made mix tapes the hard way.
5. What is in your CD player right now (be honest)?
I’ve been on a bit of a Minnesota Hip Hop/Rap jag lately. Doomtree, Dessa, Atmosphere. In my last couple trips to the Electric Fetus I’ve picked up; Sammy Davis Jr, Rufus Wainwright, Cee-Lo, POS, Wanda Jackson, Billy Bragg and Wilco, Led Zepplin and The Decemberists.
6. Please disclose the most embarrassing music moment or concert you’ve attended or album you’ve bought (perhaps even shameful)?
Well—embarassing is relative. The two things that come to mind are from when I was much younger. I owned Bobby Brown’s My Perogative and Wilson Phillips’ self-titled. I also really enjoyed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles soundtrack. I’m sure some of the stuff I love now would strike some folks as silly if not embarrassing.
7. What are your hobbies and interests?
I spend a lot of time with stories of various kinds—reading books and comics, watching movies, sometimes I try to write, acting in and directing plays. I love baseball. I experience football—I like when the Vikings win because my wife and friends are happy but it doesn’t effect my day when they loose.
8. When you are not at work or at KVSC where can you most likely be found?
Home. With my wife, my father in-law, five cats, and an obscene number of books.
9. If it were the end of the world (?) and you could only take five things with you what would they be (be honest):
If we leave off stuff like my family, food, and first aid kits? I would need to bring along DVD copies of Casablanca and the original Star Wars trilogy. I would also need a copy Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlien. As far music goes I guess it would be Small Change by Tom Waits and A Swingin Affair by Frank Sinatra.
10. What is the most annoying request or listener inquiry you remember receiving?
The thing that kills me is folks calling in to request something that CLEARLY does not fit the show. Like for instance if you call me during Granite City Rock Café and request Hell’s Bells I can at least follow your logic. The same request made during Frets tells me that you aren’t really listening to the show.
11. What do you think is the future of radio?
I think it’s really interesting that technology is making creating content so much easier for amateurs. It used to be that a creative person would have to find a way to get their art in front of people. The tools are now made available to anyone. I feel like radio is like that in some ways. The downside is you have to pay even closer attention to who you let curate your art for you.