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10 Questions with ... Gustav
June 19, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
KLC Radio (Lewis & Clark College)/Portland, OR 1988 - 1992 (plus off and on after graduation until Spring '95), KNRK April 1995 to present (minus a seven month time on the beach from October '03 to June '04).
During my time at 94/7 "Alternative Portland" I've been weekends, middays (five years), mornings (three years), afternoons (five years), and now Days the past three years. I've also served as MD for the all local HD 2 station "94/7 Too - NW Bands Only" which is simulcast both in Portland and Seattle. It also streams online and has a dedicated smartphone app.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
As a kid, my Mom forbade any sort of TV watching, so I was forced to do things like read books and listen to the radio. Around the age of eight, I began to do mock interviews with friends. Soon after that, I was using that tape recorder to record songs off of the radio and then do my own backsells out of them, and things just sort of snowballed from there.
2. Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
Steve Masters, formerly of Live 105/San Francisco. He was always super upbeat and off the cuff, and first introduced me to the art of the radio mixshow in the late '80s
3. How did you get your current gig?
Man... I still don't know! I was at my college station years ago and heard about this new Alternative station that was hitting the dial, so I sent a demo, resume and then started calling about each and every day for the next month. I was finally hired for weekend overnights at KNRK in April of '95, (probably to get me to stop calling...) and from there moved around to different dayparts over the years.
4. What part of your job do you like best? Least?
The best part of course, is all of the new music we get to play, while at the same time re-visiting the glory days with all of the alternative "classics." Chatting with bands that come through and take over the station with their own playlists is fun, too. The part I like least is having to be the same person I was yesterday. I could be having the worst day of my life, but I never want that to show through on-air.
5. What makes your show unique?
I like to think that I give a good amount of music knowledge woven in to my show, along with things that are relevant to the average Portland listener. I'm a self admitted geek, so if I suddenly go off about some tech product, or "World Of Warcraft," I like to think that people expect that. I've also been known to suddenly bust out in some random German (need to use that degree now and again...).
6. What is your show prep routine?
I always try to get in at least an hour before I go on. That gives me time to check my sources and see what's going on in the world of entertainment and music, or to figure out the best way to execute a contest. By the time I'm on my third cup of coffee from the kitchen, it's about time for me to get in to the studio and figure out how to work it all in together.
7. Your goal for each show?
To have someone come away saying "wow... I didn't know that" would always be the best thing I could hope for. Or introduce something brand new to a listener who hasn't heard it. Or even to have someone call me all excited about a song they haven't heard in 25 years. Reaching out and connecting with the listener is definitely goal number one.
8. How are you using Social Media?
Everything from asking for song suggestions in the "90s at Noon Last Letter Game" to teasing upcoming contests, or "this day in history posts", to silly photos and more. Right now, it's the best connection that we have out there, and it makes people feel like they're part of the "club" which is important!
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Still feeling a bit nervous when I pot that mic up.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
I once fancied myself a halfway decent writer, and really wanted to be a published author, but never got there. I have over 300 pages of handwritten manuscript gathering dust in my garage of a failed sci-fi novel.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
I don't know if you could call the gym a hobby, but I'm there several times a week, trying to stay healthy. In addition I spend too much time on the XBox 360 ("Skyrim" is sucking the life out of me), enjoy playing Lego with our 8 year old son, and reading books on history.
Last non-industry job?
Retail/Inventory Control at Nike's HQ here in Portland
First record ever purchased?
Kraftwerk "Man Machine." I was like 10 years old, and had been long fascinated by the cover... didn't even know what it sounded like, but after listening was glad I had paid the insane import price that it had cost me. I still own that record.
First concert?
General Public in '84. I snuck out of the house at night to go to that one, so I hope my Mom isn't reading this...
Favorite band of all-time?
Depeche Mode! Electronic music is really my forte (blame that Kraftwerk album), and they've been amazing pioneers of the genre. I'd love to say that I own everything they ever put out, but that's near to impossible nowadays.
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