10 Questions with ... Luke Gelheiser

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I'm more or less at the start of it but, I was at a local AM station in Bennington, Vermont for 3 years as an on-air producer and DJ. 1370 WBTN. I owe my start in radio to them. Then I went to college and received my bachelors in Broadcast Communication along with a minor in Creative Writing. And here we are!

1. How did you become interested in radio?

Honestly, it was just a lifelong love of music.

2. What stands out the most from growing up in EQXland listening to the station?

So, the thing about growing up in Vermont is that you more or less grow up in the forest. It's incredible as a kid with a wild imagination to go and adventure in, but then when I became an angst ridden, teenage hooligan (who didn't have a driver's license yet) my one saving grace was a radio station that always played new and interesting music! I just wish for the life of me I could remember which radio station it was...

3. Tell us about your midday show and how would you describe yourself on-air.

I'm just trying to have a good, relaxing time with listeners. I'm just a kid in a room talking about the music I dig, and if other people are into it to, then that's rad! I strive to make my show something that listeners can tune in to while letting their worries drift away for even just an hour or two. Whether I succeed or not? Well, that's up to them.

4. How would you describe yourself as a Music Director?

Critical thinking was something that was emphasized in school from when I entered the 3rd grade right up through the end of my time in college. So I'd like to think I'm a critical listener. And if that response comes off as too conceded, I suppose at the end of the day I just want to hear something fresh. New sounds, new methods of music making, etc. I have a deep appreciation for the technical skill that goes into music making.

5. Tell us about the weekly music meeting every Tuesday...

Tuesdays are my favorite day of the week because they more or less set the tone for the rest of the week. Program Director Jeff, Production Director Keller, and I all gather in Jeff's office, and after several jokes at Keller's expense, we listen to a load of new music. After that, we decide what goes on the air, and what stays off, which is really the only tough part of the meeting. I think Jeff, Keller and I all have varying tastes to some degree so that can keep the spread of new music fresh for a good range of people. After all that we'll spend some time talking about bizarre and surreal interactions with other people we've all individually had throughout the week (usually in retail stores) before it's back to business as usual.

6. What is your favorite part of the job?

Whether it is at a show or one of our EQX House Sessions, so many talented people that I've looked up to for years have now crossed my path. To find that the majority of them are some of the kindest, hardest working, and down to Earth people I've ever met is an incredible feeling. It's also very humbling and flattering when they thank you for supporting their work. So yeah, I'm gonna say... station owner Mimi's cooking!

7. What is a typical workday like for you?

I normally wake up to one of my cats running across my face. After cursing at them, getting dressed, and grabbing a mug of coffee, I hit the road. I normally arrive at the station 30 to 15 minutes before my show starts, and chat with Jeff both on and off air as he is just wrapping up his morning shift. I'm on the air after that from 10 to 3 in the afternoon, ending my shift with an on and off air chat with Keller. These almost always consist of me telling him to watch movies that he will never watch. After that I switch into playlist mode, and schedule all the music for the following day on the station. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour depending on my mood and the amount of sleep I got the previous night. In between all of this, there is usually some tech-support type project for me to lend a hand on. After the music is scheduled, and I give the station's website a quick look over to make sure everything is up to date and working well, I'm just about finished for the day, and I head home.

8. What do you like best about living in Vermont?

It's the winter weather. Lots of folks around here like to complain about it. I myself have lied about hating it from time to time just to avoid butting heads unnecessarily. But, if I'm honest with myself, there is truly something romantic about winter time in Vermont. I like nothing more than being snowed in my house with a blanket, my two cats, and a good book, movie, or game. And if I'm up for heading out in it, it's always a blast to spend time with all my ski-bum friends up on the various mountains in the area.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?

Coffee. I'm gonna throw my parents under the bus on this one a little bit. They let me start drinking coffee when I was 10 years old. My consumption has only increased with my age and I'm now addicted to caffeine. On the rare days I don't start the morning with a couple cups, I've got a migraine by 2 in the afternoon that feels as if someone is slowly pulling my head apart while sawing down the middle with a very blunt knife. So yeah, that's a big daily must have for me.

10. What would surprise people most about you?

Probably that I'm a published author. I wrote a horror book that nobody should ever read while in college and a local publisher right here in Manchester, Vermont helped me put it out into the world. Due to the subject matter, it was a very difficult story to write, and I went to bed most nights while working on it knowing that nightmares were on their way. As a writer, I'm not a fan of it only 2 years later, as I don't think it is representative of the best of my writing abilities. It also feels a bit gimmicky in hindsight. Either way, it's out there if you are interested. It's called "A Gray Man" and if you give it a Google along with my name I'm sure you can find it. Okay, I'll end my shameless self-plug there.

You really like cats. Tell us about your cats and why you gave them food names.

You know how some people say house plants clear your head space and help you think? That's what cats have always done for me. I have two 5 year old shorthairs that I adopted from a local shelter. A girl named Cheesecake and a boy named Eggroll. And as for the food names, I honestly just wanted to do something different. Cheesecake was and is still quite chubby, so I thought a dessert food would fit well. As for Eggroll, he is always rolling around on his back, so there you go! I also think I am rubbing off on the shelter that I adopted them from, because they just named one of their new cats Coleslaw.

What are weekends like for you?

Prepare to be bored! Well unless you also like films, and I mean really like films. I've loved movies from a very young age and luckily enough there is a century old art house theater just 15 minutes from my house in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It's called Images Cinema and I'd highly recommend catching a movie there if you ever can. They curate a good range of films so that's easily my theater of choice. I'm currently in the process of viewing every best picture nominee for this year's Oscar's, and after I get to Phantom Thread there this weekend, I'll have finished that mission! My very good and oldest friend Torrey is often in my company when I'm there, but if we feel more like staying in, he usually comes over to my place and we drink while watching bad, campy, and schlock-filled action movies that usually star Jean-Claude Van Damme or Dolph Lundgren in some capacity.

I'm also a big hockey fan, and luckily there are plenty of free games at Williams College through the winter season. Go Ephs!

First record ever purchased?

Well technically, it was a CD, but Pearl Jam's Vitology. The first vinyl record I bought myself was The Who's Who Are You. I got both at a great little local record shop also in Williamstown called Toonerville Trolley Records. Man, I spend a lot of time in Williamstown...

First concert?

Rush at SPAC in Saratoga Springs, New York. They were big favorite of mine growing up, and luckily a couple good friends and myself snagged some lawn tickets before the show sold out.

Favorite band of all-time?

This is a mean question and I think you should feel a little bad about asking it. How can I possibly pick? Though, gun to my head, stranded on a desert island for the rest of my life with only one artist...I suppose I'd have to go with Wilco. I've seen them in concert more than any other artist (though They Might Be Giants are just a show behind them on that list), and their music has a good range to cover many moods I find myself in.