Here is the latest “Inside the SMC studio,” a monthly blog post highlighting our members and who they are! This month, we hear from Josh McGuire, one of our Boston Free Radio producers and dedicated volunteers here at Somerville Media Center. Josh rocked it out at the very successful ’90s Dance Party event at Assembly Row (hosted by BFR). We love having Josh here as an active member! Learn all about him below!
1. Who are you and what do you do?
I am DJ Osh and I be the IT manager at a small biopharmaceutical company in Boston. I have also been a Kindergarten teacher, an assistant-engineer at a recording studio in Atlanta, a Newport Creamery grill-cook and a slew of other things, which leads me to…
2. What was the strangest job you’ve had?
Before I worked in the posh and glamorous world of tuna-melt preparation, I spent an entire day-shift, working at a seafood factory in Warren RI, removing the beards from mussels. It was terrible and loud but at least I smelled awful. They wanted me to return but I didn’t because I value my mental and physical health.
3. Where is your favorite place to retreat for mental or physical health?
I like Costa Rica a whole bunch but its a long drive. I also like playing video games and listening to music. I find a good bike ride to be a delight as well.
4. Who were your early creative mentors or source for inspiration?
I really liked the Radio Soulwax stuff because they just pulled from everywhere and made it work. I also admire DJ Shadow, DJ Neil Armstrong, Premier, Skratch Bastid, DJ Craze, the Bomb Squad, Chris Read, DJ Yoda, DJ Faust, etc, etc… I’ve been listening to, making and enjoying Hip Hop and its ever-splintering variations for over 30 years now so, there have been a lot.
5. How do you get past creative roadblocks?
Leave it and come back. Nothing makes for crappier crap than forced crap being presented as something that isn’t really just crappy crap.
6. How has SCATV/BFR been a positive influence in your creative career?
There is a good diverse group of people here. It’s nice to walk by the radio booth and perhaps hear a deep house song and then walk down the hallway and maybe hear a psychobilly band playing. I enjoy alternate points of view (when they are not being forced upon me) and there is just a really large pool of ideas and points of view at BFR.
7. What is your favorite music album?
I feel like the naming “favorite” movies or albums or artists or books is an impossible exercise. When I’m in the mood for love, I don’t necessarily want to listen to Minor Threat tell me about seeing red but, conversely, when I’m really angry, I don’t need D’Angelo talking about him and those dreamin’ eyes of his. They all have their place but they eb and flow. I’m like an onion, man.
8. If you could have entrance music, what would it be?
M.O.P.’s Ante Up instrumental. But with a full marching band and maybe some explosions and people on motorcycles jumping over them. I understand that may not work for all occasions but it would cover 90% of my day to day coming and going.
9. What’s your favorite spot in Somerville to hangout or visit?
I like Brass Union because they have good DJ’s and fun games to play. I like El Potro because I like being fat. Hub Comics is dope too.
10. In 140 characters or less, how would you pitch your show or who you are?
The Bridge is a celebration of beat-driven and sample-based music. The first half is for newer music, the second hour is for the classics.
