Also known as The Blood Spattered Guide, Liisa is the most recent addition to RM Radio, where she does music-related interviews, news and features. Few people know this, but she once shot a man in Reno, just to steal his “i” – it’s true! She also completes our series of interviews with the people who make Rue Morgue Radio happen every week.

Happy second birthday, Rue Morgue Radio. Heeeeeere’s Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisa…

1) Describe your role on Rue Morgue Radio.

Voice of reason? Kidding! As the Blood Spattered Guide I try to add to Sir Dragomir’s fangtastic music playlist, commentary and news from where music and horror intersect. As much as I enjoy streaming music, I believe there is still an important role to play for informed, opinionated music commentary in radio. I love to unearth new or offbeat music that listeners may not have heard, to dig into my muzo archives for trivia and tributes of the classicks, and I like to probe musicians. Also, I try to keep the Rue Morgue Radio “Macho Meter” from spinning out of control thanks to those Caustic motherfuckers.

2) Why radio? What’s the draw of the medium?

Intimacy. One of my most favourite things on earth is finding a new song that completely rocks my world – and then turning someone else on to it. When you review a record for print magazines, it’s like sending a letter in a bottle and hoping someone picks it up to read it. Maybe, just maybe, they might make an effort to track down what you recommend. (Meeting those people who did read you, sometimes years later, is always very cool.) With radio, it’s like being in their room. You can sit down right next to them and play it on their stereo. Share your passion for it right in their ear. And then it’s gone… This is what I’ve always loved about listening to, and making, radio. Well, that and being able to bitch about things to a massive audience.

3) How many hours a week on average do you work on the show?

6.66. All in the dark.

4) Name one of your favourite interviews that you or someone else on RM radio has done, and why?

The 60 Sick Second rapid-fire interviews have been fun. Both Lyle from Ghoultown and Steve from Zombie really got the concept and were a real treat. Otherwise, I think Feedback’s a great interviewer and I always enjoy his bits.

5) If you could listen to one horror-themed song right now, what would it be and why?

”Haunted When the Minutes Drag” by Love & Rockets, because it’s mid-afternoon and I’m a sleepy goth girl thinking about a boy.

6) Aside from RM Radio, what’s one online radio show or podcast that everyone should check out? And it doesn’t have to be horror-related.

Honestly, apart from RMR, I’ve been let down by most music podcasts. However, I do like to scavenge the olde time radio finds on the Internet Archive. (archive.org.) Nobody beats Vincent Price. Meanwhile, for a totally different freaky listen (sadly, not in radio/pod form) I recommend the Sound Poetry Archives at ubu.com/sound/index.html. Start with Christian Bok – anyone who can write alien languages and make poetry that sounds like techno is a rock star in my books.

7) If you were to off yourself during a broadcast, what would be the best (entertaining, appropriate, “aurally stunning,” etc.) method you could think of for the medium of radio?

Ha! I’m not interested in suicide, even in jest. Plus, the best way to be dead on air is the simple mute button, isn’t it?