Rave Curious Podcast

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Ep. 22 - Danny Daze Aug 18, 2016

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Danny Daze has lived the lives of a dozen different DJs—from a 14-year=old playing electro at giant Miami raves to time spent doing actual time, rising among the ranks of mash-up masters under the tutelage of DJ AM, breaking into the deep house (or as he calls it, "social techno") scene with Jamie Jones, and finally discovering his own direction in the obtuse techno of his OMNIDISC imprint. "My first gig ever in Europe was London, at Fabric," he tells of his almost unbelievable career path.

The one thing that remains constant in the Cuban-American producer's ever-evolving is a focus on songs, regardless of the genre. That, and an ear for dark and sleazy sounds rooted in the heaving 808 bump of his native Miami. It's a southern bounces he always manages to bring to releases on imprints such as Ultramajik, Ellium and Kompakt. A bass so deeply embedded that you can practically hear it in his voice as he speaks for an hour on this week's Rave Curious Podcast.

Ep. 21 - Gorgon City & Rudimental Aug 17, 2016

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Fighting Off Hangovers With Gorgon City and Rudimental The Rave Curious podcast catches up with the British bands, plus former Beatport CEO Matt Adell talks breaking capitalism.

When two of the hottest bands leading the UK electronic scene hit the road together, even a Monday night is alright for a party. Rave Curious spoke with Gorgon City and Rudimental, a pair of acts continuing the grand tradition of energetic electronica live bands—first exemplified by Roni Size and The Prodigy in the late '90s. We sat down in their Los Angeles hotel room for a quick chat in the midst of a seemly endless string of parties, travel and more parties. Thing start off sluggish as the guy shake off the cobwebs of another sleepless night, but soon our conversation kick into gear as coffee and beer come to save the day.

Also on the podcast, former Beatport CEO Matt Adell talks about his new remix platform, Metapop, and takes a long hard look at the current state of the American electronic music industry. "Dance music is one of the things we've seen capitalism break in our lifetime," he says, referring to the bursting EDM bubble, of which Beatport and it's bankrupt corporate parent company SFX are the prime example. Matt doesn't pull punches when it comes to his former employer, but he clearly does know how to move on from it.

Ep. 20 - Max Cooper Jul 19, 2016

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Max Cooper Wants to Explain Our Existence Through Music The musical philosopher takes on life, the universe, and, well, everything.

Max Cooper had more than a few things on his mind when sitting down for his Rave Curious Podcast. Top of the list was his new Emergence show, an A/V experience inspired by concepts in math and science that seek to explain the fundamentals of the universe. Heady stuff—but not enough for the DJ who spends his weekends playing all-night-long sets that start with fans comfortably seated on the floor, enjoying ambient, downtempo and post-classic music that slowly builds up into a ferocious dance party of techno, IDM, and even some jungle, as the night progresses.

No wonder the former scientist with a PhD. in computational biology has established a reputation as a musical philosopher and heir apparent to accessible-yet-obtuse artists like Aphex Twin, with fans who are willing to follow his every artistic whim. "To be honest, I'm quite an obsessive person," he admits right off the bat in our conversation that covers data visualization, the "troubles" in 80s Dublin, and naked streakers in European concert halls. Have a listen.

Ep. 19 - Derek Plaslaiko Jul 07, 2016

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The Rave Curious podcast hits a California highway with the Bunker NYC resident.

Derek Plaslaiko is one of the finest DJs to come out of Detroit's mid-90s techno scene. The current Berlin resident is known for playing extended sets that test the very limits of what might be considered house or techno, with a fearless attitude that's guided him through several important residencies over the past 20 years, including Family and Untitled in Detroit, and The Bunker in NYC. It's also the sort of musical muse that lead him to play an hour of hip-hop during his record-breaking 12-plus hour DJ set streamed from his living room on Boiler Room in 2014.

"In Detroit, you could play anything you wanted," he says of the environment where he developed his DJ discipline. Derek drove down the California freeway with host Joshua Glazer for a casual conversation unlike any other you've heard on Rave Curious. Check it out.

Ep. 17 - Cassy Jun 25, 2016

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Cassy Dug Deep Into the Heart of Techno and Instead Found Soul The European techno favorite talks about the challenges of getting funky.

As the daughter of an Austrian mother and Barbadian father, raised in Vienna with a British passport, the appeal of Cassy as an international DJ has always matched her own global upbringing. Yet in practice, the DJ born Catherine Britton's experience as a resident DJ at Panorama Bar has led many to associate her singlehandedly with the underground Berlin scene of the early 2000s. That's about to change, with a new album titled Donna, that breaks free of the conventional European techno tropes and replaces them with rich Americanized soul music.

"Do I have the courage to be a soulful musician?" she asks herself on the Rave Curious Podcast, in a conversation that touches on her multicultural upbringing, the salad days of Berlin's minimal techno scene, and her current quest for a (semi-)permanent home.

Ep. 18 - DJ Sneak Jun 21, 2016

Show notes

The Chicago house producer won't suffer fools, even for the Rave Curious Podcast.

This week's Rave Curious podcast features the house gangster himself, DJ Sneak. The Chicago icon has deep roots in the city's house music culture, learning his craft both in the club and behind the counter at the city's legendary Gramaphone Records. He has also become known in recent years as one of the outspoken DJs on Twitter, defending his old school ethics against the rise of EDM's alternative set of musical values. He's also occasionally tangled with peers like Seth Troxler over BBQ and other beef.

But outside the online hype, Sneak is purist when it comes to the art of DJing. "Even when I'm sleeping, I'm mixing in my head," the 25-year veteran told Rave Curious. No wonder a new generation is getting turned on to his thumping, bumping, looping house sound. Learn what Sneak thinks about Beatport, beefing, and his endless supply of blunts on this episode of Rave Curious podcast.

Ep. 16 Jean-Michel Jarre May 24, 2016

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Jean Michel Jarre Reflects on His Life as One of Electronic Music's First Superstars Think EDC is huge? The French electronic pioneer once played for 3.5 million fans.

Everybody likes to talk about how huge EDM has gotten, but you'd have to take the single day attendance at EDC Las Vegas (134,000) and multiply 26 times to reach the 3.5 million folks who witnessed Jean Michel Jarre's 1997 concert in Moscow. The event marked the fourth time Jarre broke his own world record for largest outdoor concert attendance and capped off a career that began during the infancy of electronic music of the 1960s.

"Electronic music is not born with Avicii," he says of EDM's current dominance of the cultural conversation on the latest episode of Rave Curious Podcast. Jarre reveals the thoughtful foundation that propelled him to reach the absolute heights of fame, from his early years helping to invent the very idea of synthetically produced music as part of Paris' musique concrete community, to his current undertaking of two albums, Electronica and Electronica 2, that see the legend collaborating with artists as diverse as Cyndi Lauper and Jeff Mills.

Ep. 15 - Matthew Dear May 10, 2016

Show notes

Matthew Dear Holds the Secret to Techno Longevity The Ghostly International star on almost 20 years in the game.

DJ, producer, and bandleader Matthew Dear has been heading towards the top of the techno game since he was straight out of the University of Michigan, helping to kick off the Ghostly International label, one of electronic music's most iconic and enduring imprints. With over 75 releases spanning almost two decades, he clearly knows a thing or two about staying both relevant and creative in a business where plenty of producers come and go.

"I don't wear leather pants offstage, I've tried," jokes the father of two who is just as comfortable behind the decks at the world's best clubs or onstage with his band playing to tens of thousands of people opening for Depeche Mode.

Matt sat down with Rave Curious in Los Angeles between Coachella weekends. He talked about his days as a experiment-specimen college student, his relationship with embattled nightclub Verboten and the ten-year anniversary of his classic Audion records, "Mouth To Mouth," which just received a deluxe remix package including versions by Jamie Jones, Guy Gerber, Scuba, Carl Craig, and more.

Ep. 14 - Adam Beyer & Ida Engberg Apr 23, 2016

Show notes

Adam Beyer and Ida Engberg Are Techno's Coolest Parents How techno's top DJ duo are also raising three kids together.

Adam Beyer and Ida Engberg are a rarity in the world of techno, a couple who are managing to raise three children while maintaining a hectic DJ career that demands both parents stay up way past bedtime. But as Beyer explain it, their mutual love of techno is the best way to make the marriage work: "It's hard to explain why you want to be in a club 3 to 4 nights a week to someone who isn't into it."

What's more surprising is that this new adult lifestyle has actually helped push both of their careers to the next level, as recent gigs at Awakenings and Coachella suggests. Rave Curious got to meet the couple's youngest daughter, appropriately named Edit, before sitting down with Adam and Ida to learn how they manage to make it all work.

Ep. 13 - Kate Simko Apr 12, 2016

Show notes

Why Kate Simko Took a Break From Techno to Learn Classical Composition She talks new project with the London Electronic Orchestra on a new episode of the Rave Curious podcast.

After years of textured electronic production, Kate Simko's shifting gears a bit with her new project, Kate Simko & London Electronic Orchestra. The album sees the Chicago-bred, London-based DJ-producer set aside her synthesizers and compose music for an ensemble of classically trained musicians who turn what might have been techno compositions into something entirely new. And while lots of electronic producers try their hand at other genres—rock, jazz, etc.—few have the qualifications of Simko, who took an extended break from her successful career releasing dancefloor fillers for labels like Spectral Sound, Leftroom, and Get No.19 Music to studio classical composition at the esteemed London's Royal Music College.

"I was at DC10, and I realized it wasn't my dream," Simko tells Rave Curious of her decision to pump the brakes on a prosperous DJ career and delve into the world of classical music. The result is both an exciting new record and a reinvigorated love of dance music. Hear her inspiring story on this episode of the Rave Curious Podcast.

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