AIR Podcast: Recent Episodes
Emma Robertson
AIR is an interview podcast series with a different theme each episode.
Created in 2017, AIR aims to be something different in the wide world of music journalism. Tired of the usual promotional fluff, host Emma Robertson invites artists, DJs, and musicians to get deep on one topic that inspires them — everything from nature, to film, to spirituality — in the hope that it inspires you beyond their music.
menu=0Thank you to the Mudd Show for the live recording and as always to Dimensions for having me! See you in Tisno.
- Voices from the Lake (2025)++FOLLOW AIR:Instagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com/
(2024)++FOLLOW AIRInstagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: https://airpodcast.substack.com/
- Chris Liebing (2026)++ FOLLOW AIR ++Instagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com
- D'Julz++ FOLLOW AIRInstagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com
- Egyptian Lover++FOLLOW AIRInstagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com/
Bringing back a bit of summer with the first recorded interview from this past @dimensionsfestival in Tisno, Croatia. This was my second year hosting talks at the lovely Haze stage and the first guest in our little series is Australian DJ and Animalia label boss, @kia-sydney.A longtime lover of dance music who started DJing in 2015, Kia’s sets travel from dark and driving to playful and euphoric with complete ease — she’s an artist who refuses to limit herself, and her sound only benefits from not being boxed in, while her label’s exports are as adventurous and exciting as she is. More than just a creative outlet, music is a form of personal expression for Kia, and she is an expert in crafting not only DJ performances, but mixes that are often akin to a diary. As always for these live talks, rather than honing in on one topic, we’re exploring each artist’s journey and the musical pursuits that make them who they are.
A producer and live performer who has been exploring dance music for more than a decade, @rroxymore's sound is immersive, covering techno, hip hop, house, synthwork, new age, and beyond. Since her first forays into production in her native France, she touched down in Berlin, where the world of music opened up for her even further, and her most recent release, 2025’s #JugglingDualities, was her most honest and far-reaching album to date. In this conversation, rRoxymore and I discuss the musician’s journey to finding her voice in her early days, and reaffirming that voice with her latest productions. ++ Music:"Moodified" - rRoxymore (2025)"Bonded for Eternity" - rRoxymore (2025)"Water Stain" - rRoxymore (2022)++ FOLLOW AIRInstagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com/
This month I’m pleased to welcome producer and composer Adam Wiltzie, best known for his projects @starsofthelid, and A Winged Victory for the Sullen (@awvfts). After a chance meeting during university, Brian McBride and @adambryanbaumwiltzie formed Stars of the Lid in Austin, Texas in 1992. Their first album Music for Nitrous Oxide, a monolith of drone and extraterrestrial soundscapes, was a force of nature — and a tribute to the best kind of artistic collaboration. The duo went on to make several other successful albums, becoming of the minimalist and ambient genre, until Brian’s passing in 2023. In this conversation, Adam and I look back on Music for Nitrous Oxide, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, the swings of collaborating with not only Brian, but A Winged Victory’s Dustin O’Halloran, and the impact of grief and memory on creativity. ++ MUSIC"Adamord" - Stars of the Lid (2025 remaster)"Atomos VI" - A Winged Victory for the Sullen (2014)"Buried At Westwood Memorial Park, In An Unmarked Grave, To The Left Of Walter Matthau" - Adam Wiltzie (2024)FOLLOW AIR:Instagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: https://airpodcast.substack.com/
This month’s episode, which welcomes Berlin based, LA bred producer and DJ, @SteveHuerta. Huerta moved to Berlin over a decade ago, seeking out the same dancefloor pleasures as all who make the pilgrimage to Berlin. With a central goal of making dance music, Steve cut his teeth producing and releasing on indie tech house labels, finding joy in creation. In the years since, despite breaking through with LPs like Junipero and TV Slang, a homegrown label called Leizure, and DJ sets that take him to festivals and dancefloors around the world, his joy continues to stay rooted in expression and creativity; the simple pleasures of making and playing music. In this episode, we look back on a career spent persevering in an overly saturated Berlin music scene, the challenges of trying to make it as an artist, and the dedication required to stay afloat as a musician in 2025.++ MUSIC:"Ruff Groove" - Huerta (2020)"All Wild Things Are Shy" - Huerta (2020)"Safe Passage to Toco" - Huerta FOLLOW AIR:Instagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com/
For this month’s episode, I’m joined by Portuguese producer and label boss João Barbosa, better known as @Brankoofficial. Perhaps best known for his work as a founding member of kuduro meets techno group @BurakaSomSistema, and his label @Enchufada Records, which was born in 2006 as a creative platform for the band’s many outputs. These days, Branko is focusing on his solo project, which continues to celebrate global club music and collaborations from not only all over the world, but all across the musical spectrum. For episode 75, we’re taking a look back at Enchufada’s history, from its days as a hub for the band to its diverse explorations in global club music. Special thank you to @thehortonbrothers who worked on the sound for this month's episode! ++MUSIC Branko - "NAFÉ" (feat. ÉLLÀH)Buraka Som Sistema - "Hangover" (Bababa) Branko - "On Top" (feat. Zanillya, Capadose & The Ruffest)++FOLLOW AIRInstagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com/
Here at AIR, we kicked off festival season in with Sonar Lisboa, the little sister to the famed Barcelona festival, which took place in early April this year and featured acts like Max Cooper, Jennifer Cardini, Juliana Huxtable, and this month’s esteemed guest, @MarcelDettmann.A techno veteran whose name is synonymous with big room sound, Marcel recently debuted a new live set, his first ever foray into live performance, the result of a pandemic spent toiling away in the studio and crafting his landmark album Fear of Programming, which formed the foundation for his live act. At Sonar Lisboa, he presented a new version of his project, which he calls My Own Shadow, a mix of his own productions, field recordings, vocal elements, and on the fly craftsmanship.Marcel and I sat down together in Lisbon to discuss his new live set and the creativity behind it, and how his musical and personal life is shifting over years. A big thanks to the team at Sonar Lisboa for the invite to this year’s edition!++ MUSIC:"Linux" - Marcel Dettmann (2013)"Water" - Marcel Dettmann ft. Ryan Elliott (2024)"Fear of Programming" - Marcel Dettmann (2024)++FOLLOW AIR:Instagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com/
Episode 73 welcomes London based DJ and booker @TobyNicholas, a longtime lover of dance music and a DJ in his own right, best known as one half of a duo with @HamishCole. Toby has seen every aspect of club culture, both the good and the bad. After stints in Leeds and Manchester, where he cut his teeth as a founding member of the cult party series Dog Eat Dog, he started working for London venue @picklefactorylondon when it launched as a sister site to the now defunct Oval Space in 2014. Balancing his creative life as a DJ with the challenges of booking a small, headsy nightclub in Bethnal Green has been an uphill battle for Toby, especially as the nightlife industry in London continues to fight for its life amidst rising costs and reduced spending. In this episode, we look back at Toby’s early days as a raver and finding his place in the music industry as both as DJ and a booker, the trials and tribulations of the London nightlife scene, and his favourite memories of the club he devoted nearly a decade of his life to. ++ Music:Glowing Glisses - "On The Bridge (Larry Heards After Dark Dub Mix)"North Avenue - "Solutions (Instrumental)"Ross Couch - "Groove On (Original Mix)"++FOLLOW AIR:Instagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com/
We're back! Episode 72 welcomes English producer, composer, and vocalist Ema Jolly, better known as @emika_official. A classically trained pianist, Emika has been making music for most of her life, both in the contemporary classical realm and the electronic one. Albums like her self-titled debut and early work like DVA, Melanfonie, and Falling in Love with Sadness were testaments to her thoughtful composition and emotional resonance. After having her two children however, her connection with music has only grown in depth and creative nuance, and these days, she’s making some of her best work yet. Her immersive sound performances at planetariums around Europe bring her music to the venue it was always meant to be in, and these experiences in sharing her sound has sparked a new passion project: a community studio for immersive sound crafted by Emika and funded via Kickstarter. In this month's episode, Emika and I discuss motherhood and its relationship to creativity, and what it means to become “we” as an musician.++Music: "Ache" - Emika (2024) "Dilo 22" - Emika (2020)"Sleep in the Day" - Emika (2024)Emika's immersive studio build Kickstarer: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emikamusic/how-to-make-music-immersiveFOLLOW AIR:nstagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com/
This is the 71st episode of AIR, an interview podcast series with a different theme each episode. AIR is actually on hiatus from recording new episodes, and set to return in the new year 2025… However, this month and last month’s episodes are actually recordings of two interviews produced in collaboration with @DimensionsFestival. Both took place on site with a small audience, and it was really special to be participating in the festival via these intimate artist talks.For the second instalment, I’m speaking with @Unai-Trotti and Sabri, co-founders of the iconic label and event series @Cartulisday. Instead of our usual focus on one topic, these on-site interviews act as artist profiles, exploring creativity and craft, and delving into the label’s history and milestones including their upcoming 15th anniversary which they’re celebrating at the legendary FOLD venue in London on 23 November 2024. Hope you guys enjoy this recording, and thanks again so much to Pat and Hamish at Dimensions for the invite.++ Music:"Horton" - Unai Trotti (2020)"Where Has Love Gone" - Reade Truth (2018)"Tracid" - Zap (2020)"Twilight Expanse" - Ebeats (2023)FOLLOW AIRInstagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com/
Episode 70! As you probably know, AIR is actually on hiatus from recording new episodes, and set to return in the new year 2025… However, this month and next month’s episodes are actually recordings of two interviews produced in collaboration with @DimensionsFestival. Both took place on site with a small audience, and it was an absolute treat to be able to participate in the festival in this unique way, the first time that Dimensions has hosted artist talks at their venue in Tisno.First up, I’m chatting with a true legend of the scene, Tameko Williams also known as @DetroitinEffect. Instead of our usual focus on one topic, these on-site interviews act as artist profiles, delving into artistic history and personal milestones, exploring creativity, craft, and music. Hope you guys enjoy this recording, and thanks again so much to Pat and Hamish at Dimensions for the invite.++Music: "R U Married?" - Detroit in Effect (1997)"The One" - Detroit in Effect (1995)"The Men You'll Never See" - Detroit in Effect (2002)"Detroit Story" - Detroit in Effect (2023)
Episode 69 welcomes welcomes English producer and DJ Dave Clarke. An early interest in music pushed a young Dave to follow his ambitions no matter what, and as a teen he worked moved out of his parents place, worked odd jobs, and lived rough in order to pursue a life in music. He got an early residency at a club in his native Brighton, but it was his production — releases like Archive One and Red — which propelled him into the spotlight. Since then, he’s become an authority on all things techno, a stalwart of the scene, eternally delivering inimitable and exciting DJ sets. In this episode, we discuss Dave’s breakthrough with Archive One, the ups and downs of releasing records, and the undulating path of his creativity in music, photography and beyond.@dave-clarke-dj-sets++ MUSIC"Protective Custody" - Dave Clarke"Wisdom to the Wise" - Dave Clarke (Robert Hood remix)"The Woki" - Dave ClarkeFollow AIRInstagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com
Welcome back from an unexpected month off, we are here with episode 68 of AIR, an interview podcast series with a different theme each episode. This month, I’m joined by producer, DJ, and live performer Sibel Kocer, also known as @jakojako_live. Having spent years toiling through manuals, books, and working at the famed synth shop Scheidersladen, Sibel eventually bought her first eurorack and the rest, as they say, was history: her productions are rooted in not only her love of storytelling, but her expertise as a modular specialist. On stage, her live and DJ sets are journeys, too, sometimes ambient, other times driving techno, but always thoughtful, hypnotic, and full of texture thanks to her uniquely changing live and studio set up. Sibel recently left her job at Schneidersladen to focus on making and playing music full time, and we sat down together to discuss the career ebbs and flows of an artist on the rise.JakoJako's new EP Segmente is available here: https://jakojako.bandcamp.com/album/segmente-ep++Music:"Introspektion" - JakoJako (2024)"Opak" - JakoJako (2023)"Obejkt" - JakoJako (2022)++Follow AIRInstagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com
Episode 67 invites a producer, DJ, and live performer who is probably my most requested guest…. I’m happy to welcome @JochemPaap, also known as Speedy J.With a string of successful releases on Warp and Plus 8 throughout the 90s and early 2000s, Speedy J’s name became synonymous with a special kind of driving, peak-time techno that helped define the genre. Although he’s explored ambient, sampling, and the world of audio-visual, his deepest dive has been into live performance and improvisation, both solo and in collaboration with fellow techno stalwarts like Chris Liebing, Surgeon, and Lucy. His pandemic-inspired project STOOR is just the latest in a decade of devotion to the craft of live performance, welcoming other artists into the fold for an entirely improvised live show that can last as long as eight hours. In this conversation, Speedy J and I explore the intricacies of improvisation, the thrill of the moment, and how he captures captures that excitement in the studio.++ Music: "Klave" - Speedy J (2010) (2021 remaster)"The Fun Equations" - Speedy J (1995) (2021 remaster)"The Oil Zone" - Speedy J (1995) (2021 remaster)++ Follow AIRInstagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: airpodcast.substack.com/
This month’s episode welcomes British producer Leon @Vynehall. After a start DJing around the UK, Leon’s focus shifted to production as he released his debut EP Music for the Uninvited, and a widely acclaimed first album on Ninja Tune called Nothing in Still. Inspired by his grandparents emigration from the UK to New York, Nothing is Still also included a novella and a set of short films, an entire world crafted from the seed of the music. His second and much loved album Rare Forever, however, focused inwards, as Leon explored his own identity, capability, and ambition; although it lacks a traditional narrative, Leon himself became the protagonist. With Rare Forever as a jumping off point, Leon and I explore his journey in self-acceptance, his growth as an artist, and how to thrive from failure as well as success. ++Music: "Duofade" - Leon Vynehall (2024)"Ecce! Ego!" - Leon Vynehall (2021)"Drinking it in Again (Chapter IV) - Leon Vynehall (2018)++ Follow AIRInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: https://airpodcast.substack.com/
This month’s episode welcomes Reykjavik based Australian producer, composer, and sound artist @BenFrost. Early albums like Theory of Machines, By The Throat, and Solaris established Ben Frost as a frontrunner in conceptual, boundary-pushing, and sometimes aggressive electronic music — echoed in his earth shaking live performances, which themselves are celebrations of spine tingling bass frequencies and volume. Not for the faint of heart, his music is inspired by punk rock guitar, minimalism, and in the case of his most recent album, heavy metal, often eschewing storytelling altogether in favour of a visceral, physical musical experience. And yet, his work in film and TV scoring, dance, and even opera suggests he’s still interested in narrative artwork. In this conversation, Ben and I explore the different facets of storytelling, or lack thereof, as a musician, his new album Scope Neglect, and his approach to composition across these decidedly different fields.++Music:"Unreal in the Eyes of the Dead" - Ben Frost (2024)"Chimera" - Ben Frost (2024)"Ich Dachte, Ich Haette Mehr Zeit" - Ben Frost, from the Netflix series Dark (2019)"The Burning World" - Ben Frost (2022)++Follow AIRInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: https://airpodcast.substack.com/
This month, my guest is a true icon in the UK dance music scene, and that is Manchester’s own DJ Paulette. A club kid from her earliest days, Paulette cut her teeth at Manchester’s number one club, before earning her first residency at Flesh, the beloved queer party at the infamous nightclub Hacienda. She helped forge the electronic music scene in the UK as one of country’s first and best-loved black female DJs, celebrated for her expert selection and her inimitable charisma behind the decks. She continues to carry the torch for the next generation of young artists — a journey explored at length in her new memoir. In this conversation, Paulette and I discuss her book Welcome to the Club, her vital and pioneering role in music, and what it means to be trailblazer. ++ Music:"Sheroes" - Massey & DJ Paulette (2018)"And I’m Telling You" - Donna Giles (Stonebridge Poppers Full Delight Remix) (1994)"Violins & Things" - Massey & DJ Paulette (2018)++Follow AIRInsta: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcast
Best known for albums like Radio Amor, Ravedeath 1972, Harmony in Ultraviolet, and his most recent project, No Highs, @TimHecker has always been interested in going beyond the superficialities of ambient — preferring to craft music that challenges, confuses, enthralls, and excites. His creative process reflects this, often including bleeding channels, feedbacking pieces, pitch shifting, noise, and distortion. His live shows, meanwhile, can be flooded with darkness or cloaked in fog. In this conversation, Tim and I discuss his musical philosophy and love of creative and artistic dissonance, and the inherent challenges in making music that isn’t always easy. ++Music:"Monotony" - Tim Hecker (2023)"In The Fog" - Tim Hecker (2011)"Chimeras" - Tim Hecker (2006)Follow AIRInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: https://airpodcast.substack.com/
This is also the last episode of 2023, and I’m so grateful for what’s been an incredible year of episodes. I’m happy to say that AIR has grown since last year, but on top of that, I feel more and more like I’m making something of value. Thank you all for your ongoing support, can’t wait to show you what I’ve got in store for next year.This month’s episode welcomes Russian producer, composer, live performer, and sound artist @Dasha-Rush. Dasha has become known for pushing the boundaries of music and art, exploring the visual realm through AV projects, performance, and art installations, including use of spatial sound, generative imagery, light, and even dance performance. The constant seeker, Dasha’s fascination about everything from science to black holes to the human brain have opened up her productions beyond the realm of every day techno. In this conversation we explore her every intricate curiosity and how they intertwine with her music, her art, and her life.++ Music:"Summer Photons" - Dasha Rush (2023)"Light and Dust" - Dasha Rush (2023)"Dance With Edgar Poe" - Dasha Rush (2015)"Outer Space" - Dasha Rush (2015)Follow AIR:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcast
@John-Carroll-Kirby has steadily made a name for himself as a session musician, collaborating with and contributing to artists like Solange, Frank Ocean, and Blood Orange. That collaborative nature has seeped into his excellent catalogue of solo records, which revolve around his piano compositions, but also draw from the jam session mentality and the controlled chaos of jazz as he invites other musicians and artists into his colorful world. Never one to take himself too seriously, John thrives off the energy of play and breaking the rules of composition. For episode 61, we explore all the different ways that music can be fun, playful, and even uncomfortable, and how to find the magic in letting go. ++Music:"Oropendola" - John Carroll Kirby (2023)"Blueberry Beads" - John Carroll Kirby (2020)"Dawn of New Day" - John Carroll Kirby ft. Laraaji (2022)"Sensing Not Seeing" - John Carroll Kirby (2021)FOLLOW AIR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcastSubstack: https://airpodcast.substack.com/
Welcome back to another episode of AIR, an interview podcast series with a different theme each episode! This month's guest is Austrian DJ, producer, and @kwench-records label boss, @cassy-officialA veteran of electronic music, Cassy’s career as a DJ started in the 1990s, bringing her from her native Austria around the world, first settling in Berlin for a residency at Panorama bar in its earliest days. Since then, she’s gone through countless big changes as an artist: growing her voice as a DJ, experimenting with production and singing, starting a label, becoming a parent, mentoring, touring, teaching, and everything in between. In this conversation, we explore the evolutions, transitions, and changes in the life of an artist, and how each phase has helped bring Cassy to where she is today.++Music:"The Get On Down" - Cassy (2023)"Feel" - Cassy (2017)"Where Are We Now" - Cassy (2023)"Strange Relationship" - Cassy (2017)FOLLOW AIR:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcast
This month I’m joined by German producer and live performer, Tobias Freund. A true veteran in electronic music, Tobias’ first job was as an apprentice in a music and recording studio in Frankfurt where he grew up. Fueled by a deep love of technology, machines, and sound, he learned to engineer and later to create. These days, he has a concise collection of hardware which he uses to experiment in techno, downtempo, punk and beyond.Tobias and I met at his studio in Berlin to discuss all things machine, technology, and the joy of exploring a craft he’s spent a lifetime perfecting. ++ Follow AIRInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patron: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcast++ Music:"CR 24" - Tobias (2017)"the key" - Tobias (2011)"1972" - Tobias (2020)"Beatbox" - The Mutual Torture (2022)
When DJs and producers @eris-drew and @octoocta first met, they felt an instant connection that has only grown over the years. Kindred spirits in both music and life, the pair released their first split EP entitled Devotion in 2018, sharing the same artistic values that make their music deeply moving in all senses of the word. Their DJ sets, meanwhile, light up the dancefloor — their back to backs can be as bombastic and high-energy as they are personal and emotive, speaking to a healing force that seems to drive all of their work.
In this episode, we discuss their b2bs, their joint tour and label, @T4TLUVNRG, and their collaborative project Alchemical Sisters — the latest addition to a cosmic world in full colour.
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Music: "Late Night Love" - Octo Octa (2023) "My Body is Powerful" - Octo Octa (2019) "Trans Love Vibration" - Eris Drew & Octo Octa (Eris Goes to Church) "A Howling Wind" - Eris Drew (2021)
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Back in May, I had the pleasure of attending London’s @Gala-Festival, which took place in May on Peckham Rye Common, and together we collaborated on this month’s episode featuring one of London’s most exciting jazz musicians and composers, @Nubya-Garcia.
Born in London, Nubya is not only a saxophonist, but also a composer and a bandleader, having first taken up the saxophone at the age of 10. Her time spent with youth music workshops like Tomorrow’s Warriors was formative for her as a young person, thriving in a community of like-minded musical souls — a necessity in jazz music, which finds its heart in collaboration. Despite that or perhaps because of it, Nubya has nevertheless found her own voice in jazz, with albums like 2021’s Source speaking to her triumphant rhythms, her openness, and her expressive energy. In this conversation, Nubya and I get into jazz music, collaboration, and finding your voice.
Big thanks to GALA Festival for making this very special one happen!
Follow AIR: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcast Substack: https://airpodcast.substack.com/
Follow GALA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisgala/
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Music:
"The Message Continues" - Nubya Garcia (2020) "La cumbia me está llamando" - Nubya Garcia ft. La Perla (2020) "Together Is A Beautiful Place To Be" - Nubya Garcia (Nala Sinephro Remix)(2021) "Source" - Nubya Garcia (2018) "When We Are" - Nubya Garcia (2018)
This month, I’m joined by German producer and live performer Rajko Müller, also known as Isolée. A veteran in electronic music, Rajko has always done things differently. Although perhaps best known for his 90s hit beau mot place, Rajko’s career has steadily chugged along, with albums like rest and we are monster earning him enduring critical acclaim and a laudatory name amongst his industry peers. Eschewing DJing for live performance and putting out only a few albums in total over the course of his career, Rajko’s path is perhaps untraditional, avoiding the spotlight in favour of the simple pursuit of tenacious, truthful music making. In this conversation, Rajko and I discuss his unique trajectory and life outside the music scene, its impact on his creativity, and, in the midst of it all, how his latest effort, Resort Island, has come to life.@Isoleee's new album Resort Island is out now: https://resortisland.bandcamp.com/album/resort-islandFollow AIR on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcast++Music:"Canada Balsam" - Isolée (2023)"you are" - Isolée (2020)"Beau Mot Plage" - Isolée (1998)"Clap Gently" - Isolée (2023)
For episode 54, I’m joined by Dutch-Italian producer and sound designer Aimee Portioli, also known as @grandriver.After her celebrated first full length, Pineapple, which debuted on the iconic Spazio Disponible back in 2018, Grand River established herself within a world of cinematic sound, best loved for her narrative style which sees her experiment not only in electronic music, but also in acoustic instrumentation, sound installation, and beyond. Her latest record, All Above, effortlessly mutates from droney bass pieces to vaporous atmospheres — it was a particular pleasure to hear this album live at Berlin’s Silent Green, in all its engulfing, enrapturing glory. This kind of deep experience is one of Grand River’s specialities, as a performer of course, but also as a producer and composer, and in this conversation, we explore all the ways in which her music immerses the listener in her unique world.++ Music:"Human" - Grand River (2023)"Side Lengths" - Grand River (2020)"Petrichor" - Grand River (2023)"Korg MS-20 1978 Classic" - Grand River (2016)"Recollection" - Grand River (2018)
Episode 54 of AIR is here, and welcomes DJs, producers, and founders of the Slow Life collective, Laurine and Cecilio, to celebrate their label’s 10 years of existence. Comprised of a core crew featuring Laurine, Cecilio, S Moreira, and Indi Zone, Slow Life are defined by their thoughtful, easygoing approach to everything from music and parties to life itself. They have quickly carved out a niche for themselves through their artist showcases and record label; while Laurine and Cecilio have likewise worked tirelessly to explore careers as DJs and artists in their own right. Recently back from a South American tour that took them to a dozen cities across a handful of countries, they’re back in Berlin and looking forward to bringing that inspiration to Hoppetosse, where Slow Life will celebrate its 10 year anniversary on Saturday 26 March. In this conversation, we look back at Slow Life’s 10 years, the collaboration at the heart of their collective, and the philosophies about life and music that drive Laurine and Cecilio as artists.FOLLOW AIRPatreon: patreon.com/airpodcastInsta: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Substack newsletter: https://airpodcast.substack.com/++Music: "Era un Ravero" - Laurine & Cecilio (2023)"Beyond Lightspeed" - S.Moreira (2013)"Consciousness" - Paolo Mosca (2022)"Nobody Knows" - Laurine (2022)"Metropolis" - Primary Perception (2022)
AIR episode 53 is here, featuring a true craftsman in every sense of the word. @Neel is a techno mainstay, not only as a DJ, and a solo producer, but also as a live performer, best known for his expertly designed ambient journeys. This skillset is especially celebrated in his work with Donato Dozzy as Voices from the Lake. But even if you’re not familiar with his work, you’ve almost certainly listened to a record he had a hand in. A mastering engineer for over a decade, his studio Enisslab has over 400 credits on Discogs, including landmark albums by Deepchord, Pauline Oliveros, Abdulla Rashim, DJ Nobu, Atom TM, Mike Parker, Caterina Barbieri, and of course, his own work. In this conversation, Neel and I get deep on mastering and the evolution of his technical craft, his ears, and his artistry, as well as how each of his creative fields inform one another. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airpodcastand sign up for the AIR newsletter: https://airpodcast.substack.com/+++Music: "Naeba" - Neel (2022)"Post Landing" - Neel (2014)"Osmio" - Neel (2018)"Circe + S.T." (VFTL Rework) - Voices from the Lake (2013)
Happy new year! This is our first show of 2023 and the 52nd episode of AIR, an interview podcast series with a different theme each episode. This month I'm joined by American composer, producer, and vocalist @kaitlynaureliasmith.Kaitlyn has put out countless well-loved albums which feature her explorations in synthesis and voice, including the famed 2017 record The Kid, 2020’s atmospheric Mosaic of Transformation, and her most recent album, Let’s Turn It Into Sound. Throughout her sonic journey, listening, both with her ears and with her body, has been at the heart of what she does as a musician; hoping that by listening in different and more intentional ways, she can more deeply connect with sound.In this conversation, we delve into Kaitlyn’s love of deep listening and somatic hearing, and how these rituals help to enlighten her artistry, her creativity and her performances. Kaitlyn's EU/UK tour is starting in April 2023, check out her website for more details: https://kaitlynaureliasmith.com/events/++Music: "Give It To The Water" - Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith (2022)"An Intention" - Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith (2017)"Carrying Gravity" - Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith (2020)"Moon In Your Eye" - Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith and Emile Mosseri(2021)"Check Your Translation" - Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith (2022)
we are here with the last AIR of 2022, and what a year it’s been! Thanks so much for all your support this year, we’ve managed to a hit a couple of lovely milestones, including of course our 50th episode last month with Paquita Gordon. Don’t forget you’ve still got a few days left to purchase your 50th episode commemorative t-shirt, available on Everpress here: https://everpress.com/profile/air-podcastOn to this week’s episode, which welcomes French producer and DJ @Terence-Fixmer. A fixture in the EBM meets techno scene since its creation, Terence has established himself over the past two decades as a creator of deep, hypnotic, dark electronica. His live sets thrive off the feeling of jumping into the unknown and the unpredictability of performance; thrills that also fuel not only his personal life but his music as well. In this conversation, we discuss Terence's constant quest for new ways to explore, create, and live.++ Music:"Expedition" - Terence Fixmer (2018)"Corne de Brûme" - Terence Fixmer (2022)"Desertic" - Terence Fixmer (2022)"Electro Static" - Terence Fixmer (2001)
Hello everyone and welcome back! This is the 50th episode of the series if you can believe it, and joining me this month is none other than Francesca Faccilongo, also known as @PaquitaGordon.
When I created the series in 2017, it was just a small idea I came up with and pitched to some friends before starting out with literally zero idea what I was doing, aside from that I wanted to tell stories in a different way. Although I’m not a music maker myself, I’ve always been passionate about music and creativity, and it’s been such an incredible experience to meet so many like-minded artists, to hear their stories of triumph and failure, to dig into their creativity and artistry… And of course to share that all with you.
To celebrate, my very talented friend and designer Grant Gibson has created two different AIR Podcast 50th episode t-shirts, which will be sold through Everpress, here: https://everpress.com/air-50th-episode-t-shirt
Thanks again so much for your support, I’ve got some really amazing episodes coming up for 2023 and am looking forward to what's next.
I also recently started a Substack newsletter for AIR, where I’ll be sharing updates about the series, and also my thoughts and musings on music and my various guests. The first newsletter is out today, you can read my thoughts on making the 50th episode and interviewing Paquita here: https://airpodcast.substack.com/p/50
You can also follow us on Instagram at @_airpodcast or support us on Patreon at patreon.com/airpodcast.
Onto today’s episode, which features Italian DJ Paquita Gordon, a resident of festivals like Terraforma and Waking Life, and a true musical devotee. A DJ for over a decade now, she’s spent time in London, Mallorca, and Sicily, bringing with her a deep love of music, creativity, and nature. Her mixes are meticulous and thoughtful, with each record well-researched and purposefully chosen. Her DJ sets are storytelling in its truest form, and playing out, for Paquita, is the best part of her job. Her site-specific performance project Il Vulcano invites artists to join in her in different Mediterranean regions for a jam session that is recorded, but never shared. Her goal as an artist is always to form links, whether that’s through sound, through art, through nature, or beyond, she is always seeking connectivity rather than publicity. She finds joy in the making of things, rather than solely in the end result. In this conversation, we explore her creativity, and the musical and artistic connections that make up a life spent loving music.
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Music: Paquita Gordon - STE54 Paquita Gordon - Various recordings from Il Vulcano
Joining me this month for episode 49 is Canadian producer and live performer Mathew Jonson. Initially from the west coast of Canada and now based in Berlin, Mathew’s upbringing in electronic music started in the nineties with the jazz-meets-techno live band Cobblestone Jazz. Collaboration and improvisation continue to play key parts in Mathew’s music career, extending to inform his creative process, his solo work, and his techniques as a live performer.
With this in mind, he created the Freedom Engine Academy, a music school offering intensive courses around electronic music production, music theory, and creativity taught by a roster of talented musicians and Mathew himself. In this episode, we’re discussing collaborative learning, and how the group experience can make music better.
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Music: "Magic Through Music" - Mathew Jonson (2020) "Chance" - Cobblestone Jazz (2010) "Rays from the Cosmos" - Units & Measurements (2016) "Lunar Lander" - Cobblestone Jazz (2011) "Typerope" - Mathew Jonson (2020)
This month’s guest is German-born Turkish artist @SedefAdasi, a DJ and burgeoning producer based in the city of Augsburg, Germany. Sedef is perhaps best known for @HAMAMNights, her self-made event series which sees her booking not only local favourites but big name artists at City Club, one of her hometown’s handful of electronic music clubs. Despite a jam-packed tour schedule and a new residency at Panorama Bar, Sedef isn’t interested in moving to a music capital, preferring to work with friends to create all-inclusive events and workshops that foster the growth of her community.
In this episode, Sedef and I discuss the story of HAMAM Nights, small city living, and its impact on her creativity as a DJ and producer.
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Music: "Gel Gidelim" - Sedef Adasi (2021) "Turbo Ride" - Sedef Adasi (2021) "An Anonymous Force" - Sedef Adasi (2021)
Perhaps best-loved for his dynamic take on techno in both his productions and his DJ sets — having been involved and around music for nearly 30 years, @DVS1 is an expert in his field, a true veteran of the scene whose roots extend beyond DJing into grassroots raves and event promotion in his native Minneapolis.
These days, he continues to push his own limits, getting involved in and starting up projects that fuel his love of music, but also his love of the community he was raised in and helped build. His most recent venture, Aslice, is a software-based platform which proposes a fairer music ecoysystem for DJs and promoters is in its early days, but its concept is bringing up questions for both me and Zak.
For episode 47, we're exploring the value of art, the definition of success, his own personal perceptions of his worth as an artist.
This month is a special one, and our first ever tandem interview — joining me for a Freerotation special are the festival’s founders @Steevio and @Suzybee.
Influenced by the free festival movement around the UK in the 1980s, Steevio and Suzy created Freerotation, an annual gathering of music and arts which now takes place in Baskerville Hall, Wales, and has, since its inception in the mid 2000s, become one of the scene’s best loved festivals. Kept relatively small and amongst friends and friends of friends, Freerotation is known for its thoughtful curation of both DJs, live acts, and VJs, and its intimate, familial setting.
In this conversation, Steevio, Suzy and I get into the festival’s early days and its direction and curation today, plus their own personal histories in art and music, and their distinctive creative philosophies.
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MUSIC:
Steevio - "Candescent" (2022) Steevio - "Y Llifogydd" (2022) Steevio - "Passive Resistance" (2022)
Purchase part one of Steevio's Dod yn ôl at fy nghoed here: shorturl.at/fnuGZ
Born and raised in Russia, this month's guest, DJ and producer @AnastasiaKristensen moved to Denmark when she was a teenager. Finding it hard to adapt to her new life in a rural part of the country, she went online, finding solace in her favourite music forums where she discovered not only music, but a community. Turning to music as an escape became a kind of ritual that she went back to again and again, the connection only deepening when she started DJing. In this conversation, Anastasia and I look back at those early days as an outsider, finding her identity as an artist, and how music was and continues to be the best escape.
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Music: "The Flight" - Anastasia Kristensen (2019) "The Voice Within" - Anastasia Kristensen (2021) "Volshebno" - Anastasia Kristensen (2021)
Born and raised in Chicago, with roots in the footwork dance scene and many years of DJing under his belt, RP Boo is best known as a pioneer of footwork — a lightning fast genre of music that borrows from hip hop and ghetto house. Although RP came up in the 1980s and 90s, he flew under the radar outside of the footwork scene until the mid 2000s when his debut album Legacy released on Planet Mu, bringing his important and iconic work to the wider music industry, a long overdue step into the spotlight. In this conversation, RP and I discuss his roots as a musician, the art of sampling as a nod to his peers, and the legacy he’s spent three decades building.
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Music: "Bangin on King Dr." - RP Boo (2015) "Baby Come On" - RP Boo (2015) "Try 2 Break" - RP Boo (2015) "11 47 99" - RP Boo "Ivory Surface" - RP Boo (2021)
Joining me this month for episode 43 is Christina Sealey: producer, live performer, and one half of Canadian industrial techno duo @Orphx.
Christina and music partner Richard Oddie founded Orphx back in the 90s, early on using what few instruments they’d collected: a reel-to-reel tape machine, some microphones, and an effects pedal to craft the kind of visceral sound they’ve since become celebrated and loved for. Slowly, they added in more instruments: analog gear, software, but also primitive pieces like sheets of metal, drills, kitchen utensils, razors… Anything they could manipulate to their creative liking. Their intense and often raw style of music is a kind of meeting point between rhythm and noise, with works like Pitch Black Mirror, Division, and Fragmentation leading the charge.
In this conversation, Christina and I discuss her love of primitive instruments, the creativity of limitations, and how to make music with what you’ve got.
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Episode 42 welcomes a music industry veteran: Anthony Child, also known as Surgeon (@dynamic-tension), got his start DJing in the 1990s, Tony has long been an integral force in the world of techno, best known for his driving DJ sets, and his thoughtful productions. His music has also expanded into experimental live performance, with projects like The Transcendence Orchestra allowing him to explore even further corners of electronic music and question the very limits of what constitutes techno.
In this conversation, we focus on an idea that has been on both our minds lately — what makes music authentic? How can an artist bring honesty to every facet of their work? What constitutes authenticity in a fickle industry? What does it mean to be true to your own voice?
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Music: Master of All Visible Shapes - Surgeon (2018) Winged Assassin - Surgeon (2020) Satsuma Felt Slow - The Transcendence Orchestra (2021) Transparent Radiation - Surgeon (2011) Having My Head is Felt - The Transcendence Orchestra (2021)
Follow AIR on Instagram https://instagram.com/_airpodcast Support us on Patreon https://patreon.com/airpodcast
We’re back for 2022 with episode 41 of AIR, an interview podcast series with a different theme each episode. Joining me today is Spanish producer and DJ @jass-29.
Silvia’s music first caught attention in 2017 when she put out her debut album Weightless, which was well-loved for its heavy use of drone, its avant-garde sound and its industrial mood, terms that JASSS’s intense DJ sets also came to be celebrated for. Now a seasoned artist in her prime, her sophomore record A World of Service, out now on @ostgutton-official, continues to explore those primal tones, not only in its sound but also in its visual elements and a custom made scent that accompanies each vinyl. As such, Silvia and I sat down to talk about music as a sensory experience — how we experience music through each of our five senses, how factors like drug use, social context, and emotionality enhance our artistic world, and the role of memory in our love of music.
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Music: "Vapor Dentro" - JASSS (2021) "Camelo" - JASSS (2021) "Luis" - JASSS (2021) "Instantaneous Transmission Of Information" - JASSS (2017)
Can you believe?! This is the 40th episode of AIR, and this month’s guest is American composer, musician, and visual artist Charlemagne Palestine.
Born and raised in New York, Charlemagne plays a wide variety of instruments — favouring hours-long pieces for piano and organ, often utilizing techniques like strumming that he himself has invented. His music is expansive both in tone and quantity, and his style has often been described as “playing an entire building.”
In fact, I had intended the theme for today’s episode to be maximalism — but true to his own rebellious nature, Charlemagne almost immediately rejected the term’s usage in our interview. Instead, we approached the topic of a “total art experience,” the many ways he creates visceral music, and the physicality of playing.
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Music: From "Four Manifestations on Six Elements" - Charlemagne Palestine (2020) "Strumming Music" - Charlemagne Palestine (1974) From "Schlingen-Blängen" - Charlemagne Palestine (1999) Clip of Charlemagne playing the carillon at AV Festival 2013 From "Four Manifestations on Six Elements" - Charlemagne Palestine (2020)
Episode 39 is the second instalment of our talks about mental health with producer and DJ object blue.
London based object blue has quickly established herself as a producer and live performer to be reckoned with, finding solace in the making and playing of music. She has often been outspoken about battling with depression since she was a teenager, and has talked openly about how dark thoughts can interfere with her work. In this conversation, we delve into imposter syndrome, mental health and creativity, and the power of music as a healing force.
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Music: "Cerco de Deus" - object blue (2018) "Bipp" - SOPHIE (2015) "Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" - object blue (2019) "Even in You" - object blue (2019) "Closed Open" - object blue (2021)
Episode 38 welcomes longtime AIR favourite Seth Horvitz, also known as Rrose. Initially bored with dance music early on, Seth had in mind to leave the club scene behind altogether before his studies at Mills College gave him a change of heart — he came back to techno, albeit in a completely new way. His music project and persona Rrose has become known for a forward-thinking take on music of all kinds. Whatever form the music takes, Rrose is an incredibly thoughtful artist, and together we dig into the precise and particular processes of composition, reinterpretation, and performance.
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Music:
"Bandage" - Rrose (2019) "Purge" - Rrose (2015) "Organ Study No. 1" - Rrose (2020) "Having Never Written a Note for Percussion" - James Tenney (Rrose reinterpretation (2015) "The Goldennn Meeenn + Sheeenn" - Charlemagne Palestine + Rrose (2019) "Mine" - Rrose (2019) "White/Drip" - Rrose (2012)
This month’s guest is Berlin based producer and DJ Joseph Richmond-Seaton, also known as @Call-Super.
Perhaps best known for his incredible, often surreal, abstract, and psychedelic compositions like 2014’s breakthrough Suzi Ecto and 2017’s Arpo, Call Super’s love of music runs deep. He’s a dedicated producer, starting every day in the studio and working away the hours, whether he feels inspired or not. Music is one of the only pursuits, alongside drawing and painting, that allows him to reach a state of total presence — something he considers essential for happiness. In this conversation, we look back on Joe’s childhood, the escapism he’s found in music and art, and the nature of staying present.
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Music: "Ekko Ink" - Call Super (2017) "Coney Storm Drain" - Call Super (2014) "Every Mouth Teeth Missing" - Call Super (2020) "Sulu Sekou" - Call Super (2014) "OK Werkmeister" - Call Super (2017)
Episode 36 meets one of my faves, German DJ and producer, @tinicouldbeworse.
Although she never intended to make it her profession, tINI has always loved music. At home in Munich, she learned to mix early on and quickly fell in love with electronic music, balancing her work and her passion until she was ready to take the leap into pursuing DJing full time.
Since then, she’s become an artist in her own right, putting out several releases and even starting her own now-infamous event series, @tiniandthegang. Despite over 20 years in the game, her approach to DJing remains deeply passionate. In this episode, we discuss her musical roots, her dedication to her craft, and the discipline required to stay afloat in this industry.
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Music:
"The Authentic Blach" - tINI (2019) "Monkeys Cave" - tINI (2011) Clip from tINI & Bill Patrick live at Sunwaves (2016) "What If, Then What?" - tINI ft. Amiture (2021) "That's Right" - tINI (2009) "Someone Loves You" - tINI (2011)
Episode 35 is an ambient music special with one of the genre’s contemporary luminaries and a personal favourite of mine, John Elliott, also known as Imaginary Softwoods.
Although he’d be loathe to describe his work as ambient, John’s music as Imaginary Softwoods is celebrated for its deep, lush tones, beautiful synthwork, pensive melodies, and thoughtful samples. Perhaps best known for his band Emeralds, which disbanded in 2012, John has been making music as Imaginary Softwoods since 2008, releasing several incredible works on tape and on vinyl over the years, while simultaneously managing the @EditionsMego offshoot label @SpectrumSpools. In this conversation, John and I discuss the ins and outs of making, playing, and releasing ambient music, and what the genre has to offer in 2021.
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Music: "Another First/Sea Machine" - Imaginary Softwoods (2020) "Overlook" - Tetsu Inoue (2007) "The Imminent Collapse Department" - Imaginary Softwoods (2020) "Court of Failure" - Imaginary Softwoods (2008) "Entrance Through Selenite Pillars" - Imaginary Softwoods (2016) "Vaporware 04" - Donato Dozzy Plays Bee Mask (2013) "Sapphire Point" - Imaginary Softwoods (2019)
Welcome back to AIR, an interview podcast series with a different theme each episode. Joining me for our 34th episode is musician and radio presenter @NabihahIqbal.
Growing up in London, Nabihah loved music since she was little, having learned guitar, piano, sitar and flute at a young age. She tried out a few different paths — she studied ethnomusicology and later law conversion, sat the Bar, and worked in the human rights sector all before finding her way to a career in music. She is renowned for her NTS Radio show, which sees her exploring all different genres and styles of music, and through her incredible productions, like 2017’s Weighing of the Heart, she has made a name for herself as one of our music scene. In this conversation, Nabihah and I discuss her personal and artistic identity, her growth as a musician, and the important moments of self-discovery she’s had along the way.
Follow AIR on Instagram: https://instagram.com/_airpodcast Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/airpodcast
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Music: "Alone Together" - Nabihah Iqbal (2017) Nabihah Iqbal live at the V&A(2020) Shakuhashi at Honen-In Temple Kyoto, field recording by Nabihah "Marble Air" - Throwing Shade (2016) "Eden Piece" - Nabihah Iqbal (2017) "Elvis" - Nabihah Iqbal (2021)
Episode 33 is here and joining me this month is DJ and @My-Own-Jupiter boss @NicolasLutz.
After getting his start in his native Uruguay and making stops in Berlin and London along the way, Nicolas has garnered a cult following thanks to his keen ear, his flawless mixing, and his unparalleled ability to unearth the kind of singular records that make his marathon DJ sets so special. It seemed to only make sense, then, that for this episode, Nicolas and I discuss his specialty: the ins and outs of his approach to DJing, his early formative experiences as an artist, and the musical philosophy that continues to inform his practice.
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Music: "Tschüss" - Draculas Lutz + Omar (2018) "Instrumento" - Draculas Lutz + Omar (2018)
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Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/_airpodcast Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/airpodcast
We're back with episode 32, and joining me this month to talk about escapism and music in the time of Covid 19 is DJ, producer, and @eerie-records founder @marco_shuttle.
A DJ and producer since his teenage years, Treviso born Marco Shuttle has made a name for himself thanks to his spellbinding journey like DJ sets, and rich, eclectic techno productions that focus on the dancefloor as an escape. As Berlin moves into another phase of lockdown in the spring of 2021, however, this quiet time has turned Marco’s musical outlook seemingly on its head. In this conversation, we discuss escapism, creativity and lockdown, and how the pandemic is shifting Marco’s goals, visions, and intentions with electronic music.
AIR is produced in partnership with Bear Radio.
Find us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/_airpodcast Support us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/airpodcast
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Music: "The Moon Chant" - Marco Shuttle (2018) "Thebe" - Marco Shuttle (2017) "The Vox Attitude" - Marco Shuttle (2019) "Eris" - Marco Shuttle (2017) "Convolute" - Marco Shuttle (2018)
Today’s is an important episode — and one that I’ve been interested in tackling for a while. Joining me for a talk about mental health and the music industry is producer and vocalist Seven Davis Jr.
Sev became a household name with his critically acclaimed 2015 release Universes. But behind the scenes, Sev struggled with this meteoric rise to fame and life of touring and gigs. Having suffered from depression for most of his life, his music career and his social connections often paid the price, and for a few years, he was quietly working on bettering himself. Now, with a new outlook and a new album on the horizon, we sat down to talk about depression and creativity, the often overlooked anxiety of the touring artist, and the future of mental health in the music scene.
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MUSIC "Invisible" - Seven Davis Jr. (2019) "No Worries" - Seven Davis Jr. (2015) "Escape the Matrix" - Seven Davis Jr. (2021) "Champions" - Seven Davis Jr. (2016) "Sunday Morning" - Seven Davis Jr. (2015)
AIR is produced in partnership with Bear Radio.
Joining me for AIR's 30th episode is Canadian singer, songwriter, and producer @JessyLanza.
A classically trained musician, Jessy has been making music most of her life, while her critically acclaimed first album, Pull My Hair Back, released in 2013 on Hyperdub. Since then, she has been creating a steady collection of work, a mixture of pop electronica and R&B that, like 2020's All The Time, often delves into her personal journey. In this conversation, we look back on Jessy’s songwriting influences, her creative process, and her unique approach to storytelling.
AIR is proudly produced in partnership with Bear Radio. Check out https://www.bearradio.org/ for more stories like this one.
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Music: "Anyone Around" - Jessy Lanza (2020) "Ice Creamy" - Jessy Lanza (2020) "Kathy Lee" - Jessy Lanza (2013) "Never Enough" - Jessy Lanza (2016) "5785021" - Jessy Lanza (2013)
Our last episode of 2020 welcomes one of the foremost sound recordists in the world, the great @ChrisWatsonOfficial.
Chris has been obsessed with field recording since he was young, but his career began in the 80s when he started working for television. Since then, his work has taken him around the world, recording the sounds of animals and nature for documentaries like Frozen Planet and The Life of Birds, alongside Sir David Attenborough. His solo career is a vast archive of sounds and textures recorded for the BBC, as well as his own original music. In this conversation, we discuss field recording, the strange sounds of nature, and his unique process of capturing the world around him.
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Intro and outro music: "El Divisadero" - Chris Watson (2011)
Sounds: "The Dawn Chorus" - Chris Watson (2014) "Vatnajökull" - Chris Watson (2003) "Glastonbury Ocean Soundscape" - Chris Watson (2019) "The Wire" - Chris Watson (2016) "Haefest" - Chris Watson (2013) "Aguane" - Chris Watson (2008)
Photo by Gavin Thurston
This month’s guest is German DJ, producer, and label owner David Koch, also known as @DeWalta.
Although a classically trained musician who studied at Hans Eisler music conservatory in Berlin, David quickly realized that the best skills and knowledge don’t necessarily come from academic training: his contemporary creative output has been largely self-taught. David’s music depends on his consistent interest in experiment and discovery, and in this episode, we discuss his different learning methods, his various mentors, the books and essays that filter into his creativity, and the evolution of his criticial thinking.
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Music: "Photons" - DeWalta (2019) Audio treatment by Bear Radio
Joining me for the 27th episode of AIR is UK producer, composer, and DJ Henrietta Smith-Rolla, also known as @Afrodeutsche-ad.
Henrietta is a fixture in the Manchester's small but fervent music scene, her DJ sets incorporating everything from footwork to hardcore, techno, electro, and beyond. At home, however, she is inspired by films like Bladerunner or anything by Alfred Hitchcock — an interest which sparked the timely, lockdown-friendly topic for this conversation. In this episode, we tackle a theme I've been looking forward to discussing for a while: our favourite movies, the unique craft of soundtrack arrangement, and her first ever score for the 2020 documentary Kamali.
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Music: Henrietta Smith-Rolla - "A Song For Him" (Kamali, 2020) Audio treatment by Airlock Audio Montreal
Joining me for our 26th instalment is DJ, label boss, and promoter, @Veragoesdeep.
Having got her start DJing in the 1990s, Vera moved to Berlin where she has become a fixture at Hoppetosse and CDV, clubs which are also home to @MelliflowRecords — the event series and label she founded in 2016 with fellow DJ Alexandra. Vera is a master of the expressive, journey like DJ set, and in this conversation, we discuss how emotional connection between the DJ and the event, the crowd, and the music can feed the soul.
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Music: Vera - "Take Me" (Assemble Music 2013) Audio treatment by Airlock Audio, Montreal
This month we’re celebrating 25 episodes of AIR, an interview podcast series with a different theme each episode. Thanks so much to everyone who has tuned in over the past two years, it's been an absolute pleasure making this series and I hope you'll keep listening — got some really good stuff coming soon.
Today’s episode is about the art of vulnerability, featuring New York based ambient producer, new age instrumentalist, and holistic practitioner, @Laraaji.
Active since the 1970s, Laraaji’s work is influenced by Eastern mysticism and a cosmic consciousness. Perhaps best known for his ambient and new age experiments with the autoharp, the piano, and the mbira, his deeply emotional music is often improvised, allowing him to fully open up his means of expression — something that he encourages in all artists. Balancing his musical endeavours with work as a holisitic health practitioner, he hosts laughter meditation workshops in New York; spiritual experiences that explore the childlike joy of letting go and being vulnerable, a fundamental in his life as an artist.
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Photo by Liam Ricketts
Music: Laraaji - "Elevation" from the recently released Sun Piano (2020) available on Bandcamp here: https://laraajimusic.bandcamp.com/album/sun-piano-2
Audio treatment by Airlock Audio, Montreal
We're back with episode 24! Recorded in early April 2020, this episode welcomes DJ and producer Luke Slater.
@Luke-Slater has been DJing since the late 1980s, and by the 90s, his many aliases had become household names thanks to important releases on labels like Peacefrog, and Nova Mute. By 2009, Luke had joined Ostgut Ton, continuing to tour relentlessly and produce music with seemingly boundless energy — a quality with which he continues to approach his work today. His stamina is endless, and in order to keep up with the continuing love and demand for his music, it has to be. In this episode, our discussion focuses on longevity as a DJ, his mix for Ostgut's 15th anniversary, and the drive that keeps him going.
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Music: Luke Slater - "O-Ton Reassembled 3" (From his Berghain Fünfzehn mix for Ostgut Ton) More info here: https://www.berghain.berlin/en/shop/releases/berghain-fuenfzehn-luke-slater/
Audio treatment by Airlock Mastering & Audio
Joining me this month for our first ever episode recorded remotely is Austrian DJ and producer Susanne Kirchmayr, also known as Electric @Indigo.
Susanne has a long history with sound and creativity, performing live in unique spaces and in unique ways that showcase her often avant-garde listening music, while in the studio, she’s known for her use of techniques like granular synthesis to manipulate voices into music. In this conversation, we delve into experimentalism and how it influences her unique approach to music.
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Music: Electric Indigo - "Ferrum 5" Audio treatment by Airlock Audio
Recorded in Lahti, Finland, episode 22 welcomes Finnish producer and musician Aleksi Perala for a talk about Colundi, a microtonal tuning system introduced to him several years ago, and in which the different frequencies relate to different psychologies and beliefs.
Although Colundi is still for the most part a mystery even to its staunchest believers, its frequences are said to encourage healing, relaxation, and peacefulness. Aleksi's own work with Colundi has resulted in more than 17 full length releases, and he shows no signs of slowing down...
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@aleksiperala Music: Aleksi Perälä - "UK74R1513080" (2017) Audio treatment by Airlock Audio & Mastering
The 21st episode of AIR is here, and this time I travelled to Huntingdon, England to speak with Scottish percussionist and musician Dame Evelyn Glennie.
After suffering the loss of her hearing at age 12, Evelyn learned to listen through vibration. A trained musician and multi instrumentalist, she has since gone on to become one of the foremost solo percussionists touring and recording today. This episode focuses on feeling music, the act of true listening, and the physicality of performance.
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Music: Evelyn Glennie and Michael A. Levine - "Switch" (2018) Audio treatment by Airlock Audio
- Sorry for the mic handling noise in this one guys, my mic stand broke in transit but I've now got a new one so should be good to go for next episode xx
We're back after another quick break last month, and this is the 20th episode of AIR, an interview podcast series with a different theme each episode. This month's guest is DJ and producer @PhilippGorbachev.
After delving into the Christian faith several years ago, Philipp discovered bell ringing, a passion project that has taken both his creativity, and his music to the next level. He has spent the past three years honing this new craft, and his new album Kolokol features the sounds of more than 40 belfries played live and sampled,. In this conversation, we look into the history of bell ringing, Philipp’s relationship with Christianity, and the meeting of rave and religion.
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Music: Philipp Gorbachev - "Soedinitelnyi Zvon" (2019) Photo by Camille Blake Audio treatment by Airlock Audio + Mastering
Episode 19 of AIR welcomes an artist who needs little introduction. Jeff Mills got his start in Detroit in the 1980s, he is considered a luminary in electronic music, recognized for his contributions not only in techno, but in classical music and cinematic composition. In this conversation, @axis-jeff-mills discusses his love of moving images, and his quest for moving forward.
- Please excuse the mic handling/background noise in the audio for this episode, working on fixing it for next time!
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Music: Jeff Mills - "The Hunter" (2019) from the album Sight, Sound & Space, available via https://www.axisrecords.com/product/ssas_cd/ Audio treatment by Airlock Audio
We're back for episode 18, and our guest this month is Canadian producer and DJ, @RichieHawtin. A fixture in techno both under his real name and under his Plastikman alias, Richie has also become infamous for his innovations in music technology, his collaborations in art and fashion, and his own entrepreneurial ventures. In this conversation, we talk about how his different projects fit in to his identity as an artist.
Richie's CLOSE combined AV album and interactive app, CLOSER, is out 20 September 2019: http://close.richiehawtin.com/
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Audio treatment by Man Made Mastering Music: Plastikman - "Plasticine" (1993)
We're back and our 17th guest is DJ and producer @petervanhoesen. In this conversation, we talk about the creative and artistic motivations that brought Peter to the place he's in today.
Having come up in the era of new beat and EBM, Peter has long been in search of sounds that move him, thrill him, or make him think. Exploring every corner of techno, experimental, and ambient, his work and his labels @time_to_express and Center 91 continue to inspire.
Welcome back! We've been on a bit of a break the past couple months as the AIR Podcast BOOK (!!) was published, so big thanks to everyone who showed up to the launch party and all the pals near and far who bought a copy. A heads up that if you missed out, a digital download of the book will be available soon...
For the 16th episode, I travelled to Cologne to chat with German DJ and producer @cio-d-or about sound and silence. She has been a fixture in the techno scene since 2001 when she started a residency at Munich's Ultraschall — since then she has become renowned for her hypnotic sound and her journey-like DJ sets.
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Music: "Fata Morgana" - Cio d'Or (2007) Audio treatment by Airlock Audio (Montreal)
For episode 15, I'm joined by American avant garde composer and sound artist @William-Basinski for a chat about deep listening, loops, and found sound.
Born and raised in Texas, Basinski is a classically trained clarinetist who studied jazz and composition at university. After eventually moving to New York, he began experimenting with tape loops, found sound, and audio feedback. In 2001, he released his seminal The Disintegration Loops, a four part album created when old tape loops he was attempting to salvage began to crumble and fall apart. TDL remains his most beloved work, but his unique ambient sound continues to flourish today, making him a fixture in contemporary experimental music.
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Music: "Watermusic II" - Willliam Basinski (2003)
Audio treatment by Airlock Audio
Our last episode of 2018 was recorded in Röstånga, Sweden with producer and performer @SebastianMullaert, who invited me to his studio to talk about the art of live performance and his new project, @CircleofLive.
After retiring his live duo @Minilogue in 2014, Sebastian continued recording and performing under the name Wa Wu We, before launching his new project Circle of Live. Inspired by Sebastian's love of improvisation, jam sessions, and creative collaboration, Circle of Live debuted officially at this summer's @Freerotation Festival, and I had the pleasure of attending one of their events in Malmö, Sweden, a couple months ago. Our conversation for AIR traces Sebastian's interest in live performance as a kid to his new venture to his presence and performance in 2018.
Catch Circle of Live at Berlin's Funkhaus on 20 December 2018: https://www.facebook.com/events/639114343121743/
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Audio treatment by Airlock Audio Music: "C1. Circle of Live - Live at Freerotation 2018" - Dorisburg, Mathew Jonson, Sebastian Mullaert, Steevio
The 13th episode of AIR welcomes Italian DJ and producer, @Donato-Dozzy.
Donato has been DJing in the 1980s, discovering techno and acid, before crafting his own take on dark, hypnotic electronic music. Although he is currently based out of Rome, Donato’s creativity depends on natural surroundings — whether that’s his beach house in San Felice or playing in the mountains at @mindgameslaby Festival in Japan. Donato and I sat down together to talk about nature and sound, a conversation that first started two years ago at @Terraforma Festival, and picked up this summer in Rome.
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Music: "Cleo" - Donato Dozzy (@Eerie-Records, 2018) Audio treatment: Airlock Audio
Our 12th episode is about lyrics, spoken word, and vocals, featuring producer and performer @LucreciaDalt.
Born into a musical family in Colombia, Lucrecia started making herself music after a brief stint as a geotechnical engineer in Medellin. She quickly became involved in her home city's music scene, putting out EPs on a local label before moving to Barcelona, and eventually Berlin, where she is based today. Her latest release, Anticlines, came out on @igetrvng earlier this year — a thoughtful and often unsettling mix of ambient, spoken word, and textural drone that makes for a truly singular body of music.
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Music: "Edge" - Lucrecia Dalt (2018) Audio treatment by Airlock Audio
Hello and welcome back! The eleventh instalment of AIR welcomes German born, Chile based producer and live performer Uwe Schmidt, better known as @Atom_TM.
Having produced under dozens of aliases over a career that spans more than three decades, Atom is one of those rare artists that truly cannot be pinned down. His work has touched on techno, acid, IDM, electrolatino, and experimental, and anyone familiar with his massive catalog of releases knows how crucial a role his music has played. In this conversation, we delve into how he works with memory, the role of his archive of sounds, and the musical significance of past, present, and future.
Apologies for the sound quality on this one guys, my mic broke upon arrival so we were forced to use a handheld recorder!
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Audio treatment by Airlock Audio Music: "He110" - Atom TM (2004)
Joining me on the 10th episode of AIR for a discussion about travel and touring is Berlin based DJ Nadine Moser, also known as Resom (@resi-resom)
Nadine got her start in her native Leipzig when she started collecting records and learning to DJ. She became actively engaged in the social and cultural side of the music scene, becoming a crucial player in the city’s Homo Electrik collective. Upon moving to Berlin, she found a home at about blank, where she remains a resident today. Her DJ career has sent her to Asia, America, and everywhere in between, a touring schedule allows her to combine her two passions in life: travel and music.
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Music: Lowtec - "Stamping Ground" (2002) Audio treatment by Airlock Audio
Canadian DJ, producer, and BLKRTZ label boss Scott Monteith (better known by his moniker @Deadbeat) joins me for the ninth episode of AIR, a conversation about community and collaboration.
Scott has been involved in electronic music for nearly 20 years now, first going to parties in his native Windsor, Ontario, before moving to Montreal where he eventually became a fixture in the scene, and one of MUTEK Festival’s first cohorts. Now based in Berlin, he has found a musical home at the infamous Chez Cherie studio in Neukölln, where he recorded his most recent album, Wax Poetic for This Our Great Resolve.
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Music: "Hebatallah and Bashar," Wax Poetic for This Our Great Resolve (2018) Buy it here: https://bit.ly/2Hygpq9
Audio treatment by Airlock Audio
AIR number eight features a talk about jazz, spontaneity, and freedom of expression with DJ, producer and @ithqdetroit co-founder, @erikadotnet.
Erika got her start as a jazz DJ at her college radio station in Michigan, and since, she has been a crucial player in Detroit's music scene, both as a DJ and a live performer, and as one half of electro duo Ectomorph. Together with a Detroit-bred crew of like-minded DJs, Erika helps run the seminal No Way Back party — which celebrates its 10 year anniversary this weekend at Tresor in Berlin.
NO WAY BACK 10 Years at Tresor: https://www.facebook.com/events/615099015497032/
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Music: Erika - "Tow Ride" (2015) Audio treatment by Airlock Audio
For the seventh episode of AIR, @Max-Cooper and I chat about science, nature, and sound.
Born and raised on the North coast of Ireland, Max has been interested in patterns, nature, and genetics since he was a kid, eventually earning his PhD in computational biology. He decided to pursue a career in music in 2010, letting his love of production and his interest in science intertwine through live AV shows like 2015’s Emergence and this year’s light field installation, Aether. At the time of this interview, Max was readying a performance for Berlin’s new 4D Sound venue, Monom, where this episode was also recorded.
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Music: Max Cooper - "Corporeal" (2017) Audio treatment by Airlock Audio
The sixth episode of AIR welcomes Dutch producer, DJ, and label boss, Steffi for a chat on the limits of innovation in dance music.
After a move to Berlin in 2007, she picked up a residency at Panorama bar, and eventually launched her label Dolly in 2009. Steffi has since become known for her journey-like DJ sets and, since 2015, a live set that she has toured across Europe. With a handful of releases on Ostgut Ton, a mix for fabric, and her 2017 album, World of the Waking State, Steffi remains one of dance music’s most compelling figures.
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Music: Steffi - The Meaning of Memory (Ostgut Ton 2017) Mastering by Airlock Audio Photo by Stephan Redel
The fifth episode of AIR welcomes Canadian DJ and producer Colin de la Plante, better known by his stage name, The Mole. Inspired by a massive wall of records at his flat in Berlin, this episode is a chat about collectors and collecting.
Colin was an essential player in the electronic music scene on Canada's West Coast before moving to Montreal and eventually Berlin. He has been buying records since he was a teenager, collecting everything from classic rock to Brazilian funk, house and disco, minimal, and everything in between.
You can check out Colin's collection on the Facebook page for AIR here: https://www.facebook.com/aiirpodcast/
And the records mentioned in this interview here: http://bit.ly/2jxGHxO
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Music: The Mole - River Highways (2017) www.kompakt.fm/releases/de_la_planet www.beatport.com/release/de-la-planet/2093973
Audio treatment by Airlock Audio
The fourth episode of AIR welcomes UK-based DJ and producer @JaneFitz for a chat about getting lost in music.
Sorry about the background noise in this one!
Jane has been involved in electronic music for over 20 years, first as a raver and a music journalist in her native England and later in Asia, when she moved to Hong Kong at 23. Eventually she picked up DJing and brought her keen ear for selection and groove back to the UK at her event series like Peg, and Night Moves. Today she is considered one electronic music’s best selectors, holding residencides at the likes of Freerotation and The Pickle Factory.
Music: Invisible Menders - To Be Discontinued (2014) Photo by Vicki Couchman
The third episode of AIR welcomes Eric Cloutier, a DJ of over 20 years and the founder of Palinoia Records, to talk about the relationship between cities and sound.
Eric @Cloutier is a DJ, producer, and label boss, born and raised in Detroit, where a longing for an escape from every day life fueled the city's music scene and rave culture. Eric moved to New York in the 2000s, where he became a resident at @TheBunkerNY. Now based in Berlin, Eric is adjusting to life and music in a city where absolutely anything goes.
The second episode of AIR features synth music icon Suzanne Ciani to talk about humanizing machines and the nature of synthetic sound. Please note that this episode was recorded live at Terraforma Festival, so you'll hear a signifcant amount of background noise and music throughout the interview.
@SuzanneCiani is a pianist, composer, and Buchla pioneer, helping to introduce one of electronic music's earliest forms in the 1970s alongside Don Buchla himself. She is known not only for her sound design work for commercial brands, but for her incredible music on labels like Atlantic, RCA, and her own Seventh Wave Records.
Audio treatment by Man Made Mastering AIR intro tune by Gene on Earth
Featured music: Suzanne Ciani - Sirens (1982)
The first episode of AIR welcomes Robert Henke, also known as Monolake, to talk about confidence and growth as an artist.
Robert is a co-founder of Ableton, an electronic music artist, and a visual artists whose recent efforts are laser-based AV projects like his Fragile Territories installations (2012-2017) and his Lumière shows (2013-2017).
Photo by Maya Roisin-Slater AIR intro tune by Gene on Earth
Featured music: Monolake - Atlas (2009)