RECREATIONAL THERAPY PODCAST - Drox Industries

Drox Industries

RECTHERA PODCAST 040 : Drox

7/4/2025

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.
Subscribe via iTunes - apple.co/2Zd51cs
Interview & Tracklist - shorturl.at/i9EEt
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.
This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.

This is a recording of my Set at the Mindfield party in April earlier this year. It was a great vibe continuing the flow of the evening from 1:30am to give some context of the energy and track selection. Was an awesome evening!

We celebrated Albert's birthday in style. Thanks again for the invite to share some tunes.

Tracklist
1 Light Tunnel - Paranoid London [Paranoid London Records]
2 Dualism - Forest Drive West [Livity Sound]
3 Ritual - Forest Drive West [Livity Sound]
4 Die Dünne Hand - Schwefelgelb [Cititrax]
5 Bang the Box - Willie Burns [Ultimate Hits]
6 Do What You Wanna Do (Dub Version) - The Cage Feat Nona Hendryx [Strut /Metal Dance]
7 Alienated 2A - Alien Rain [Alien Rain]
8 One Circle - The Vision[Metroplex]
9 ~T8_8T~ - Cousin [Self Released]
10 Salty SID - Luke's Anger [Don't]
11 Kuleshov Effect - Arctor [Tremors]
12 Acid & Breaks - mmWave [Self Released]
13 Soulless - Arctor [Tremors]
14 LSD - DJ HMC [Reflector]
15 Headland - Tessela [Poly Kicks]
16 Gary Mission - Anz [Hessle Audio]
17 Zeno Xero - Dave Clarke Red 1 [Skint]
18 Odyssey - Arctor [Tremors]
19 House The Groove - DJ Funk [Dance Mania]
20 In Soul Motion - Passion Flower [Seventh Sense]
21 A Tight Grip - Gemini [Tinted]
22 Crosstalk - Matt Whitehead [Super Rhythm Trax]
23 Nemo Airfield - Polarius [Crème Organization]
24 Angel Of Hell (Paranoid London Remix) - Arthur Baker & Alan Vega [Baked]
25 Prescription (Unreleased mix) - Ron Trent [Prescription]
26 Foie Gras - Patricia [Spectral Sound]
27 City Limits - Derek Carr [Subwax Excursions]
28 Upside Down - Derek Carr [Subwax Excursions]
29 Waves - Fluxion [Echocord]
30 Love (Marcel Dettmann City Remix) - Luke Slater [Mote-Evolver]
31 Come On (Luke Slater Mix) - Ballistic Brothers [Junior Boy's Own]
32 Play Our Music (Version) - Duplex [Clone]
33 What Of Lazarus - Dan Curtin [De:tuned]
34 300 Mhz - DJ Naughty [International Deejay Gigolo]
35 Submerged - Paul Johnson [Relief]
36 A1 Untitled - Santos Rodriguez ‎[Cosmic ID]
37 Trust Blind - Dan Curtin [De:tuned]
38 Evening At Kokopelli - DFD [We're Going Deep]
39 Change - DJ BONE [Subject Detroit]
40 Translate - Driss Bennis pres. OCB [Metroplex]
41 Track Oriented (Cognition Remix) - Teakup [TKP]

Drox · RecThera Podcast 040 - Drox

RECTHERA PODCAST 039 : Drox

5/19/2025

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.

Subscribe via iTunes | Interview & Tracklist
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

For the thirty ninth episode I thought Id share a recording of my Set at the Got Music - Aquarius Rising party from February earlier this year.
The party had a great vibe and I closed the outdoor area playing 10:30pm- 12am to give some context of the energy and track selection.

Tracklist
1 Shota Sakamoto - Green Pepper #2 /SinkichiRemix [Altzmusica]
2 The Godson - Analog Love [Rush Hour]
3 Harddrive - Deep Inside (Vandalized Edit) [Self Released]
4 John Tejada & Justin Maxwell - I’ve Got Acid (On My Brain) [Acid Camp]
5 Mike 'Agent X' Clark - U Know How I Feel [Third Ear]
6 Pendle Watkins (Matt Whitehead & No Data Available) - Deal With It [Super Rhythm Trax]
7 Shan - Work It (Piano Mix) [Running Back]
8 Autonation -Sit On The Bass (Optimo Edit) [R&S]
9 The Vision - Crush, Kill, Destroy [UR]
10 Green Velvet - (You Don't Have To Be) Fake And Phoney [Relief]
11 Lemon Jaxx - Smokin' (Extendo Edit) [is/was]
12 Like A Tim - Zilver [Like]
13 James Welsh - Multimode Self [Strid]
14 James Shinra - Trippin [Shinra Electro Company]
15 Tessela - Headland Hackney Parrot (10_Ton_Mix) [Poly Kicks]
16 DJ HMC - LSD [Reflector]
17 Natalie Yorke - Chutney Boy (Instr) [Frederiksberg]
18 Dave Clarke - Way of Life (Technasia Remix;Live) [Skint]
19 DJ Dic - All A Dream Mix 1 (Light Fromage Edit) [is/was]
20 JIALING & Farsight - Whistle Tip [Clasico]
21 Luke's Anger - Party Hype [Don’t]
22 Dusky - Spillage [Fabric Originals]
23 Luke's Anger - The Sentinel [Co-Accused]
24 Blackmass Plastics - Pandemic [Rag & Bone]
25 JIALING - Get Freaky [Self Released]
26 Machinedrum - Habits [Ninja Tune]
27 Villager & Waleed - Pig [Pretty Weird Music]
28 Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman (Rave Yard Mix) [GutterFunk]
29 Ben Pest - Strict Saws [Mechatronica]
30 Doctor Jeep - Mecha [TraTraTrax]
31 Mr. De' - Big Booty Hoes & Sluts Too (instrumental) [Electrofunk]
32 Voiron - Voironizer [Nocta Numerica]
33 Unknown Artist - The 212 [Illegal Series]
34 Chrissy Murderbot - Thighs (Shinra Remix) [Wide]
35 Chloé Robinson x DJ ADHD - Last Night ft. Dumbblonde [Warehouse Project]
36 Freakenstein - RAAAH (I LIKE IT) [Hot Haus]
37 DJ Laxxiste A - Crescendo Dub [Natural Sciences]

Drox · RecThera Podcast 039 - Drox

RECTHERA PODCAST 038 : A7K8

10/16/2024

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.

Subscribe via iTunes | Interview & Tracklist
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

For the thirty eighth episode we invite A7K8 to provide the soundtrack, who hails from Glasgow but now resides in Sydney.
A7K8 has been a keen clubber and dance music enthusiast who for many years has also been spending time refining his production skills working towards his debut release via the Undercurrents Vol 2 out later this month on bass heavyweight Martyn's 3024 label.

The mix is a great snapshot of his record collection and influences, which is a nice snapshot (or VHS recording) of the influential mix of techno, hardgroove, dub techno, electro and house that was emerging as fresh, exciting and new dance music experiments at the time.

As always, turn it up lock in and enjoy the music.

Tracklist

Drexciya - Davey Jones Locker [React]
Ratio - Welcome to Central [Central]
Ratio - Doublefeature [Central]
Maurizio - M04a [Maurizio]
Aril Brikha - Groove La Chord [Fragile]
Conceiled Project Code Red 09 - A1 [Code Red]
Morgan - Flowerchild (Adam Beyer Remix 2) [Synewave]
Mion - Theme [Music Man]
DX - Offender [Archive]
Mion - Reloop Pt.2 [Music Man]
Octave One - Daystar Rising [UR & 430 West]
Schatrax - Mispent Years (Original Mix) [Soma]
Guillaume La Tortue - The Evidence Way - Part 1 [Taka]
DJ HMC - Hypnotizin' Funk [Undefined]
Universal Principles - Inspiration & Light [Soma]
DJ Sneak - Some More [83 West]
I:Cube - Disco Cubizm (Daft Punk Remix) [Versatile]

Drox · RecThera Podcast 038 : A7K8

Interview

First I wanted to say, thanks for putting together this mix for RecThera.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this, it was a lot of fun to put together, even if there was a lot of deliberation on what tracks to actually put in!

What was the inspiration for this mix?
I wanted to make a mix of tracks that were really formative to me when I was starting DJ’ing and listening to house and techno music. I grew up in a great time and scene in Glasgow around music venues and lots of places to buy great music. This mix is a bit of those catalysts to where I am musically today.

How do you find the music scene in Glasgow compared to Sydney?
Bridged by some 20 years the whole music scene has definitely changed irrevocably. Digital music was only in its beginnings and now genres and the whole consumption of music and nightlife has changed. In Glasgow, the scene that I was into was very focused around a few clubs, The Sub Club (still going today), The Arches and The Art School and other parties like Club 69 run by Rub A Dub records. They had some amazing artists across a huge gamut of styles and it was really cheap so you could go out a lot.

In Sydney, I guess I have moved on a bit in life and music so have only been to a few gigs and venues, there has been a lot of changes with legislation in Sydney around nightlife so thats been very different. But now the more I connect with people here there are some great pockets of smaller parties and events that offer great music and good vibes.

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?
I think my biggest influences growing up musically were people like Jeff Mills, Laurent Garnier and Daft Punk. We bought a lot of vinyl (too much as I look at the boxes in my garage… sigh) and I was an avid consumer of Techno and also more left field and older music too.

We had a lot of music growing up across a variety of genres so that definitely opened my ears. Now, I have really enjoyed the newer hard groove style techno coming out and also a lot of the newer bass style music from the 3024 crew. I recently connected with them and their mentoring program when I got back into production and its been amazing to be in such a vibrant scene with people across the globe making great bass and techno music.

What are you listening to right now?
Yikes, on the spot here, the new Fabric presents mix from Rodhad I really like for a darker techno vibe. Azu Tiwaline is putting out some amazing dark cinematic bass music so her latest EP with Forest Drive West is amazing.

The new Undercurrents Compilation Volume 1 from 3024 records with some of my friends work on there is great too. Such an amazing level of production on all of them.

Who or what is inspiring you musically and otherwise?
Being part of the 3024 mentoring programme has been amazing and have had the chance to connect with a lot of really interesting and creative artists. I get to hear all these amazing tracks and collaborations that give me ideas and a bit of low key pressure to also keep producing tracks myself to keep up with them all!

On the other side of things I read a lot of sci-fi and really enjoy graphical art so really look across a wide range of ideas to get inspiration for being creative. I also enjoy building things so working on a Synth at the moment as well, hopefully I can get it working and use it in my productions going forward!

Where can we see or hear your next project?
My first release is coming out on the 25th October on 3024 The Undercurrents Vol. 2 Album available via the labels bandcamp page.
The track titled Groové 01 is my interpretation of the techno and hard groove style music I grew up listening to and DJ’ing.

Anything else you would like to share?
Thank you and the whole Drox and Delphic Iris team for letting me be on here and play this mix for you.

I hope you all enjoy this mix and the grooves make you dance along, wherever that may be. If anyone would like to connect and listen more hit me up on Instagram.

Links
A7K8 Instagram

RECTHERA PODCAST 037 : Drox

7/6/2024

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.

Subscribe via iTunes | Interview & Tracklist
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

For the thirty seventh episode I decided to re-record my set from Electro Mondo the other weekend as I had such an excellent time dancing then playing and thought I'd share as the latest RecThera podcast episode.
A couple of the mixes are a little wonky as I was chasing our new doggo around the house which maybe helps capture a bit of the vibe of the 1:30-2:30am time slot.
As always, turn it up lock in and enjoy the music.

Tracklist
DJ Laz & Jock-D – Def Megamix [Cut it up Def]
Sleeze Boys - Zoids [Boss Man]
Underground Resistance - Twista (The Dance) [UR]
Beatprozessor - My Girlfriend is a Cyborg
Steril - Subsonic [RFR]
Nino Sebelic - Church Of Tasmania [Pomelo]
DMX Krew - Back to the Bass [ WéMè]
Dexter - Mr Blunt [Clone]
Jessbeatz - Decoding Numberz [Electrostatic]
D. Strange - Off World [LO·TEK·NO COMM.]
Zobol - Descending [Sci-fact]
Dave N.A. & freq444 - Novox [no•id]
Untitled Artist - Dead Letter Drop 1 [Letter]
DJ Deeon - Shake That Butt [Databass]
D Tiffany - Feel U [Planet Euphorique]
Illektrolab - Heavy Hitter [Advanced Robotiks]
Baxim - Boyz Get Bass [Miami Bass History]
VC-118A - Endless [Delsin]
Ed Chamberlain - Dave [BaseLogic]
Galaxian - External Observer [Ilian Tape]
P.Vanillaboy - Nachtschicht [Goddess Music]
Go Nuclear - UFO Bass [Nuclear Threat]
Datassette - Stoatle Excelsior [Central Processing Unit]
Credit 00 - Let It Roll [Mechatronica]
Featureless Ghost - Flash (Beau Wanzer Adjustment) [CGI]
Privacy - No Discussion [PH17]
PTHGN - Binary Operation [Fides]
Michael Forshaw - Energise [Coin Operated]
Gen-y - Saturn Flow [Clone West Coast Series]
Calibre & DRS v Mark Ernestus - Badder [Signature]

Drox · RecThera Podcast 037 : Drox

RECTHERA PODCAST 036 : Noise Casino

12/23/2023

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.

Subscribe via iTunes | Interview & Tracklist
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

For the thirty sixth episode we invite Noise Casino to provide the soundtrack, who hails from Manizales, Colombia and currently based in Berlin. The mix is a melting pot of bass influenced breakbeats, rhythms and grooves staring at a steady 100bpm slowly working with the tempo as the mix progresses, keeping it modern and engaging which is a nice refreshing change from the more high octane sets I have come across of late.

This was recorded at the Delphic Iris Records launch party, a new label I co-own which was recorded at Kimchi Records in Berlin.
An excellent soundtrack that paired well with the informal afternoon summer vibe of the launch and was a standout on the day (as were all of the guests). Im happy to have a chance to review the track list to dig into some of the excellent producers and labels that are new discoveries to me also.

As always, turn it up lock in and enjoy the music.

Tracklist
1 Floating on the Dead Sea - Toumba [All Centre]
2 Breach - Realitycheck [Comic Sans]
3 Solo Use - Toma Kami [Man Band]
4 Plant Passport - Glimmerman [Egregore Collective]
5 BAMBÚ - Invt
6 Slow Stings - Rhyw
7 Treats - Puncta [N-Face]
8 Amapicante - Toma Kami [Livity Sound]
9 Console - Pluralist [Le Chatroom]
10 Mi Cuerpo - Pearson Sound [Pearson Sound]
11 It's All Relative - Cando [Livity Sound]
12 Hymn to Atabey - Nicholas G. Padilla [Space Tapes]
13 Policy Limits - Danny Goliger [Scuffed Recordings]
14 3Am - Guim [Discos Marcianos]
15 Baile Bias - Liebus [Holding Hands]
16 One That's - Betas [Vista]
17 Arenga (Remix) - Fedra [Vista]
18 Redshift - TX4, SOS_carloss [Laye Audio]

Drox · RecThera Podcast 036 : Noise Casino

Interview

First I wanted to say, thanks for sharing the recording of your set with RecThera for this episode. I really like the change in tempo as the mix progresses, what was the inspiration for your selection choices?

Definitely, the chance to play in a record store. It’s been years since I played a set in the afternoon, and, on top of that, in a small setting with a nice sound system that wasn’t all about loudness and bass. So, this set was the perfect time to play music at a slower tempo and in a less club-oriented fashion.

I decided to start around 100bpm and then smoothly go up until 125 or something like that. It was really different and very refreshing. Also, with dance floors getting faster and faster nowadays, it was a nice challenge to find slower music in my library that still represents my current sound and vision of electronic music.

How do you find the music scene in Colombia compared to Berlin?
Talking about the big cities in Colombia (Medellin, Cali or Bogota) they have their own distinct music scenes compared to each other or to any European capital, like Berlin, or Madrid. I could talk a bit about the parallel between Bogota, where I used to live, and Berlin, where I live now, and definitely one could find some differences:

I reckon both Berlin and Bogota are still pretty techno-focused. I’d say Techno is still the most predominant go-to style in the electronic music scenes of both capitals. The thing is, a bunch of promoters in Bogota, and in Colombia in general, are looking to replicate scenes like the ones in Berlin, Barcelona, etc. They want to follow the models of parties like Herrensauna, El Row, Afterlife, Dekmantel, among other well-reputed events in Europe (even some of these parties have had their own versions on Colombia).

Now, some of these attempts work out, riding on the European hype and a good amount of neo-colonialist manoeuvres, backed by big money, but some others just don't click with the Colombian crowd and fade away after a couple of tries. The good news is that there has always been a resistant contra-culture of lesser-known parties and music scenes that continue to thrive to this very day. On top of that, things are changing.

There's a resurgence of local music scenes, with both old and new labels doing their own thing, crafting unique sounds without worrying about what's hot in Europe or the USA. Showcasing a fusion of cultural influences and club sounds, seamlessly blending native rhythms and the intricate socio-political landscape into the cities soundscapes, irrespective of genre. It is worth mentioning some of these labels I believe are doing so: Artificio, From A Lost Place, TraTraTrax, Paria, Pildoras Tapes, Furatena, Muakk, to mention some.

Venues like Video Club, Calle 9, Rio, or Tunnel are doing a good job merging the touring artists from Europe with the diverse roster of Colombian artists making a name for themselves. One can feel these clubs aim for a more horizontal hierarchy in the line-ups and bet more for a “de-berlinized” music offer than other places in the country; nevertheless, it is still a work in progress.

After a trip to Colombia last month, I also noticed some things that I don’t like very much, but are still happening. You've got the informal approach to DJ deals, VIP zones around the DJ, charging for water at parties, not enough awareness staff in some venues, allowing camera flashes on the dance floor, and overpacked clubs. Hopefully, we'll see some positive changes in these areas over time.

On a brighter note, the vibe of the crowds in Colombia is just something else. Ask anyone who's toured the country; the enthusiasm for partying and dancing is unparalleled. Whether you're in the crowd or behind the DJ booth, you can feel that electricity buzzing through the air the moment you step into a dancefloor. In Berlin, I feel it tends to be more a personal ritual, where the size of the crowd matters less.

Simultaneously, there's occasionally an openness to meeting new people in the club; individuals are simply immersed in the music. The energy may be less collective, but the extraordinary quality of sound systems and venues raises the experience to a superlative level.
It's quite challenging to make a direct comparison; each has its unique highs and lows. Both are equally captivating, each representing its own distinct universe.

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?
Uff, lots of things. If we talk about the past, the young me was definitely influenced by the first time I heard Ismael Rivera or saw the music video for Kraftwerk’s Das Model. I was lucky that my dad showed me both when I was a kid, giving me the diverse taste in music that I think I have. He had hundreds of folders of all sorts of music he liked on a Dell laptop, which I used to borrow on weekends to explore all this music.

I love salsa and cumbia, so labels like Discos Fuentes and Fania played a key role in my desire to select and collect music. I started manually creating discographies of all the artists I liked thanks to Ares and LimeWire, a thing I stopped doing when streaming services emerged. I collected and organized lots of music files on an old iPod from my pre-adolescence until 2012.

I also had an online radio station when I was in high school with an old friend named Jose. We did all sorts of programs and specials, ranging from Metal to Ambient, from Disco to Punk in Spanish, and everything in between. We promoted local concerts where his band and other friends' bands played. Since we were underage, going to clubs was not an option, so we spent a lot of time at small concerts and local festivals where people we knew performed. I think the desire to select and mix tracks comes from those times at our programs.

In my first year of university, I remember a student who introduced me to Autechre. He was kind enough to load up an old MP3 player I had with their extensive discography, it filled almost all the memory of the device, so I mostly listened to only Autechre for a couple of months. From that point, I started to see music in a different way. This sparked my interest in exploring the so-called underground music scene.

I began attending parties, and at that time in my hometown, the electronic music scene was divided between minimal techno parties (I saw all the MINUS artists you can think of, haha), (literally) underground drum and bass raves, and latin-fusion parties that were very popular in universities at the time, mostly featuring electro cumbia and other stuff from labels like ZZK Records, Polen Records, and such.

When I started DJing in the mid 2010s, and until this very day, labels like Warp, Djax, Comemé, Nice & Deadly, Hessle Audio, Ilian Tape, Hypercolour, among others, greatly influenced my sound, and they continue to do so. Locally speaking labels like Discos Nutabe, Ediciones Danza Negra, and Move were also quite significant. Running a podcast for almost two years, where I interviewed Colombian artists from various scenes about their careers, taught me a lot about how they crafted their own styles for years before breaking out in specific niches.

This experience helped me learn to respect and appreciate all electronic genres and types of parties, regardless of style or origin. It also made me a versatile, genre-fluid DJ. I started playing in all sorts of party formats and mixed a bunch of different styles.

I could go on mentioning moments and music that have inspired me, but the things I just mentioned kind of summarise the whole experience, I guess.

What are you listening to right now?
*Opus by Ryuichi Sakamoto, but the (slower) version from the asian release of the album Playing The Piano / Out Of Noise (hope I am not wrong).*

Who or what is inspiring you musically and otherwise?
I find musical inspiration in many things, not just within the realm of music—visual arts, audio-reactive creations, movies, books, articles, and more. For example, Mark Fisher’s books got me hooked lately, and occasionally reading Shawn Reynaldo’s newsletter is very insightful. But what I've found most inspiring recently is attending live gigs of various genres, even when they are entirely unfamiliar. Seeing people in real time, immersed in their craft, makes me appreciate what I try to do with my music even more and alleviates a bit the impostor syndrome that we all experience when creating.

For example, this year, I had the chance to listen live to the Guatemalan cellist and singer Mabe Fratti. it was stunning! Listening to her concert with his guitarist companion (I don't remember his name) made me think about my exploration of making music outside the dancefloors and how this can also nurture inspiration for my club-music projects, much like a feedback exercise.

Where can we see or hear your next project?
There is an EP soon to be released with my project SVNDS, which consists of my long-time friend Aeondelit and me. This marks our first EP after almost two years. The music we create together is not necessarily club-oriented, although some people have played it in such settings a couple of times.

The intention behind SVNDS is to explore concepts of human concerns in the digital world through music. We like to contemplate current global dilemmas and reinterpret our feelings towards them in our songs. Regarding the upcoming EP, we were focused on the duality between creating art outside the algorithm and the trends while simultaneously aiming to craft something good enough to grow organically—a bit of a paradox in today’s world.

Also, with my partner and later two other colleagues, launched a party series named Ruta. Our goal is to promote electronic music from diverse diasporas, extending support to fellow migrating artists like ourselves. We not only invite these artists to showcase their work but also feature their music, alongside our own, at our events and on social media channels. Additionally, we collaborate with local labels and collectives that align with our sonic and political ideas. We are based in Freiburg, Karlsruhe and Berlin.

On a personal note, I am currently working on an EP for the Colombian label Artificio, which has been releasing some amazing music in recent months. I had the opportunity to participate in a VA release with them last year. Additionally, I've been learning sound design for visual media and have created a collection of new track ideas I plan to use soon.

Anything else you would like to share?
This mix features some tracks from Latin American artists whose music leans more towards the bass and breakbeat side of things, a sound that might not be what one expects from Latin artists.

It's worth mentioning that, with the rise of the so-called Latin club sound, people from around the world are once again delving deeper into the music scene of Latin America. They're discovering a diverse world of music styles and genres beyond the “andean” downtempo of the early 2010s, the Baile Funk revival from the late 2010s, and the Latin Club sound of the 2020s, which will hopefully receive the same well-deserved attention as those mentioned.

I also want to say sorry in advance if I didn’t mention or may have dismissed important friends, colleagues, or venues that could had been essential in this story.

Links
Soundcloud |Instagram | Youtube

RECTHERA PODCAST 035 : Miguel D

11/30/2023

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.

Subscribe via iTunes | Interview & Tracklist
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

We welcome Miguel D for the thirty fifth edition of the podcast who is a Sydney based selector and DJ via Auckland who I first met almost 10 years ago when invited to play his regular night Cantaloop at the old Cafe Lounge here in Sydney and have stayed friends ever since.

Miguel is a passionate digger who embraces world sounds in the spirit of the true essence of the term who can join seemingly unrelated tracks from different eras keeping it eclectic, open and soulful.

More recently he has been a guest on Steppers Radio in the UK alongside EdSeven, contributed an excellent mix to the lazydaze mix series and dished up a cracking set at the recent Sunday edition of Got Music Social Club: Blended here in Sydney.

Miguel D provides an expert blend of funk, soul, afrobeat, tasteful edits and latin vibes perfect for soundtracking a summery Friday afternoon before the weekend kicks in as it is in the Southern Hemisphere at the moment.

Turn it up kick back and enjoy!

Tracklist

1 Don't Stop The Music - Bits & Pieces [Mango]
2 Palm Springs - Dam Funk [Glydezone]
3 Woah! There's No Limit - Lord Echo [Soundway]
4 Nebulosa - Tenorio Jr. [Mr Bongo]
5 Depth Has a Focus - Wajatta [Brainfeeder]
6 Miles Funk - Stro Elliott [Street Corner Music]
7 Keep on Moving - ESG [Soul Jazz]
8 Albee (Good Block Ragga Edit) - JND
9 System Sauce - 3 Chairs [Three Chairs]
10 Habu Raminubu (Dengue Dengue Dengue & Joutro Mundo version) - Ayani Huni Kuin [On the Corner]
11 Bomba Atomica - Meridian Brothers [Ansonia]
12 Stars for Jorge - Len Leise [Len Leise Edits]
13 Fish - Mr Scruff [Ninja Tune]
14 PTL - XL Middleton [Mofunk]
15 Atomic Dog - George Clinton [Capitol]
16 Oh My God (Kaytranada Edit) - ATCQ
17 Dari Demou'ek - Hamid El Shaeri [Habibi Funk]
18 Cricket (Part 2) - The New Morning [Emotional Rescue]
19 Fela Edit - Frank Booker
20 Le Flute Enchantee - Tom Manzarek [Plaisance]
21 Tinned - Piezo [Version]
22 Come Into My House (Fast Eddie Remix) - Queen Latifah [Tommy Boy]
23 Page 3 (Dam Fun Re-Freak) - Steven Julien & Kyle Hall [Apron]
24 Super Freak-a-pella - Josh Wink [Ovum]
25 1st Trumpet - Aba Ariginal & The Pharmacist [Homefront Productions]

Drox · RecThera Podcast 035 : Miguel D

Interview

What was your inspiration for this mix?
Running into you at the The Gladstone recently and then again at Theo Parrish! Was great to catch up. I also just tweaked my home setup swapping the Pioneer DJM for an Ecler rotary and upgraded my monitors recently too.

I've focused on the record collection a lot more since the pandemic, alongside the eternal Bandcamp wormhole. I included a bunch of older things here, but there's so much great new music coming out worldwide!

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?
The Theo gig had that air of influentially about it. Seeing someone at their peak play on a quality sound system, moving confidently between jazz, dub, techno, disco... opera.

Mr Scruff years ago (2004?) in Auckland and at Days Like This in Sydney (2009), and Gilles Peterson midweek at Oxford Arts Factory a while back are all the same for that freeform DJ journey. Aside from having a bunch of friends and local heroes to look up to, as lame as it might sound, the majority comes from the internet these days. Live recordings, online radio, interviews.
Maybe that's living in this part of the world or balancing music with family, but there's just a shit load of content out there now!

How do you find the music scene in Sydney compared to Auckland?
Similar albeit much smaller in Auckland given the population difference. Theo played there on the Thursday for example. Both harbour cities with ups and downs and that struggle for artists thriving in a financial capital (as opposed to Melbourne/Wellington). Aside from a few pockets, venues come and go in both and that's driven things into other spaces.

The pandemic was bad there like the lockouts / gentrification /casino rort was here. Hate to sound like a jaded old man but Auckland 20 years ago was a massive vibe. Friendly Potential gave things a good nudge recently with touring, but there used to be more regular international acts, bigger audiences, and a wider palette of sounds thriving back in the day. There's still a strong Polynesian influence and an outdoor festival scene which is awesome.

For me Sydney gets those handful of epic gigs every year that take things to another level. Artists touring at exciting times in their careers, surprise shows, locals outshining internationals on big stages, bigger production budgets and arts funding opportunities. Hopefully Auckland has a long summer ahead.

What are you listening to right now?
Tom Manzarek on Pinata Radio (France)

Who or what is inspiring you musically and otherwise?
Locally the GMSC group, Logg Cabin radio on 95bfm in Aotearoa, and a bunch of other shows on NTS, The Lot Radio, Balamii etc

Where can we see or hear your next project?
I'm looking at starting a monthly radio show early in the new year. Monthly Friday's at Tatler in Darlinghurst, and odd gigs here and there.. hopefully something in Auckland on a trip back.

Links
Soundcloud | Instagram

RECTHERA PODCAST 034 : Grace Schella

9/16/2023

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.

Subscribe via iTunes | Interview & Tracklist
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

We welcome Grace Schella a well regarded member of the electronic music scene in Vienna, Austria who is also behind the Electropia label which also curates AV exhibitions for the thirty fourth edition of the podcast series.
I have really been enjoying revisiting this mix for repeat listens this week so am very excited to share it with you.

For this mix Grace weaves her eclectic selection incorporating her varied interests in Electro, moments of techno and more experimental sounds into a cohesive atmospheric journey of different flavours.

Tracklist
1 Zero Data - 550 Rondy [Cheap Records]
2 02 zin2 test5 - Aphex Twin [Warp]
3 Radiotherapy - Bitstream [Modern Love]
4 Lazer Bullet to Shinjuku - Jodey Kendrick [Dub Recordings]
5 Blue Dub - Azu Tiwaline & Al Wootton [Livity Sound]
6 Mt Dill (Endless Version) - MSTEP
7 Large Mammals - J.Wiltshire [Super Hexagon]
8 Carbon Academy - IL.EK.TRO [Klang Elektronik]
9 I Only Knew - Plural [Natural Selection]
10 The Celt - Jodey Kendrick [Dub Recordings]
11 Land of Zod - Plantastik [Kickin]
12 Ppatch - The Jaffa Kid [Cold Blow]
13 Nighttime World - Robert Hood [Cheap]
14 Freaks - Transparent Sound [Abstrakt Dance]
15 Fadin' Away (Heinrich Mueller Remix) - The Hacker [WeMe]
16 Dolfinarium - Unit Moebius [Bunker]
17 Radiaton - Gedankenexperiment [Apnea]
18 Painful Enlightenment - Jana Rush [Planet Mu]

Drox / Critical Automator · RecThera Podcast 034 : Grace Schella

Interview

First I wanted to say, thanks for putting together this mix for RecThera.

Thank you for the invitation to your radio show, Adrian! I feel very flattered. You support the Underground scene for a long time by your quality podcast series.

What was the inspiration for this mix?

It has been during the mid-summer months of 2023 when I received your invite. Far away from clubs and dancefloors. It wanted to record a summertime rollout, an atmospheric journey. This time I started off with an experimental gemstone by Austrian trio 550 Rondy, on Cheap Records. Then I take it from analog, broken UK sound like RDJ or Bitstream to deep Techno by Tunisian female producer Azu Tawalin and Plural from USA.

I chose obscure and hypnotic tracks to be followed by groovy up-tempo sounds that carry colorful melodies like The Jaffa Kid. In between I placed some Electro moments and a dash of Detroit Techno which I must not miss in this set! The mix closes with a Chicago producer I really appreciate, Jana Rush. Many tracks are super fresh and have been released in the last weeks or months. That was also one objective of mine for this mix.

How do you find the music scene in Vienna?

Vienna is a city for classic music and rock. When it comes to Electronica there are several vivid groups of people who run soundsystems, organize parties in off-locations and autonomous spaces or gather at home. That would count for House, Techno/Electro, free Tekkno, Breakcore and Drum’n’Bass.
Our culture gets misunderstood and alienated so often. Those rare groups help to find an honest approach to bring on our culture of djing. They find the people who are truly dedicated, not former IMG models who ran out of jobs. Some organize events with a very diverse, experimental lineup. Others put visuals in the centre of attention while dj booths remain unseen. I love that all. Luckily the city of Vienna is supporting some activities with a decent cultural budget, because crowds are quite small.

However, I am not really a regular part of any scene in Vienna. I dock on. It is a time issue. We like to support each other whenever possible. The closest exchange I have with the Funkroom Collective that presents international top Electro acts in Vienna.

Tell us a bit about the Electropia project and how it has evolved over time.

Electropia is an art concept that I`ve created in 2014/15 with a focus on live A/V sets embedded in interdisciplinary and transmedia exhibitions. We have shown artists like Altroy, Catharina Bond, Annika Hippler and Julian Rubisch. The concept presents the dynamics of the inter-relationship of all things. Physical theories of vibration, frequency, electromagnetism, light and quantum physics touch ground with biology and are the storyline for the music to be released. My newly established label Electropia Records issued the first digital release by Nino Sebelic in February 2023 via EPM distribution.

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?

Detroit. Past, present, future. That city is responsible for my music socialisation in general and in Techno. Even my romantic relationship over almost a decade is rooted in the mutual love for Detroit Techno. We really found each other in that cosmos.

What are you listening to right now?

I am listening to the Antartica album by Ultradyne.

Who or what is inspiring you musically and otherwise?

Inspiration is always around the corner. For me it can be art, nature, literature, conversations with people, of course music or even pure silence.

Where can we see or hear your next project?

The next bigger project will be the Electropia album release on vinyl in 2024. Sometimes it is tricky to just finalise the work, similar to writing a thesis. We have found a press plant and I cannot wait to see the baby on vinyl.

Anything else you would like to share?

I have good memories of Australia, I used to live in Queensland for about 3 years end of 90s. Impressive nature. Had the chance to visit Sydney few times, it is an ace metropole!

I fully enjoyed the chilled drives to catch a good surf. And the people I met were amazing. Thank you very much, Adrian for this opportunity to record a mix – much respect from Austria to Australia!

Links
Electropia Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Facebook

RECTHERA PODCAST 033 : James Steer

8/8/2023

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.

Subscribe via iTunes | Interview & Tracklist
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

We welcome James Steer a Melbourne/Naarm native for the thirty third edition of the podcast who selects some of his deeper minimal and house cuts, expertly blended for eighty mins including a few curveballs on the way. James has been active DJing for almost 20 years and brings a balance of experience and curiosity seeking out new sounds that stands out with this mix.

credit Lilly Pilly Photography

Tracklist
1 Night Watch - Tim Jackiw [Offworld]
2 The Serpent - Discret Popescu [Unic]
3 Anata - Mathimidori [Echocord]
4 Quicksand - Parallax Deep [Irenic]
5 Blue Burst - Jacob Ohrberg [Plaster Fe]
6 Orbita - Pianeti Sintetici [Hypnus]
7 Youthman feat. Prince Morella (Biodub Remix) - Echo Inspectors & Subset [Primary Colours]
8 Fantasy in Space - Lakür [Joule]
9 See The Light - Cosmic Garden [Unknown To The Unknown]
10 In a Moment Divine (with Cindy Lee) - Freak Heat Waves [Mondo Tempo]
11 Gold Star (Other lands & Linkwood Remix) - Woo [Altrimenti]
12 Self Destruct Sequence Initiated - The Beginning Of The End [State of Play]
13 Keep On Loving - The Stamp Collection [Schatrax]
14 Flickering lights, Ohm / Philipp Priebe [Thule]
15 Positivity Keeps The Disk Afloat - Billus [Pollinate]
16 UWLSD - Skee Mask [Ilian Tape]
17 Bionic Personnel - MetaComplex
18 Flashback - Niko Tzoukmanis

Drox / Critical Automator · RecThera Podcast 033 : James Steer

First I wanted to say, thanks for putting together this mix for RecThera mix series.

Thanks again for the opportunity to contribute to your amazing series.

What was the inspiration for this mix?

I wanted to follow the brief given for this mix and I wanted to revisit some of the micro/minimal house vibes that had been a big inspiration on me in the early 2000s. Minimal tech is still going strong and this mix includes some recent wax bits I picked up and also some newish releases on Bandcamp. As with most of my mixes I did want to stray into other vibes as well with some breaky electro textures. There are some very new releases on the mix from Primary Colours latest cut as well as an amazing Other Lands and Linkwood remix which has blown my mind. There's also a brand new one from Billus who just put out an amazing album on a local label Pollinate Records.

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?

I guess around 20 years ago all the music being played on KissFM, PBS and RRR were my go to for electronic music, wasn't long before I started record shopping during uni and picking up the more obscure deeper and quirky techno especially from the Perlon and Playhouse labels.

These days I am sourcing music from most of the local record shops around Melbourne, there are so many of them now and with that the scope of music I'm buying and playing is very eclectic. I have one residency that is like a retro set and then another semi residency that is purely a dinner set with lots of soulful love jams and chilled electronics across the spectrum. Techno wise, i have ramped up and getting anything from 90's italian house vibes to deep ravey sounds with hints of electro and breaks, basically anything that i love the sound of. I'm mostly known for my minimal sounds and dub techno from a party i put on with my friends in the mid 2000s called Deep Chord.

What are you listening to right now?

I'm very much enjoying the output of music coming from Melbourne artists, there is a lot of energy in that space and also so much more accessible through social media and some really great events. I'm a huge fan of Vessel Records with some amazing cuts from Miris, Norachi and Jacob Ohrberg. Their label is so deep! I am going through a deep house/deep tech vibe at the moment, mostly after getting my home setup sorted during the long lockdowns. Rekordbox and control vinyl on two turntables has allowed me to really lock in at home and create some really good sets.

Who or what is inspiring you musically and otherwise?

One of my biggest inspirations has been coming through my friends who are doing either radio shows, small outdoor rig/warehouse parties like The Trip Hazard crew as well as mates making music with drum machines, synths and modular setups. Also post lockdown I have been catching up with other djs and doing b2b mixes at my place. I have been very lucky to also catch up with and record with the amazing Code618 (who was our last guest on the show) from Adelaide and we have made two mixes together!

Where can we see or hear your next project?

When I can i am always recording mixes from home and at my gigs so you can dig in on my Soundcloud page. I am hoping to do another small party at a venue called House of Plants. The last party I did there was called Audible Photosynthesis, mainly aimed at playing a super deep sounds from myself and 3 other djs who i have been very active with djing wise. It was also a great party to debut Code618 with his first gig in Melbourne!

Anything else you would like to share?

Dig into my Soundcloud back catalogue, there are podcasts, radio shows and a playlist of all the versus sets I have made with friends over the last 20 years. There's also plenty of gig recording that cover a lot of musical styles especially from venues like Franklin's Bar, Revolver, Mango Bar and some recordings from outdoor and warehouse parties. Something for everyone, from soul, funk and disco to minimal techno and ravey breaks style.

Links
Soundcloud as James mentioned above has a lot of previous recordings to dig through with a variety of styles.
Bandcamp has his recent purchases to go down the rabbit hole deep dive into what he has been purchasing.
Mixcloud has an archive of James's mixes from the last 20 years also.

RECTHERA PODCAST 032 : Code 618

6/17/2023

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.
Subscribe via iTunes | Interview & Tracklist
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

We welcome Code618 for the thirty second edition of the podcast and as the area code implies hails from Tarntanya / Adelaide, Australia. He has been passionate about dance music for the last 30 years and more recently DJing at events and carefully crafting mixes for Avenue Red, Always Sometimes, TTMS, GreenFingers Collective, Healing House, Esencia, Yax Invites, and the Visitors Podcast among others.

Code618 provides an expert blend of some of the deeper shades of dance music carefully weaving textures of Ambient, Deep House, Acid and the softer more introspective side of techno perfect for soundtracking a lazy Saturday or Sunday winter afternoon as it is in the Southern Hemisphere at the moment.

Turn it on kick back and enjoy the vibe, this is a special blend for sure.

Tracklist

1 The Long Stare - Leonid [Lunar Disko Records]
2 Shade (Long Mix) - Tim Jackiw [Offworld Records]
3 Ancient Love - Spin Fidelity [NightFlight Records]
4 Ylem - Gilbert [030303]
5 Evolutionary Entities - Ballet Mechanique [Delsin]
6 Epicus - De Sluwe Vos [Who’s Susan]
7 Jaded (Scuba Mix) - Recondite [Acid Test]
8 Slow Float - Dircsen [Reflections of Yesterday]
9 Invisible Beings In Space - Al Bradley [We’re Going Deep]
10 Subsurface Nature - Planet People [Planet People]
11 Nocturnalism - Reedale Rise [Subwax]
12 Barbary Coast - Reedale Rise [Ornate Music]
13 Split Second - Biz [Cliq]
14 Cube Loop (Morgan Geist Mix) - Reflection [Clear Records]
15 Computer Groove - Dimension 5 [Delsin]
16 Freeze - Electro Nation [A.F.U.]
17 Source - JC Freaks [wandering – 3rd journey]
18 Sunset - OHM & Octal Industries [Luck of Access]
19 Expansion (Steven Tang Remix) - Trinity [Nightime Drama]
20 Shifting - Mihail P [Common Dreams]

Drox · RecThera Podcast 032 - Code 618

First I wanted to say, thanks for putting together this mix for RecThera mix series.
Thanks Adrian, really happy to contribute to the series, I’ve enjoyed the RecThera podcasts thus far as a listener too.

What was the inspiration for this mix?
I had a bit of an idea given the scope to move a little away from a dancefloor angle but that kind of went out the window as I started pulling out a few more energetic tracks as the mix went on.

I record all of my mixes one take/all vinyl, and sometimes things evolve based on the mood rather than the plan. Having said that, there were several tracks that I set aside as ‘must include’ for the Rec Thera brief including some by talented Australian producers. In terms of inspiration, I actually listened to a great mix that producer/DJ Mihail P sent me a day or so earlier which was really deep and emotive and that was definitely resonating still when I recorded this one. I find inspiration can be both immediate and cumulative.

How do you find the music scene in Adelaide? I know it was a hotbed of techno and electronic music artists and releases in the past.
I’m certainly not the best person to ask re the current scene as there are so many local contributors that are significantly more active than I can manage (maybe that’s the accumulating years!). There are a lot of pretty serious diggers here with some deep knowledge, some very talented DJs and a number of world class producers.

Some relatively new crews are putting regular events on which is great to see so there’s always something to go to if you’re keen. I would say the scene is a little more ‘fragmented’ than when I first discovered this music (around 91/92). Perhaps that’s a byproduct of so many different genres these days and sub groups into more particular sounds….

That aside, Adelaide has a very rich history (eg. Juice Records, Dirty House, Undefined Recordings), particularly in the formative years of techno when it was arguably the ‘capital’ from a Southern Hemisphere perspective. (I’ll prep for fierce interstate debate now!). Adelaide did host most of the techno royalty from Detroit and Europe in a pretty action packed few years in the 90’s.
Overall it’s a pretty tight knit community and a lot of fun to be involved with in some way, even at my low key level.

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?
A good link to the last question. I enjoy a wide variety of musical genres however the electronic music obsession came (like many at the time) from late night radio in the early 90’s. A few specialty radio shows like Club Escape, The Vanishing Point and Dreaming Daisies were all really influential.

Along with underground clubs or DJ mixes on cassette, radio was the only way to hear new music before heading to the record store to either seek out what inspired you, often with only a sample or acid line to ID what you were after. Early Detroit techno (eg. Transmat, Metroplex, Planet E, Retroactive), UK labels like B12, Peacefrog, Clear and Warp and Dutch labels such as DJax Up Beats, Eevolute and 100% Pure were huge influences through this period.

Adelaide label Juice Records, which to this day remains an integral part of the Adelaide history and a true ‘techno’ label in both output and ethos, was a huge influence for me as well. It was a privilege and great fun to attend many of the record launch parties the Juice crew put on in the 90’s.

More recently I’ve been influenced by fellow DJ’s who constantly expose me to music I’ve overlooked or missed as there’s simply so much output across multiple mediums (despite my stubborn ‘vinyl only’ approach to DJing). I’ve also done a few B2B sessions over the last year or so with a variety of other DJ’s which I hadn’t really done before which have been super fun and a big driver to dig deeper.

What are you listening to right now?
Quite a bit of what I’d term ‘deeper’ techno and electro tunes. Artists like Reedale Rise, ReKaB, Viewfinder, Inkipak, Cignol, Featherstone, Mihail P, Tim Jackiw and pretty much anything that’s released on the We’re Going Deep label. Also been digging some of the more breakbeat styled releases by artists like BufoBufo, MOY and Zobol.

Who or what is inspiring you musically and otherwise?
After a long period of inactivity in terms of DJing out I’ve had the privilege of spinning at a number of the local ‘Visitors’ events which has been a big inspiration to dig deeper and seek out new sounds to meld with the old in my collection.
I’ve also been dabbling in some music production (predominantly DAWless hardware jams) and sending and receiving unreleased music with others both in Australia and across the world has been amazing and is a completely different outlet to DJing. The willingness to share not only original music but honest feedback, suggestions and ideas demonstrates what a fantastic community there is in the electronic music scene.

Where can we see or hear your next project?
I have a couple of other Podcast series mixes coming soon (via Soundcloud) and at some time in the future I’d like to evolve my home studio noodlings into something good enough for public airing. Still a lot to learn on this front.

Anything else you would like to share?
If you enjoy the mix and want to hear more of my vinyl mixes, some live radio recordings or other podcast appearances you can head to my Soundcloud or follow me on Instagram

Links
Soundcloud | Insta

RECTHERA PODCAST 031 : Jay White

5/22/2023

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.
Subscribe via iTunes : https://shorturl.at/himvY
Interview & Tracklist : https://shorturl.at/dwIRS
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

For this episode we welcome Jay White from the Got Music Social Club residing on the land of the Gadigal people Sydney, Australia. He has many years behind the decks and is a passionate purveyor of all things music particularly anything a bit left field electronic, and always happy to share his musical enthusiasm and knowledge.

For episode Thirty one Jay cooks up an expert blend of his "smashed boogie or schmoogie" incorporating forward thinking future bass, IDM and breakbeat chaos that keeps it funky and engaging throughout the duration.
Turn it on and up loud, and enjoy the vibe, I know I have already with repeated listens on my commute.

Tracklist
1 Lost at Glaciers - Daykoda [Beat Machine]
2 Phasor MD - Secret Circuit [Invisible Inc]
3 Basilisk - Martyn X Om Unit [3024-OMM2]
4 Blackcap Crossing - Memotone [Termina]
5 Meditate - Romaal Kultan
6 Untitled Freek (ft. Shepherd) - Quaid [Apron]
7 Micro Q - Angus Mills [Moonshoe]
8 6 Milyon - Granul & Grup Ses [Yuku]
9 Optical : Activate - Pepe [Lapsus]
10 Spectra (dBridge Remix) - Reflec [Neighbourhood]
11 Rave Master - DJ Prime Cuts [Trilogy Tapes]
12 Creative Block - Granul [Yuku]
13 Body Said No - Jabes [Timedance]
14 Disembodied ft. Marvz - Packed Rich [Ilian Tape]
15 Studio 626 - Skee Mask [Ilian Tape]
16 Puff that Weed - Soom T & Disrupt [Jahtari]

Drox · RecThera Podcast 031 - Jay White

First, I wanted to say thanks for putting together this mix for RecThera.
No worries, thanks for the invite. I enjoyed putting it together.

What was the inspiration for this mix? It’s a bit different to what I have heard you playing out.
Ahh you see that depends on the hour of the day you get to hear me play. I enjoy a lot of different styles of music with a few things in common.
It's got to be dubby, big bass, syncopated / grooved up and generally outright strange. Doing a mix for RecThera gave me the opportunity to flex a little more into the electronic uptempo side of things which I just relished. I call it smashed boogie. or Schmoogie for short.

Tell us a little bit about the Got Music Social Club and how that came about.
Having kids certainly slowed things down in life for a while and I sorely missed the exchange of music week in week out amongst friends and other DJs. So a message group was started where we'd share our weekly finds with a small group of friends. As more and more people were added it was necessary to bring it to a different platform. That's how the GMSC facebook group started.

It was only about 50 people back then. So it grew...and grew and it seemed only logical to start hosting a social evening. I couldn't think of 2 better DJs in Sydney to host it with than Sinclair and Lyndon. Hands down my fav Sydney DJs, as they've always played such interesting music. So... here we are, 2 years later with over 450 members and we've been throwing some killer musical gatherings. Having you down has definitely been one of those highlights

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?
I grew up on a steady diet of reggae / ska, punk, grunge and indie music as a teen but then I heard a few pivotal things. Namely the Shamen's In Gorbachov we Trust and Primal Scream's Screamadlica and it changed my life forever.
Here was this crossover infectious, beated up electronic music. I found myself in house and techno clubs shortly after. But I still remember the night where my love of weird and busted up music seed was planted in my heart. Andy Weatherall, in the middle of a slammin techno set turned the music off and dropped a 100bpm broken stepper and I never looked back. thanks MR. Weatherall. RIP. an inspiration to many. From there its been all beats and breaks, in their many forms, right up to today.

Recently, I'm obviously quite enjoying the whole 90s renaissance thing with everyone digging their breakbeats again, but not the artists who are just relentlessly reliving the past in its exact detail. I'm talking the artists who are taking it to new heights. Just the way jazz was given a new lease in life via sampling these old breakbeats have sprung back with a new definition in a new era. Think Seekers International and you'll know what I mean.

What are you listening to right now?
Right now ? I'm listening to a Hidden rivers album called Golden Age of Dereliction. A gorgeous album of electronics released late last year on the great Serein Records. Love this stuff, its ambient and relaxing while being exciting and uptempo at the same time.

Who or what is inspiring you musically and otherwise?
I'll throw a few names in the mix here which are almost instant buys when I see something new from them.. Glenn Astro, Skee Mask, Khotin, Seekers International and Robot Love. its a wide range of music here but again it's all held together with a connective tissue of beats and bass which stands proud on the sounds of the past whilst firmly pushing music into new boundaries for the future.
And lastly, my kids are a huge source of inspiration. Trying to live a life as an example to such young minds is an incredible challenge that makes you a better person each and every day.

Where can we see or hear your next project?
Our next Got Music Social sees us throwing one of our Blended evenings with none other than Sydney's legendary Frigid crew.

Sir Robbo is relocating forever and so it seemed fit to give him a proper send off. So we're being joined by the OG Frigid crew Sir Robbo, Sub Bass Snarl, Eli and Prince Valium for a one night only affair at the Lord Gladstone on Friday 26th May. 6pm - 3am.
Free entry before 10 and $10 bucks after.
You can find the full details for the event here.

Anything else you would like to share?
YES ! never stop doing what you love. We've also just started a new Fan page that will keep you up to date on our future events here.

Links
GMSC FB Group | GMSC Page | GMSC Instagram

RECTHERA PODCAST 030 : Drox

4/28/2023

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.
Subscribe via iTunes : apple.co/2Zd51cs
Interview & Tracklist : https://bit.ly/3AHmEot
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

For episode thirty I thought I'd change things up a bit. So far the mix series has been focusing on showcasing DJ's that I enjoy what they are doing at a local level here in Australia along with further abroad too. This is the first mix in the series that I have put together myself the recording from a recent visit to Brisbane Meanjin via a live stream from QUIVR which is a venue, education facility and livestream location all in one. Well worth checking out if you happen to be in the area.

Tracklist
1 WOSP - Nadia Struiwigh [Nousklaer Audio]
2 Zonder - Arsonist Recorder [Bass Agenda]
3 Surfing Galaxies - J Shaw [Shawescape Renegade]
4 My Soul - Anthony Rother [Bass Agenda]
5 Final Approach - Cignol [Computer Controlled]
6 Stay Home - Darkmode [Bass Agenda]
7 Chip Stress 11 A - Erhalder [Chip Stress]
8 Sentido - Limit-Xperience [Orden Extática]
9 Beamrider - Trevor Jackson
10 Way Too Hard - Kenny Everett [Exalt]
11 Chip Stress 11 B - Erhalder [Chip Stress]
12 Future Sound - info
13 Reincarnate - Ultradyne [Pi Gao Movement]
14 Solar Cycle - The Sentinel & Sol37 [Southern Outpost]
15 Convince the Computer - Morphology [Firescope]
16 Quantum Computation - Mike Ash [Bass Agenda]
17 Asylum For The Insane - Tensal vs Komatssu [Tensal]
18 The Moat (Drox Electro mix) - Alpha Delta [Delphic Iris]
19 White Matter - Negroni Nails [Klakson]
20 Dave - Ed Chamberlain [BaseLogic]
21 Esc - Mr Velcro Fastener [i220]
22 Local 22 UAW - DVS NME [Dark Science Electro]
23 Untitled Side B - 7inch White Label [Delphic Iris]

Drox · Recreational Therapy Podcast 030 - Drox

Included in the mix are forthcoming vinyl releases on our soon to be launched Delphic Iris Label which I encourage you to follow for updates.

Also included in the mix are new releases from Chip Stress & Kenny Everett alongside some favourites from info, DVS NME, Nadia Struiwigh & Southern Outpost among others.

RECTHERA PODCAST 029 : MANOFSTARZ

3/3/2023

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.
Subscribe via iTunes : apple.co/2Zd51cs
Interview & Tracklist : https://rb.gy/054rwl
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

For the twenty ninth episode we welcome Manofstarz from the land of the Gadigal people Sydney, Australia. Manofstarz has been active DJing and promoting events since the heady 90's previously as Starlite 7 and brings a breadth of knowledge and care with his selections. Digging deep into the archives this mix showcases instrumental hip hop or trip hop as was the stylistic descriptor of the time with some curveballs that fit seamlessly into the mix.

I've been looking forward to sharing this one, perfect to soundtrack laidback sunny days. Enjoy!

Tracklist

Nights Interlude - Nightmares On Wax [React]
Splendid Isolation - Hermitude [Elefant Traks]
11 Years (Sabres Of Paradise Main Mix) - Wolfgang [4AD]
Paradise Found - Meat Beat Manifesto [Play It Again Sam Records]
G 104 / No More - G 104 [Pharma]
Feel The Wrath - Freshness On Wax [Flag Bearer Records]
Get Your Head Down - Luke Vibert [Ninja Tune]
Relax With Pep (Part 5) - DJ Vadim [Ninja Tune]
Birth (Cut Edit) - Howie B [Pussyfoot Records]
Masterblaster - Laidback [MXL Recordings]
Transitions - Beastie Boys [Capitol Records]
Mental Invasion - DJ Cam [Agogo Records]
To The Hip - Bootman [Freeze Records]
Mella (Drive Faster Mix by The Herbaliser). - DJ Food [Ninja Tunes]
Killer Inside Me - MC 900 Ft. Jesus [Nettwerk Europe]
Ode To A Blunt - Men With Sticks [Jus' Trax]
Fleetwood - Chop Shop [City Of Angels]
Shaolin Satellite - Thievery Corporation [Eighteenth Street Lounge Music]
Back Roll (Herbal Mix) - Outcase [One Little Indian]
D'ecoutez - Rootless [Wall Of Sound]
Because Blonde Wore Red - Pimp Daddy Nash [City Of Angels]
The Star Players - Friendly [Glup Communications]
Big Beat's Back - Robin Samples [Beechwood Music]
Time 2 Build - The Herbaliser [Ninja Tunes]
100 Miles and Running (feat. Wale & John Lindahl). - Logic [Def Jam Recordings]
Stop This Crazy Thing (Sample) - Coldcut [Tommy Boy]

Drox · Recreational Therapy Podcast 030 - Manofstarz

Interview
First I wanted to say, thanks for putting together this mix for Recreational Therapy.
My pleasure! I am honored to be included with such talent. It’s good to have a music something for the start of 2023.
This mix definitely has that old skool DJ Starlite 7 feel and they are all old skool tracks. I now play under Manofstarz but would still throw these tracks down anytime that suits.

What was the inspiration for this mix?
I love to Rock Da House with party tracks from the old skool and new skool. Originally I’d planned an acid breaks DJ set, which might take some skin off people’s noses. But then I noticed you looked at "stepping away from the dancefloor '' for Recreational Therapy Mixes... so I followed suit. This mix is what I’d play at after hours sessions, and has a laidback hip hop vibe going on. A music style different to what you would normally hear me play.  A constructed and timed mixing style...still you will hear the start and finish of pretty much all tracks in the play list…
I like vocals to play off each other in the mix, , but the main thing I like is how the beats play and hide…
It was a super challenging mix to keep together with lots of tempo changes and shuffling beats. Even with Serato's visual aid I was under the pump to hold it all down. I could have pieced it together in Ableton perfectly but that's not how I roll... so I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?
I was a bit of a goth in my teens. I liked the usual bands but really loved artists working with computers and samplers. NIN ‘Pretty Hate Machine’ made me look a lot harder at where sounds were coming from in music. My taste quickly turned to cyber Industrial and then to electronic music..... with bands like Meat Beat Manifesto paving a way to rave and other dance music for me.
My first rave – "Welcome 92" New Years Eve – was the clincher, with Orbital playing live... Wow!! The music was next level …and on strange machines I had only heard of but had never seen being played live.
I was pretty broke back in those days so I had to sneak looks at synths and drum machines in weird electronic magazines in the city newsagents. Was caught music technology perving many times and shooed out of the shop.
In the early dance days I was always fond of electro and experimental ambient music. I used to play a lot of the chillout rooms in the early rave days, then those chill spaces became alternative rooms as my interest in the rave scene shifted to the underground techno parties. I started playing more funky beats, breaks and DnB in the 2nd room at techno parties. I like all types of music but really got hooked on electro acid breaks and funky techno while playing at the famous Acid Faction, Jungle Punks and Swarm parties, and plenty of clubs and radio across Sydney.
My biggest music drive was and is performing and DJing...I love it. Performing gets you right into that higher consciousness of thought and it’s a real buzz operating at this level.  Vinyl is the perfect medium to perform with. It is so raw and tactical and involves so much hand, eye and ear coordination. You can't fake a vinyl mix with fancy equipment – it's all on you.
My biggest musical influence is the artist Bass Bin Twins", who has made music since 92. Deep Bass, Kick, Sample, Acid... Repeat.
More recently I’ve been following Acidulant from Malta, who produces fantastic music and will blow up big time very soon. I love watching him play live sets on great equipment and it’s great to see acid breaks music continue to be super hot over in Malta. And being half Maltese I really feel the call to go over and be a part of it.

What are you listening to right now?
Lately a lot of downbeat breaks, 2 Step DnB and booty footwork… and right now it’s “Need U Bad” by Jazmine Sullivan (vinyl just arrived in the post).

Who or what is inspiring you musically and otherwise?
I am about to start producing music again. I had some recent issues sending midi program changes to my live equipment, but now that’s resolved and I’m ready to dive in and see what comes out of the music making process.
I love putting on events and making sure they run as well as they can. I involve myself with a few crews this way. I am also a keen photographer and event photography is a skill and art in itself, plus I find it gets me out and about and keeps me in touch with the music scene.

Where can we see or hear your next project?
I am looking to move my DJing online and start streaming. I have a great studio and set up for pushing this platform. Plus I’ve set up integrated visual synthesizers and graphic elements that feed off the music I am playing, which really adds to that performance place I like and want.
I am learning how to produce music but still learning. I have high ideals, so I hope it leads to some great music and experience for everyone.

Anything else you would like to share?
I have been teaching primary school kids for the last year and a bit. It is really fantastic to see kids have such raw musical talent at such a young age even if they don't know it.
During the year the kids performed a live dance version of "Sweet Child of Mine" at the Enmore Theater to a packed crowd. We also put on a school disco where kids were DJing all night for a thousand-plus people – the school hall was more packed than a NYE party! Prime Minister DJ Albo rocked up for  an impromptu set with the kids on the night…After the school disco we worked with the kids to produce and perform an original rap song and music video with a real Beastie Boys feel to it and a rock'n hook.

Lastly I would like to share that I collect KLF records and rare vinyl. If anyone has any KLF Communications Records they want to part with...Hit me up!!!

Links
Mixcloud | Soundcloud | https://www.dj4hire.com.au/

RECTHERA PODCAST 028 : Dora Gray

4/1/2022

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.
Subscribe via iTunes : apple.co/2Zd51cs
Interview & Tracklist : https://bit.ly/3LvNt2C
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

For the twenty eighth episode we welcome DJ Dora Gray from Turku, Finland. Dora is a member of the X-Rust Organization, a non-profit focusing on keeping electronic music and the culture around it alive and kicking in Finland. I'd recommend also digging in and checking out her previous mixes via soundcloud with lots of great selections.

For this mix Dora expertly blends between a great selection of dope no fuss electro tracks. I'd recommend making some time to listen to the mix without distractions and turning it up loud!

Photo Credit : Sami A. Korhonen Photography

Tracklist
1. CRC - Disposal Robot 139 [Zyntax Motorcity]
2. Alex Jann - The Least Resistance [Infiltrate]
3. Morphology - Digitalis [FireScope]
4. CH415 - Free Yourself [Furthur Electronix]
5. Dopplereffekt - Speak & Spell [Clone Classic Cuts]
6. Jamaszka FT - Scyzoredge [Dom Trojga]
7. Versalife - Adept 34501 [Shipwrec]
8. Sprawl - 2nd Strategy [Plasmek]
9. Dip Shim - M-Technology feat Somoah [SNC RECS]
10. Clatterbox - Rosetta Complex [TRUST]
11. Pip Williams - Ashburton [brokntoys]
12. Electro Nation - Fist-Man [A.F.U.]
13. Simulant - Access Future Audio [Scopex]
14. Bitstream - Temporeal [Frustrated Funk]
15. Luxus Varta - Floo feat. Paris The Black Fu [Solar One Music]

Drox · Recreational Therapy Podcast 028 - Dora Gray

Interview

First I wanted to say, thanks for putting together this mix for Recreational Therapy.
It was my pleasure, thanks for inviting me!

What was the inspiration for this mix?
I usually get inspired by a track (or the mood of it) that gives a strong emotional response and then I let my intuition guide the way when selecting for a mix. This time my original plans turned into something completely different. The mix has this melancholic mood I am currently in, being heartbroken about the invasion of Ukraine.

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?
The earliest musical influences I got from my family; my pianist mother used to play Chopin, Debussy, Bach and ragtime, where my father listened to Queen, Pink Floyd, Vangelis, Jean Michel Jarre and he even had a C-cassette of whale’s singing. My oldest brother introduced me to House and Techno in the late nineties when I was young. Later on I have listened to music very broadly, but the love for aforementioned artists and genres have travelled with me to this day. I also had extra classes of music at school and used to sing, play the drums and even the cello for a bit when I was younger.

Probably the most influential events regarding my current taste in music was hearing Boards of Canada and Mr Velcro Fastener as a teenager and Morphology in my twenties. DE9 Closer To The Edit by Ritchie Hawtin has been the most influential ”mix” I’ve ever heard and is a great example of a harmonious selection even though it’s not a traditional DJ mix.

I’ve always been into movie and TV show soundtracks and take a lot of guidance from the cinematic world for trying to create a dramatic effect with my selections. I’ve also been a member of The X-Rust, Turku based non profit electronic music organization (est. 1993) since 2008. Through organizing events, carrying speakers, hosting live artists and of course playing records at our events have given me a lot of perspective.

As for the more recent influences, the local synthesizer group in Turku alongside with experimental music events have had a huge impact in the recent years. I have fallen in love with pure sine waves, noise and complex rhythms.

What are you listening to right now?
I’m listening to Inkipak’s mind blowing new album, "Dot". Listening to his music makes me really consider upgrading to Serato or other digital formats.

Who or what is inspiring you musically and otherwise?
Morphology, CRC, Luxus Varta, Inkipak, Bitstream and Lou Karsh just to name a few recent inspirational artists. Some of the most inspiring DJ’s now are my favorites VLR, agent2 and Reka Zalan. My husband also inspires me daily and supports my efforts to learn to be a better DJ, mix maker and storyteller.

Where can we see or hear your next project?
There’s a couple of guest mixes coming up. Not sure when they will be uploaded for listening since I’m somewhat slow with selecting records for mixes, especially now that we just bought us a house with a garden.

Links
Dora Gray Soundcloud | X-Rust Soundcloud

RECTHERA PODCAST 027 : Mika Regards

10/13/2021

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.
Subscribe via iTunes : apple.co/2Zd51cs
Interview & Tracklist : https://bit.ly/3DMiThj
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

For the twenty seventh episode we welcome Mika Regards a Russian DJ from Novosibirsk, Siberia. Mika and his partner host the excellent podcast series Strange But Dance Music, that focuses on the more energetic and experimental end of the electronic music spectrum.

For this mix Mika digs deep, expertly weaving together peak time electro that wouldn't be out of place in a dingy warehouse party or your workout soundtrack. Lock it in and turn it up!

Tracklist
1. Mu-Ziq - Blakers Loop [Analogical Force]
2. Kiuper - 55 A.U. [Kontor]
3. D. Strange - XK3 [Tram Planet]
4. DJ これからの緊急災害 - Modular Ghost System [Jupiter4]
5. Second Storey - Toothless Tiger [Natural Selection]
6. Unknown - Unicos [Analogical Force]
7. Shelter - 808 Rock [Dome]
8. DRMCNT - Acid Cup [Clan Destine]
9. Advent and Zein Ferriera - 9 [Pyramid Transmissions]
10. Adrien d'Elzius - Psaranih [Diffuse Reality]
11. Shedbug - The Chase [Mechatronica]
12. Maroki - Hatchi (Jensen Interceptor remix) [Handy]
13. Shurko Love - Pitta (Roi remix) [Fanzine]
14. Dez Williams - Rewire The Human [Woodwork]
15. Serge Geyzel - Bass Motion [Diffuse Reality]
16. Bloody Mary - They Come For Us At Night [Gegen]
17. DJ Stingray 313 - Enzymatic Detergents [Micron Audio]
18. Zero/Sequence -There is Another World (LectrO cOd_E remix)
19. DAGGA - Asfixia [Jupiter4]
20. Lectro Cod E - Reprocess [Pyramid Transmissions]
21. MAC Address - E7-32-6B-34-EB-B3 (Rhea's Atmosphere) [Sauce Traxx]
22. Slacker - Void Hopping [Lobster Theremin]
23. Info Cifon - We Have Lost Our Way [Pyramid Transmissions]
24. DJ Stingray 313 & g13ck - Upsweep [Nawal]
25. Bewwip - Rns2db0 [Analogical Force]

Drox · Recreational Therapy Podcast 027 : Mika Regards

Interview

First I wanted to say, thanks for putting together this mix for RecThera.
And thank you. I did it with great pleasure!

What inspired your mix and where it was recorded?
The mix was recorded in my home studio in Novosibirsk, not far from the forest, so now I am endlessly inspired by the local nature, running 14-15 km's and doing yoga.

What are you listening to right now?
Sometimes in between listening to actual new music, I listen to something calm, like today, Benoit Pioulard. I like his slightly distant voice, work with details and soft noise.

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?
It's a very long story :) As a child at school, I remember very well and distinctly how I was hooked by Ravel's Bolero in music class. Since then, throughout my life, I have always remained partial to impressionism.

Then in high school I became very interested in rock music, I had my own band, we played death and trash-metal. It was a good tool for emotional release. At the age of 13, I heard and saw Bjork for the first time in a video Army of me. It was an arrow to the very heart.
To this day, she remains the number one singer for me. Her contribution to the development of musical culture can hardly be overestimated. She is like a guide from the other world of her fantasies to our everyday world with a less sophisticated sound palette.

At the age of 14, already being quite familiar with English electronic scene in the person of the Warp label, I heard Detroit techno - it was Jeff Mills’s Live at the Liquid Room. Then, of course, Basic Channel and Maurizio. As for electro, I was always impressed by the label Satamile, Gerald Donald with his amazing mystery and loud projects, and of course both parts of the Dave Clarke’s World Service.

Then, being at the age of 20, I went to study at a music school in the piano class. For 5 years I have immersed myself very deeply in academic music, and not only classical, but also in the music of the 20th century. Since I have always been partial to impressionism, once again I found myself in the music of Alexander Scriabin. Of the Soviet and Russian composers, he is number one for me, and only then do Stravinsky and Prokofiev. Then I was lucky enough to get acquainted with the work of Steve Reich. It was a thermonuclear explosion in my head. It was then that a puzzle in the history of modern and electronic music began to take shape.

After graduating from music school, I became a DJ. For more than 10 years I have participated in all kinds of events, somewhere I even acted as an organizer. Sleepless nights, long trips from Moscow to Kazakhstan. It was an amazing time and I always remember with a smile on my face.

In 2011, I went to the Sonar Festival in Barcelona for the first time. That was incredible. It was my childhood dream. Then I went two more times and Sonar with Barcelona and all its beauty live deeply in my heart.

There was also such a period of my acquaintance with jazz - I studied jazz vocals for three years.

Tell me about the electronic music scene in Siberia and more broadly in Russia. Any artists or labels you suggest to check out?
In 2016, my partner and I launched the podcast Strange But Dance Music. The purpose and objectives of this podcast is not only to explore all sorts of different facets of electro, but also to reveal the influence on music through the location of the artist. It all started quite modestly, because lately I have been very busy with other work. But this year we decided to do our best and do something more interesting. We were sent their stories by amazing masters of their craft, such as ADJ, Scape One, Dez Williams, Poladroid, Manasyt, Alavux, X-Truder and many more.

Where can we see or hear your next project?
I cannot yet say with exact certainty, I would not like to think too much. At the moment I listen and play a lot in my home studio. Let's see what happens.

Links
Soundcloud | Strange But Dance Music Podcast

RECTHERA PODCAST 026 : Andrew Wowk

9/23/2021

This is a regular podcast of mostly guest DJ mixes and live sets from producers, live acts and DJ's who are rising or established talent.
Subscribe via iTunes : apple.co/2Zd51cs
Interview & Tracklist : https://bit.ly/3o33Ivn
Guests are encouraged to explore a bit further into their collections with an opportunity to step away from the dance floor if they desire.

For the twenty sixth episode we welcome esteemed Sydney DJ/Producer writer and broadcaster Andrew Wowk. Andrew is a versatile selector who has a wide range of musical interests that reflect the broad range of events he plays and supports. For this mix he showcases some classic early Chicago house channeling some much needed good vibes that are a contrast to the ongoing current lockdowns in Sydney.

Kick back, turn it up and have a dance or wiggle in your lounge room or backyard and soak up some of that energy and enthusiasm.

Tracklist
1. 2 In A Room – Do What You Want (Deep Instrumental) [R&S]
2. Lidell Townsell – Nu Nu (Nu Apella) [Clubhouse]
3. Tyree – Hardcore Hip-House (Joe Smooth Remix) [DJ International]
4. Sneak Essentials – In Da Clouds (Da Dub) [Strictly Rhythm]
5. 95 North – Who’s Who? (95 North Dub) [Henry Street]
6. Gemini – Z Funk [Peacefrog]
7. DJ Pierre – Muzik (Life Long Mix) [Strictly Rhythm]
8. Code 6 – Quad II [Nu Groove]
9. Jammin’ The House Gerald – Believe (Instrumental Bonus) [Dance Mania]
10. Chip-E – MB Dance [DJ International]
11. A Guy Called Gerald – Voodoo Ray [Rham!]
12. Adonis – No Way Back (Remastered) [Trax]
13. Mike Dunn – So Let It Be House [Westbrook]
14. Fast Eddie – Jump Around [High Voltage]
15. Armando – Land of Confusion (Vocal Mix) [Westbrook]
16. Lidell Townsell – As Acid Turns (Original 12” Mix) [Trax]
17. 2 Body’s – Body Drill [House Records]
18. Fast Eddie – Da Da Da Underground (Da Tweak Mix) [DJ International]
19. Acid Wash – Love Trak [Trax]
20. Maurice Joshua – I Got A Bick Dick (Mark Archer’s Schlong Acid Tweak Mix) [Music Mondays]
21. Phuture – We Are Phuture (Original 12” Mix) [Trax]
22. The House Gang – Bango Acid (Original 12” Version) [Trax]
23. The House Gang – Cool J Trax (Rx) [Trax]
24. Underground Resistance – Sonic Destroyer [Underground Resistance]

Drox · Recreational Therapy Podcast 026 - Andrew Wowk

Interview

First, I wanted to say thanks for putting together this mix for RecThera.
No problem, thanks for asking me to! I really enjoyed doing it.

What was the inspiration for this mix? It’s a bit different to what I have heard you playing out.
There were two main things that led to this mix. Firstly, because of COVID-19 I’ve had long stretches of time without gigs, which has actually given me more time to go digging, as I haven’t had to prioritise finding music for the vibes/timeslots of the gigs themselves. Because I would primarily be booked for techno gigs pre-COVID, that meant a lot of the music I was looking for would be within that wheelhouse. Having less gigs to specifically prepare for has meant I’ve had more time to just dig for music I love without thinking too much about whether it’s “relevant” for a gig. I’ve also been getting asked to record mixes for various podcast series, and usually been given total creative freedom to play whatever I want. This has led me to dig for and buy music I really love, but don’t get to play out as much at gigs and use that for the mixes I’ve been asked to put together.

Secondly, I’ve always loved playing a couple of older tracks here and there during my sets, but I very rarely play an entire set exclusively comprising older music. I recently (during the very brief window when we had parties again in Sydney) played for Jack The House, a party that focuses on late 80s and early 90s acid, house, and techno, and I had such a great time that I wanted to capture that feeling in a recording. It’s not a track-for-track re-tread, but it’s a good snapshot of the overall aesthetic of the set I played at the event.

This mix is definitely quite different to what I typically get booked to play, but it’s music I genuinely love and would happily play more often if given the chance. I have a lot of fondness for the early days of house, techno, and electro, when artists were really pushing the boundaries of what music was and could be. So many of the tracks from that era are timeless, still sounding fresh (and even futuristic) today.

Something I wanted to achieve with the mix was for it reflect my contemporary taste/aesthetic, while also honouring the time period that the tracks were made in. I also wanted to avoid just playing a bunch of anthems, because there are already plenty of mixes out there covering the well-known tunes from the era (and honestly, I don’t think that I would do anything that much better than what is already out there to justify putting another “anthems mix” out into the world). With that in mind, I did a lot of digging through my collection plus went down rabbit holes on Discogs, Bandcamp, etc. to basically put together a collection of tracks that I think reflect what I love about that era of music but also stand the test of time and could easily fit into my sets these days in terms of style.

Tell us a little bit about the Music For Change project and how that came about.
Myself and Jessica Tassone have been friends for a while, and we both firmly believe it’s important that – just like it did in its formative years – electronic music continue to shed light on and help catalyse tangible change to social issues. House music served as a way for marginalised people to come together in a safe space. Techno began as an outlet for disenfranchised minorities to comment on the political and social climate of late 80s/early 90s Detroit. Those early days really demonstrated the power that electronic music (and music in general) to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

We don’t think we’re doing anything revolutionary by continuing that tradition, but it does feel like the number of people using music as a force for social, political, or cultural change is a much smaller (but still extremely passionate) percentage of the overall “scene” than it used to be. We just really want to keep that spirit alive alongside others who are doing the same thing, and hopefully in the process make a positive impact on the world.

What has been influential for you musically in the past, and also more recently?
This is something I’ve actually been reflecting on the last few months. With the extra time I’ve had due to not playing gigs, I’ve been going back through my collection and clearing out tracks I don’t want anymore, rediscovering forgotten favourites, and so on. In the process I’ve also tried to figure out what the thread is that ties together the really wide range of music I’ve loved to play and listen to since I first started DJing. I realised that what has consistently inspired me is artists staying true to their vision.

The various producers and DJs I’ve looked up to, from my early heroes to my contemporary influences, have always just done what they believe in, making and playing the music that they love instead of being bothered with whatever is trending. In the process, they’ve often experimented with the art of DJing and writing music, inventing new techniques, finding ways to blend seemingly disparate styles of music together, and sometimes pioneering entirely new genres (or fresh takes on pre-existing ones).

That ethos is really what I’ve carried with me since I first started DJing and writing music (even though I may not have been consciously aware of it), and it’s something now that I’m acutely aware of and try to stick to as much as possible.

What are you listening to right now?
I’ve been on a 90’s pop hits binge actually! I just finished listening to Alanis Morissette’s album Jagged Little Pill for the first time in years as I was answering the questions for this interview. Fun fact: That was the first ever album I bought with own pocket money.

Who or what is inspiring you musically and otherwise?
Musically, it’s that same “renegade/maverick” attitude that I’ve always loved. Specifically though, that seems to be manifesting in a love for the kind of up-tempo (150-170bpm) mutant blends of footwork, jungle, hardcore, acid, and electro that artists like Anna Morgan, Tim Reaper, Dwarde, Mathis Ruffing, LUZ1E, A.Fruit, and Fiesta Soundsystem are playing and producing.

I also try to take influence from things outside of music. I love taking the thoughts and feelings that are sparked by movies, television shows, video games, books, and even academic literature and seeing what that translates into when placed in a music context. In particular, I finished a video game recently called The Medium, which was a psychological horror game that addressed some very dark, mature themes, and I’m finding when sitting down to produce music, I’m naturally gravitating towards writing more stripped-down, moody soundscapes that tend to unravel slowly.

Where can we see or hear your next project?
I’ll be doing a guest mix for Ani Klang’s radio show “Klangxiety Attack” in October on the up-tempo, chaotic tip, mixing up a variety of electro, jungle, hardcore, breakbeat, and acid.
In addition local crew Extract The Motion have asked me to record a mix for their Select The Motion series, which I'm working on at the moment. It will be on the dark, moody, and tribal tip.

There is also my weekly radio show “Time To Track”on Bondi Beach Radio, where I play new music from all over the electronic music spectrum and feature guest mixes from Australian and international artists.
I’m also working on some more original music and remixes under my End User License Agreement production alias, which I’ll post about on my Facebook and Instagram as they get completed.

Anything else you would like to share?
Not that I can think of! I just hope everyone enjoys the mix!

Links
Andrew Wowk. Soundcloud | Instagram | Facebook
Music For Change Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook