RA Exchange

Corky "Traxman" Strong is a legendary footwork and juke artist from Chicago, known for his pivotal role in the Dance Mania label and as a member of DJ Rashad's Teklife crew. In a vibrant conversation, he shares his musical origins influenced by funk and hip-hop, and how he connected with DJ Rashad, shaping the Chicago scene. Traxman discusses the painstaking track selection for his latest album, reflects on a decade of musical evolution, and nostalgically recalls the emergence of Ghetto House, celebrating its cultural impact.

The famed electro house duo open up about their 2024 album and the challenges of touring live.In the mid-'00s, songs like "D.A.N.C.E." and "We Are Your Friends" emerged as stadium-sized anthems during a new wave of electro house that weaved in elements of rock and disco. The architects behind these hits were Parisian duo Justice, AKA Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay. Together with their Ed Banger contemporaries, they rode a craze that took over airwaves and dance floors, alongside peers like label founder Busy P and the late DJ Mehdi. Their first album, Cross, quickly became a classic, helping to establish Ed Banger as the flagbearer for French electro. Justice went on to tour a dynamic live show with spectacular lights and visuals, and later released two more albums before taking an eight-year hiatus and largely disappearing from the spotlight.Last year, Augé and de Rosnay returned with their fourth studio album, Hyperdrama, which features a GRAMMY-winning collaboration with Tame Impala. Referencing indie rock and early '90s hardcore techno, the LP sparked a revived interest in the duo—if you watched last year's Olympics in Paris, 18 minutes of their music featured in the closing ceremony.In this RA Exchange, Augé and de Rosnay talk to Resident Advisor's editor, Gabriel Szatan, about being back on the road and balancing touring with family life, a rhythm that hasn't felt natural to them after so much time off. They open up about dealing with technical issues and making mistakes when performing, despite having played countless iterations of their live shows. The conversation also touches on their earliest influences—like gaming culture and bands including the White Stripes, and how they've cultivated such a dedicated international fanbase. This episode was recorded over the course of multiple backstage conversations. Listen to the episode in full. -Chloe Lula Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive into the dynamic discussion on AI's role in culture and creativity. Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst illuminate AI governance and ownership concerns regarding art. They explore how media serves as training data and the blurred lines between art and music today. Their unique exhibition showcases the process behind creating an AI choral voice. Parenthood also shapes their artistic journey, blending family life with creativity. Finally, they stress the importance of AI literacy, urging engagement and informed participation in a tech-driven world.

"If a record is falling apart at the seams, I'll probably like it." Recorded live at Houghton 2024, our latest Playing Favourites episode sees the London artist discussing the beautiful leftfield music that's soundtracked his life.British DJ and producer Call Super brings some colour to the depths of winter with this week's RA Exchange. The multifaceted artist has released music on Houndstooth, Hessle Audio, fabric, Dekmantel and the label he co-runs with Parris, can you feel the sun, becoming known for a deep yet always party-ready sound that combines house, UK funky, tech house and plenty more besides.In this interview, recorded at last year's Houghton Festival, he talks to RA's managing editor, Carlos Hawthorn, as part of our flagship live series, Playing Favourites. Among his choices are the music he listened to as a child; the record that inspired his passion for DJing; an artist who changed his perspective on music at large; and more practical songs he deploys in sets to refresh a crowd. The territory he covers is huge, from tech house and acid house to contemporary classical, experimental leftfield, abstract percussion and choral music. There are some tracks, he claims, that only work in certain contexts, but if played at the right time, "they send people." Listen to the episode in full. – Chloe Lula Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I'm like a collector—everything I come across makes it into my music." The dance music don talks about the music that shaped him and his recent L.B. Dub Corp album on Dekmantel.Luke Slater, the British DJ, producer and occasional drummer, has been making music under a slew of monikers since the '80s: Planetary Assault Systems, L.B. Dub Corp, LSD, The 7th Plain, Clementine—the list goes on. While he's put out an excellent range of dynamic analogue music that runs the gamut of house, acid, breakbeat, electro and even spoken word, he's probably best known for his productions and live shows that focus on sleek and solid techno, as showcased on Ostgut Ton and his own imprint, Mote-Evolver.In the latest instalment of our flagship live series Playing Favourites, Slater unpacks the tracks that, for him, best illustrate the history of techno at large, as well as the records that define his creative process and career trajectory. He speaks with Chloe Lula live from Polifonic festival about his love of Detroit and Underground Resistance, as well as the abiding influence of hip-hop on his early work and his love of intentionally integrating mistakes in his music. He also reflects on how he became the first non-German artist to release on Berghain's esteemed record label, as well as discussing his most recent release, Saturn to Home, for Dekmantel. The double LP saw him return to his drumming practice and introduce surprising and powerful collaborations from electronic music contemporaries and vocalists like Kittin and the poet Benjamin Zephaniah. Listen to the episode in full. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"We put all of these philosophical concepts into our lyrics." Sister Bliss talks about the band after Maxi Jazz, weaving politics into rave anthems and the dance floor as salvation.Even if you're not into electronic music, chances are you've heard tracks like "Insomnia" or "God Is A DJ" on the radio or in a film. These '90s rave anthems were written by Faithless, a British electronic band that received huge acclaim in the UK especially. Its original members, who launched the project in 1995, were Sister Bliss, Rollo and charismatic lead singer Maxi Jazz, who died in 2022. At their peak, they sold millions of records, performed all over the world and played giant festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury to hundreds of thousands of people. Faithless is now toured solely by Sister Bliss, the keyboardist and songwriter. She speaks with Chloe Lula about the band's trajectory and the legacy left behind by Maxi Jazz. In her words, Faithless appeals to such a wide audience because its output isn't dance floor music in a traditional sense. Instead, it occupies a space where poetry, beats and melodies meet. With Maxi Jazz as their frontman, the group spoke to themes around human rights, politics, protest, equity, collapse, spirituality and the notion of dance music as a secular religion. Their transcendent live shows—which Sister Bliss will revive in 2025—have even been called a "church for the unchurched." Maxi Jazz was a practicing Buddhist monk whose lyrics and message of connection and compassion touched legions of fans over the years. In this Exchange, Sister Bliss reflects on Maxi Jazz's death, being a mother on the road, continuing to release music under the Faithless banner and what it ultimately means to find salvation in faith, music, community and life at large. Listen to the episode in full. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Why would you care about anyone else's opinion?" The DJ and dancer talks about work ethic, living authentically and the power of lifting each other up.DJ and dancer Patrick Mason emits high vibrations and high-energy dance music. But that wasn't always the case. Before he was playing the world's biggest techno festivals, he grew up in conservative Bavaria, where he claims that he "suppressed his truest self" as a closeted gay Black man. Born to an American GI father and a German mother, he learned the power of visualisation and hard work in order to launch himself to Berlin and the freedom of expression it represented. It was in the capital that he had his first sexual experiences and climbed the ranks of fashion and modelling, spending weekend stints at Berghain and immersing himself in the new world of techno.Career burnout and the Covid-19 lockdowns set Mason down the path of DJing in 2020, and he's since carved out a niche as a party-starter known for flamboyant selections that accompany his elaborate dance routines behind (and even on top of) the decks. In this interview recorded live at ADE 2024, he speaks with Chloe Lula about the obstacles he's overcome to get to the top, personal trauma and struggles with self-acceptance, body dysmorphia, depression, and gay male culture's sometimes unrealistic physical ideals. He also discusses his ambitions to marry the worlds of fashion and music, and his vision for a more authentic music industry. Listen to the episode in full. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sven Marquardt, the iconic bouncer and photographer from Berghain, shares his journey from rebellious queer punk in East Berlin to a central figure in contemporary nightlife. He reflects on the evolution of Berlin's club scene, emphasizing the shift from exclusive spaces to more diverse atmospheres. Sven discusses the impact of political changes and shares personal stories that highlight the vibrant club culture of the past. He also explores the relationship between photography and music, revealing how these art forms intertwine in his creative vision.

The beloved DJ unpacks his most influential records in our flagship live series, Playing Favourites, recorded at Dekmantel in August.Palms Trax, the beloved British DJ and producer considered a "veteran" of the scene at only 33 years old, hit it big with a career breakout back in 2015. Since then, he's become known for his long-running radio show and record label, Cooking With Palms Trax, where he releases new music, reissues and more. His style is soulful, gravitating towards low-BPM house, disco, zouk and everything in between.Recorded at Dekmantel in August, this RA Exchange is the latest edition of our flagship live series, Playing Favourites, where we invite artists to curate and dissect some of the records that shaped their approach to music. Palms Trax speaks to RA editor Gabriel Szatan about the song that acted as a gateway to his musical education; the track that turned him onto the idea of making music; and the band that he considers to be the "coolest of all time," as well as forthcoming music on his own label.What unites these releases, Palms Trax says, is a powerful, ageless and immediately accessible sensibility. They aren't about technical mastery but about feeling. As music-making has become easier with the advent of perfectly engineered online samples, there's more and more appeal in music with humanity and character. Listen to the episode in full. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trio behind our party of the year discuss creating space for the FLINTA community, their most outrageous live performances and more.Resident Advisor is wrapping up the year, and alongside our best-of-2024 records and tracks lists comes our favourite party: Barcelona-based platform MARICAS. The self-described "loving and pervy LGBTQIA+ techno collective" started in 2018 when ISAbella, Eloisa Blitzer and graphic designer Gina Guasch decided it was time to create a fun space for queer women and nonbinary people in their city. Since then, MARICAS has become a celebrated international series, revealing in its ascent how much of the techno scene—even in its queerest corners—continues to cater to men.In this RA Exchange, the trio talk about their humble origins as well as the ongoing obstacles they face in promoting the party in the face of discrimination. Performance plays an important role in their events, and they take an entertaining trip down memory lane, discussing some of the most outlandish theatrics and installations that have made it onto their dance floors: a Catholic confessional booth where the priest gave kisses, a livestreamed toilet stall where people undressed in front of the camera and a make-out session from figures covered in paint. Underneath the showmanship, however, is an unwritten code of respect and acceptance that extends far beyond the rave—their mission is to transform the social taboo surrounding difference into a positive force in our world. Listen to the episode in full. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.