RA Exchange
Music
About
The weekly RA Exchange is a series of conversations with artists, labels and promoters shaping the electronic music landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
- EX.797 Ed O'Brien
The Radiohead guitarist talks about finding spirituality, life inside one of the most mythologised (and occasionally polarising) bands of the last 40 years, and his second solo album, Blue Morpho . Ed O'Brien has been a guitarist in Radioh…
- EX.796 Benji B
The longtime BBC Radio 1 DJ talks about his rigorous music-discovery routine, soundtracking the world's most elite runways and the legacy of his party series, Deviation. Since first stepping onto the airwaves more than 20 years ago, Benji…
- EX.795 Avalon Emerson
The musical polymath talks creative left turns, the collapse of music media and her new album as Avalon & the Charm, Written into Changes. A decade after her first feature appearance in Resident Advisor, Avalon Emerson returns for a long-f…
- EX.794 Calibre
The Irish veteran talks about his prolific output, making music beyond the drum & bass canon and his forthcoming album, Tricklemore Sea. Dominick Martin—AKA Calibre—has spent the last three decades carving out one of the most singular path…
- EX.793 Chris Stussy
The Dutch phenomenon unpacks the myth of overnight success and the story behind his debut album, Lost, Found & Forgotten. They say it takes ten years to become an overnight success, and in the case of this week's guest, that math almost ch…
- EX.792 Tiga
Electroclash icon Tiga talks about the manosphere, the currency of cool and his first album in 10 years, HOTLIFE. Canadian producer Tiga—born Tiga Sontag—has navigated the peaks and valleys of electronic music for over three decades. A key…
- EX.791 Loraine James
The London artist talks about self-doubt, overcoming creative blocks and her forthcoming album on Hyperdub. Today's guest has spent the last decade proving that electronic music is an insufficient label for what she does. Since her landmar…
- EX.790 Freddy K
The vinyl purist discusses his late-career ascent, the discipline of the marathon set and the shifting class dynamics threatening the underground. In an era where the word "techno" is often used as a broad marketing catch-all, Alessio Arme…
- EX.789 Interplanetary Criminal
The contemporary face of garage talks about obsession, overnight success and his turn towards a more mature image and sound. Over the last few years, Zac Bruce—better known as Interplanetary Criminal—has become the definitive face of…
- EX.788 Kim Gordon
The Sonic Youth cofounder opens up about her solo output, the intersection of art and music, and her new album, PLAY ME. For over four decades, Kim Gordon has navigated the edges where fine art meets noise. Her claim to fame was as a found…
- EX.787 Voices From The Lake
For the Exchange's Season Two relaunch, the visionary duo discuss their first release in 13 years and the inspiration behind their trailblazing sound. Neel and Donato Dozzy, who perform and make music together as Voices From The Lake, firs…
- EX.786 Barker
The Leisure System co-founder talks psychology, behavioral science and his standout album of the year, Stochastic Drift. Sam Barker's influence on contemporary electronic music culture spans many levels—not only as a producer and DJ pushin…
- EX.785 Isabella Lovestory
The Honduran artist talks about the rise of reggaeton, the dark side of beauty standards and her new album, Vanity. In the past decade, reggaeton has taken the world by storm, expanding from beyond its origins in Panama and Puerto Rico to…
- EX.784 Sub Focus
The drum & bass veteran talks about bass music eras, dance culture in America and his new album, Contact. British artist Nicolaas Douwma, AKA Sub Focus, has been steadily putting out big-room drum & bass since the early 2000s. In mor…
- EX.783 Dixon
The Innervisions cofounder reflects on the label's 20-year anniversary, the art of DJing and bringing politics back to the underground. One of the most popular record labels in the RA ecosystem is Innervisions, and one of its most popular…
- EX.782 Annie Mac
The longtime BBC Radio 1 host talks about the liberation of leaving broadcasting, her pivot to fiction writing and her party series, Before Midnight. If you grew up in the UK, chances are you've heard Annie Mac on the radio. The Irish nati…
- EX.781 Paul van Dyk
The German legend talks about the state of modern trance, what it takes to create a legacy and writing his most recent album. Poll the average dance music fan and they'll have almost certainly heard of Paul van Dyk. The German DJ and produ…
- EX.780 Liz Pelly
The New York-based journalist talks about her breakout book, Mood Machine, live from Soft Centre Festival in Sydney. As we approach the end of 2025, it's clear that one of the year's most zeitgeist-defining books has been Liz Pelly's Mood…
- EX.779 PinkPantheress
The TikTok tour de force talks about '90s electronica, UK garage and her 2025 mixtape, Fancy Some More? There's a new generation of artists who've come up almost entirely online, and perhaps the breakthrough star of the TikTok music era is…
- Ex.778 Batu
There are few names as widely loved in clubland as Bristol-based producer Omar McCutcheon, AKA Batu. His label Timedance, currently celebrating its ten-year anniversary, has been instrumental in shaping a certain corner of contemporary ele…
- EX.777 Sama’ Abdulhadi
The DJ talks about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and how the music industry, and some of her peers, have failed Palestine.The most deeply divisive topic of the year is undoubtedly Israel's genocide in Gaza. The issue has prompted some artists…
- EX.776 Soulwax
"We're trying to show more of who we are." The Belgian brothers unpack their decades-long career and first album in more than seven years.There are some songs that have become pervasive, nearly universally recognisable features of pop cult…
- EX.775 Studio Karhard
"Designing clubs is about understanding psychology." The famed architects talk about bringing emotions, durability and hidden logic into era-defining nightlife spaces.How do you design the world's best clubs? Studio Karhard, the architectu…
- EX.774 Cormac
"There are no new feelings, just new words." The Irish DJ talks about finding commonality in polarising times, CSD weekend and his podcast, Queerly Beloved.In Berlin, the end of July means one thing: CSD, AKA Christopher Street Day. Commem…
- EX.773 JakoJako
“The hardware world is like a sport.” The DJ and producer talks about mastering synthesis and finding community in a male-dominated music ecosystem. Is talent innate? Today's guest, producer and modular synth extraordinaire Sibel Koçer (AK…
- EX.772 Papi Juice
"These spaces are sacred." The Brooklyn trio reflect on 12 years of throwing parties that celebrate New York's queer community of colour.New York nightlife has a truly unique ecosystem. And for the last 12 years, the art collective Papi Ju…
- EX.771 Dominga (Föllakzoid)
"There's a lack of continuity for FLINTA* individuals." The Chilean artist talks about trans rights and the launch of her new sex party, ABOV.What would genuine visibility, safety and solidarity look like for the trans community? This week…
- EX.770 rRoxymore
"I want more risks." The French DJ and producer talks about groundbreaking musical practices, musique concrète and her forthcoming album, Juggling Dualities.There's a history of groundbreaking musical practice that's lost in modern dance m…
- EX.769 Emily Witt
"I'm ready to bring back gatekeeping." The New Yorker staff writer discusses how to protect the underground, experimenting with drugs and her new book, Health and Safety.Can drugs help us find meaning in music and nightlife? This is a ques…
- EX.768 BAMBII
"Is the infrastructure working?" The Canadian DJ and producer talks playing Coachella 2025 and the music industry's unequal power dynamics.Is the electronic music industry pay-to-play? This week's RA Exchange with Jamaican-Canadian DJ and…
- EX.767 Cosey Fanny Tutti
"I'm an individualist." The Throbbing Gristle co-founder on extreme experimentation, difficult women and her new album, 2t2.As long as underground culture has existed, there have been pockets of resistance—people at the fringes who challen…
- EX.766 Surgeon
“My mission is to explore the boundaries of psychedelic music.” The revered artist talks about expanding consciousness, breaking boundaries and his new album on Tresor. There has always been a strain of dance music that has leant psychedel…
- EX.765 Lee Ann Roberts
"Music kept me sane." The hard techno breakout opens up about how life's greatest challenges have made her headstrong.To honour Mental Health Awareness week, the RA Exchange sits down with hard techno DJ Lee Ann Roberts, who opens up about…
- EX.764 Maria May (CAA)
"Everyone tells me I'm terrifying." The powerhouse agent talks about being a woman in a male-dominated world and growing the careers of artists like David Guetta, Marlon Hoffstadt and more.What does it take to become a powerhouse agent in…
- EX.763 Theo Parrish
"It was so difficult to become someone." The house hero talks about Chicago's competitive scene, developing a sound and letting go of his ego. Theo Parrish is one of dance music's most influential DJs and producers. Raised in Chicago, he's…
- EX.762 FKA twigs
"I'm in a place of brutal honesty." The electronic pop auteur talks about her new album, the pressures of performing and falling in love with techno.One of today's most exciting stars is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, better known as FKA twigs.…
- EX.761 Mike Parker
The vaunted techno producer discusses the connections between visual art and music, balancing a full-time career as a fine artist and how he creates his signature sound.There's a connection between visual art and dance music that's seldom…
- EX.760 The Economics of Independent Dance Music
"There's a long chain of people who benefit from artists making records." Nabil Ayers, the US president of Beggars Group, talks about independent artistry and how we fix a broken music economy.The independent music economy is broken. But N…
- EX.759 Rene Wise
"Sound systems are really what move me." The up-and-coming techno artist talks about the physicality of sound and how psychedelics inform his work in the studio.What makes a good artist? In this RA Exchange, British DJ and producer Andrew…
- EX.758 DJ Koze
The beloved German producer talks about finding inner peace, overstimulation and his new album on Pampa Records.Mental health is a topic that comes up frequently in the music industry, but it's still not discussed enough among electronic m…
- EX.757 Ben Klock and Fadi Mohem
"We wanted to let go of everything we know." The Berghain residents talk about underground values, leaving behind expectations and their collaborative album, LAYER ONE.Berghain residents and now frequent collaborators Ben Klock and Fadi Mo…
- EX.756 Sonja Moonear
The doyenne of minimal reflects on Perlon, forgotten classics and the tracks that never leave her record bag in this live edition of Playing Favourites at Dimensions Festival.Following the minimal boom of the '00s and early '10s, the sound…
- EX.755 Dennis Bovell
"I wanted to be at the forefront of the beat that would storm the world." The renowned musician talks about how reggae became the sound of resistance in the UK.How did reggae become the sound of resistance in the UK? In this RA Exchange, t…
- EX.754 Virginia
"It starts within yourself." The DJ, vocalist and producer talks about self-improvement, moving to rural Portugal and working alongside long-time partner Steffi.There may be no voice as rich, vibrant or easily distinguishable in today's ho…
- EX.753 Traxman
Anyone with a passing interest in footwork and juke will know of Traxman. Corky Strong has a long history in the world of Chicago dance music, first releasing on the legendary Dance Mania label—which is now celebrating 40 years—in the mid-…
- EX.752 Justice
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 weave…
- EX.751 Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst
"We're pro-AI and we're pro-consent. Those things don't have to be mutually exclusive." The activists and artists talk about the hot button issues facing AI's governance.The world is deep in the throes of a heightening debate over AI. Just…
- EX.750 Call Super
"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…
- EX.749 Luke Slater
"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,…
- EX.748 Faithless
"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'…