Rave Curious Podcast

Unreleased interview from Dec. 1, 2017 in Los Angeles

A previously unreleased conversation with Chris Liebing recorded in 2018.

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From the melodic glitches of the debut Telefon Tel Aviv album Fahrenheit Fair Enough to the fury of Nine Inch Nails live, Josh Eustis is a consummate electronic music artist—one who struggles over every byte playing off his trusty laptop, the musical tool that has been the center of his world since the mid-90s. Through two-plus decades of musical triumph and personal tragedy, Josh tells Rave Curious how he's stayed focused on making his art, even during the toughest times. And reveals the current challenges he's facing as a solo artist. 

Some might call his music punk techno, but Perc insists that everything he does on his Perc Trax label is all in good fun. Maybe that's why the UK DJ and producer has become a favorite at hardcore-yet-cheeky events like Bangface Weekender and Even Furthur. Perc talks about the secret to surviving in the tough world of techno—from loosing records in distributor liquidations (three times in 13 years) to playing packed clubs one weekend and half empty rooms the next.

Leading up to the 15th-anniversary celebration of Droid Behavior, Los Angeles duo Raíz recap a decade and a half of delivering uncompromising techno to a city better known for house, trance and dreaded EDM. Brothers Vidal and Vangelis Vargas offer insights on the city's unique Latino electronic heritage, trying to throw techno events during the dark ages of the early '00s and why relocating to a more flight-friendly locale (ahem, Berlin, ahem) is just not an option when an entire community has come to count on you.

Dutch DJ Steve Rachmad is one of Holland's original techno producers. He's also one of the truest in term of his undiluted commitment to the music in its original Detroit-manufactured form. No wonder he carries with him a "Detroit pass" like fellow European greats Laurent Garnier, Maurizio and Luke Slater. Whether making and playing music as Sterac (his harder techno alias), Tons of Tones (his most Detroit-sounding records) or as his own groovy self, the Amsterdam fixture continues to move crowds after more than 25 behind the decks.  He talks about his early discovery of pre-techno electronic music, his close call with Dutch hardcore and his ambition to play live...someday, all on this episode of Rave Curious.

DJ Garth is one-quarter of Wicked Soundsystem, the legendary San Francisco crew of British expats that brought UK acid house to the Bay Area at the dawn of the 90s.   Along with Jeno, Marky and Thomas, Garth pioneered the full moon party scene in Northern Cali before hitting the road in a vintage Greyhound bus and a massive purple Turbosound system to carry the gospel, first to Burning Man, then across the West Coast.   Today, Garth lives in Los Angeles. He discusses the move south, how things came together in the early days of Wicked, how the faithful are still following the crew 25 years later, and why the Bay Area rave scene gave birth to a little thing we call the Internet.

Mike Huckaby is best known as the former manager of Record Time's legendary Dance Room, a store that helped define the musical taste of an entire generation of Detroit DJs. Since the store closed in 2011, Huckaby has come out from behind the counter and has made his own way as an international DJ, surprising many by mixing Tresor's 20th Anniversary Compilation and assuming the role as the semi-official remixer of all things Sun Ra. Add to this his work teaching students young and old about creating electronic music via his relationships with Ableton and Native Instruments, and you'll start to see an artist who has truly created a distinct niche in the often cookie-cutter world of record selectors.

The annual Dirtybird Campout has become a major event on the West Coast festival circuit, by presenting every shade of the label's beloved sound—from house and techno to bass and hip-hop—and combining it adult updates on good old-fashioned summer camp activities (sexy musical chairs, anyone?). DB boss Claude VonStroke sat down with the Rave Curious Podcast to reveal a couple of surprises he has in store for this year's gathering. He also offers up advice on how to make it as a musical entrepreneur and explains the back and forth it took him to arrive at his destination as one of America's most successful DJ-producers.