MBP #164 Funk The Empire

Amidst the kaleidoscopic landscape of electronic music, Skyberak stands as a visionary architect of sound, masterfully weaving vibrant hues of color into the intricate fabric of bass music. With a signature style that defies convention, Skybreak's sonic creations explore the uncharted territories of Color Bass and Future Riddim, giving rise to a symphony of textures, emotions, and boundless creativity. Collaborations are a cornerstone of Skybreak's sonic voyage, serving as gateways to musical exploration and innovation. His creative energy flows seamlessly alongside artists such as Ace Aura, Aethoro, ALLEYCVT, and Azure Spark, to name just a few. With each collaborative endeavor, Skybreak melds his sonic identity with the unique perspectives of his musical counterparts, resulting in tracks that are as diverse as they are captivating. Through a prolific discography, Skybreak's music finds its home on an array of prestigious labels, each one a testament to his ability to traverse the sonic spectrum. From the ethereal landscapes of Seeking Blue to the bass-driven frontiers of Never Say Die and Disciple, his releases resonate with audiences across genres, speaking to his dynamic range as a producer and his dedication to pushing the boundaries of bass music. At the core of Skybreak's sonic identity lies a passion for Color Bass and Future Riddim—a genre that he has nurtured and evolved since his inception in 2017. His tracks are not mere compositions; they're vivid landscapes of sound, each element carefully placed to evoke a kaleidoscope of emotions. The rhythms, melodies, and textures intertwine to create an immersive experience that transcends sound, becoming a canvas for listeners to explore the depths of their imagination. Skybreak's transformative influence extends beyond his own productions. Through a remix of "Blue Eternal" by Said The Sky & Motion City Soundtrack, he infuses his unique touch into existing tracks, breathing new life into familiar melodies. This remix is a testament to his ability to reshape music into his own sonic realm, infusing it with his trademark energy and creativity. As he continues to forge his path through the evolving landscape of electronic music, Skybreak's name becomes synonymous with innovation, audacity, and a relentless pursuit of artistic expression. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of music, showcasing the ability to create immersive worlds through sonic landscapes. With each track, each release, Skybreak invites audiences to experience the beauty of color bass and future riddim—a vivid symphony that transcends the ordinary and propels listeners into realms of uncharted sonic wonder. Skybreak Links Mr. Bill’s Links 

Matt Xavier is a full-time psychedelic guide, DJ, and mental health counselor whose remarkable career has spanned more than three decades at the intersection of music, healing, and expanded states of consciousness. In the early 1990s, Matt gained prominence as “Matthew Magic,” a pioneering force in New York City’s underground electronic music scene. As cofounder of Tsunami Productions, he introduced Psychedelic Trance to the North American East Coast and later founded the influential techno label Railyard Recordings. Throughout his tenure, he held DJ residencies in both New York and Los Angeles, performing at renowned festivals and clubs around the world. Educated at Loyola Marymount University and credentialed in California, Matt has worked as a certified Gestalt therapist and co-occurring addiction counselor, providing evidence-based care at leading treatment centers across Los Angeles. In 2019, he received formal training in psychedelic-assisted therapy and launched Integrated Psychedelics—a private practice offering harm-reduction therapy, integration counseling, and immersive, music-enhanced psychedelic journeys. Through his work with Therapeutic DJing, Matt teaches others how to harness the powerful synergy between music and psilocybin-assisted therapy to support emotional release, healing, and deep personal transformation. Career News: Book release Early June 2025:  The Psychedelic DJ - A Practical Guide to Therapeutic Music Curation and Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy DJ Sets @ Psychedelic Science Conference June 2025: Shulgin 100 Year Birthday Celebration @ Psychedelic Science 2025 - Denver, feat. Oona Dahl & Matt Xavier AFTERGLOW: unofficial ambient-techno afterhours for Psychedelic Science 2025 - Denver, feat. Oona Dahl & Matt Xavier Matt's Links Mr. Bill’s Links

DMGAudio is Dave Gamble and co-conspirator Krzysztof Oktalski, enriched with ideas from hundreds of engineers, producers and audio specialists. Dave has worked in Pro-Audio for over a decade, for prestigious companies such as Focusrite, Novation, Sonalksis, Neyrinck, Brainworx. DMGAudio was created to build the products that we've always wanted; free from the constraints of a board of directors and instead driven by our users. Dave Gamble Links Mr. Bill Links

​ Vojtěch Meluzín is the founder and CEO of MeldaProduction, a Czech-based audio software company renowned for its innovative and versatile audio plugins. Born and raised in the Czech Republic, Meluzín's journey into music and technology began early. He started programming at the age of 10 and was already creating music on an Atari using Cubase by the age of 8.​ Meluzín pursued his passion for music and technology through formal education, culminating in a university degree where he developed a GUI system for plugins as part of his diploma work. His initial foray into audio software development was the creation of MDrummer, a project that began as a school assignment but evolved into a commercial product. Encouraged by a peer to market his creation, Meluzín improved MDrummer significantly and decided to venture into the audio plugin industry independently.​ Under his leadership, MeldaProduction has grown to offer over 120 plugins, including the flagship MSoundFactory and MTurboComp. Meluzín is known for his hands-on approach, having developed the company's custom framework without relying on third-party SDKs, allowing for complete control and optimization. He emphasizes innovation over imitation, often critiquing the industry's focus on analog emulation and instead leveraging digital capabilities to create unique audio processing tools.​ Meluzín's work is characterized by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of audio software, integrating machine learning and advanced algorithms to enhance functionality and user experience. His dedication to quality and innovation has positioned MeldaProduction as a respected name in the audio production community. Vojtech Meluzin Links   Mr. Bill’s Links

Rodrigo Constanzo makes art. He thinks this is an important thing to do. The art he makes is generally smeared in time, in the form of music. He improvises and acts as an antennae to the beauty, electricity, and endless surprise that is living a crazy life. He composes and tries to create new sounds, interactions and behaviors that he finds interesting and challenging. He performs his own music and the music of others on a variety of instruments, with close friends. He believes in magic. He believes in sharing things. He believes in teaching. He believes in openness. He loves sweet jams, and avoids speaking with a complicated vocabulary as much as possible. He tries to live as presently and honestly as possible. Rodrigo Constanzo Links Mr. Bill’s Links

In this highly anticipated episode, we sit down with legendary sound designer and software developer Steve Duda, the mastermind behind Xfer Records and the groundbreaking synthesizer plugin Serum. Renowned for pushing the boundaries of digital audio, Steve has garnered a cult following among producers worldwide—from chart-topping EDM acts to film score composers—for his meticulous attention to sound quality and user experience. Now, with the release of Serum 2, Steve takes us behind the scenes of its development, sharing insights into the new features, workflow enhancements, and the innovative technology that will redefine the way creators craft their sounds. Tune in to learn about the challenges of maintaining Serum’s signature clarity while incorporating cutting-edge functionalities, the surprising inspirations that influenced its design, and how community feedback played a key role in shaping the next generation of this beloved synthesizer. Whether you’re a seasoned music producer, a synth enthusiast, or just curious about the future of sound creation, this episode promises a deep dive into the art and science of synthesis with one of the industry’s leading visionaries. Steve Duda Links   Mr. Bill’s Links 

BIO: Benn Jordan’s career began in the late 1990’s as a recording artist most widely released under the moniker “The Flashbulb”. A decade later, Benn would become synonymous with artist advocacy after he purchased his music rights back from record labels,formed a non-profit publisher, and challenged the early models of digital music distribution by using peer-to-peer file transfers instead of iTunes. This led to Benn being a consultant for Bandcamp before the service launched in 2007.  After expanding his non-profit to carry a music education school and community center in Chicago, Benn moved to the Atlanta area in 2017 and started what has now become one of the most popular YouTube channels in the pro-audio and audio technology space. The channel now exists under Benn’s non-profit umbrella and funds data-science and the never ending challenge of finding ethical business models that can make the music business easier to navigate for artists and creators. During this time his unique relationship with audio-related businesses and organizations expanded as fast as his amount of viewers and public reach. Benn Jordan doesn’t exactly keep it a secret that he’s discontent with the way independent artists have been treated by the tech industry, and he is very proactive about getting ahead of the curve and attempting to help write and set ethical standards for AI audio technology, and holds patents in technology fighting the non-consensual training of generative AI. Ben Jordan Links Mr. Bill’s Links    

Curtis Roads creates and pursues research in music technology. He is Professor Emeritus of Media Arts and Technology (MAT) and in Music at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where he also managed the Center for Research in Electronic Art Technology (CREATE). He studied composition at California Institute of the Arts and the University of California, San Diego and received a Doctorate from the Université Paris 8. A researcher at MIT for six years, he also taught at Harvard and the University of Naples "Federico Due." He was Editor and Associate Editor of Computer Music Journal (The MIT Press) from 1978 to 2000, and cofounded the International Computer Music Association (ICMA) in 1979. His album POINT LINE CLOUD was reissued in 2019 by Presto Records. His album Flicker Tone Pulse (2019) was published on DVD by Wergo (Schott Musik). The textbook The Computer Music Tutorial, Second Edition (The MIT Press) appeared in 2023. Curtis Roads Links Mr. Bills Links

Funk the Empire is a Dubstep Producer out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. His production style blends classic dubstep with the nostalgic sound of 80’s synth-funk including live instrumentation and modern sound design. He’s released music on labels such as Circus Records, Headband Society, and The GlitchHop Community. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University where he studied philosophy, law, and criminal Justice. He’s currently enrolled at the University of Tennessee School of Law in Knoxville, TN, studying to become a criminal defense attorney. The Funk Capacitor EP is out now on Circus Records! Funk The Empire Links Mr. Bill’s Links

BIO: Head Engineer at Hacienda Mastering. Principle Designer at Hacienda Acoustics. Professor at Full Sail University. Founder, curator, and FOH at Reference Sessions.  Occasional front of house engineer for Jade Cicada, Detox Unit, and Mickman. Unrepentant shitposter. Matt Davis Links https://lnk.to/163mattdavis Mr. Bill’s Links