Almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com (Wes Johnson, Elizabeth Dreeson)

Shows

Almost FamiliarThe TF Marz EpisodeGet familiar with TF Marz, Co-founder and Creative Director of all:Lo music collective, whose Colorado and Pacific Northwest roots heavily influence his refreshing and distinct take on electronic music that is healthily infused with hip hop and RnB sensibilities. We dive into the music scene in the PNW, including his iconic sunrise set at the renowned Grove Stage at Shambhala Music Festival, the current state of the electronic music scene, the continuous evolution of all:Lo, and the future of TF Marz Follow TF Marz: @tfmarz Follow Almost Familiar: ...2024-02-021h 18

Almost FamiliarThe Borahm Lee EpisodeGet familiar with Borahm Lee, a pianist and key member of Denver’s music community, known mostly as a member of the formerly Brooklyn-based duo, Break Science and multiple live iterations of the Pretty Lights project. He could have been a doctor or a lawyer, but his love for the piano and jazz derailed those plans at an early age and sent him on the course of becoming a masterful musician who has since performed with the likes of Kanye West, The Fugees, reggae/dub pioneer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, members of Lettuce, The Disco Biscuits, Big Gigantic, Manic Focus, and ma...2023-04-0858 min

Almost FamiliarThe 2022 Unwrapped EpisodeGet familiar with highlights of the 2022 festival season and beyond. Wes and Elizabeth share their own highlights and also conducted a community census to get a sense of what stood out between festivals, events, musicians, mixes, albums, and personal milestones. Trending submissions include Submersion Festival, Daily Bread's latest Bread & Breakfast mix and Mishawaka shows, and newly on some radars are Piri and Tommy, Cool Customer, and Eliptek, along with unwavering hope for a Pretty Lights return. We’re so grateful to the community members who participated in our inaugural Almost Familiar Unwrapped, and we hope to see you on th...2022-12-311h 17

Almost FamiliarThe ZONE Drums EpisodeGet familiar with ZONE Drums aka Aaron Harel, whom you have likely seen on the drums bringing abstract electronic music to life with the 5AM Trio, Thought Process, CloZee, Daily Bread, and more. Aaron has a knack for recognizing potential in both music and materials - from cutting his teeth by promoting dubstep shows in a church to upcycling drum kits to making diffusion panels that “bridge the world of art, music, and fabrication.” Inspired in part by Envision Festival’s infrastructure, Aaron’s passion for sustainability extends far beyond his panels and into a general lifestyle that inspires Wes and...2022-12-061h 25

Almost FamiliarThe Wessanders EpisodeGet Familiar with Wessanders, a Connecticut- based producer and staple member of The Rust, whose music is as eclectic as his life experiences. A traveler and student of the world, Wessanders has immersed himself in many cultures outside of the US and imbeds them into his ever-evolving sound including his recently released EP, El Gringo Hace Cumbia (The white boy makes Cumbia). Wessanders sharpened his skills at Berklee College of Music allowing him to merge his influences in the creation of a truly distinct, and highly refined brand of bass music. His live shows are energetic, diverse, a...2022-11-251h 50

Almost FamiliarThe Cnopes EpisodeGet familiar with Cnopes, a producer whose electronic music style is influenced heavily by jazz, blues, hip hop and soul, creating sensational soundscapes that have caught the attention of lineup curators for festivals like Sonic Bloom and Sound Haven. Connor shares how he shifted his approach depending on the time slot and stage to match the vibe and what it means for smaller artists to be able to perform on stages with such high quality production. While his exposure to music culture and community started with his father’s love of The Grateful Dead, Connor’s gateway drug...2022-10-041h 21

Almost FamiliarA Tale of Two FestivalsGet familiar with how the pandemic has impacted the experiences and infrastructure of two of the scene’s most beloved and influential festivals: Lightning in a Bottle and Sonic Bloom. After allowing some time for the dust to settle (and there was lots of dust), Wes and Elizabeth reflect on the highs and lows of returning to their favorite long-standing festivals after a two year hiatus. Music featured in this episode: Almost Familiar - Pretty Lights Emerge in the Feeling - Yheti Supersonic (VIP) - Noisia & Skrillex Follow...2022-07-161h 17

Almost FamiliarThe pheel. EpisodeGet familiar with pheel., a Denver-based producer and co-founder of the increasingly popular All:Lo record label who specializes in all things low end. Known for his signature Morning Coffee series in collaboration with Parkbreezy, Phil shares how these mixes evolved from beats to drink coffee to as requested by The Black Box’s talent buyer to opening up for Tipper himself at the most recent Tipper and Friends. Almost Familiar kicks off Gemini and festival season through pheel.’s upcoming lineup of festivals that he’ll be performing at and attending for the first time, along with El...2022-06-061h 24

Almost FamiliarThe Anti-Alias EpisodeGet familiar with Jack Hurley, better known as Anti Alias, whose career as a multimedia designer has taken him from working a corporate job to collaborating with Tipper at his most recent return to Red Rocks in 2021. Jack talks about his experience collaborating with Datagram Visuals for the second night of the run, appropriately titled Bangers Night. Jack reflects on how the emphasis on VJ culture has evolved since he was first hooked at Basslights, and the challenge of crafting a narrative given the abstract and experimental nature of the music it represents. We explore the future of shows in...2022-02-161h 47

Almost FamiliarThe Phyphr EpisodeGet familiar with Phyphyr, whose project is as much of a product of Nick’s experiences with the scene as our podcast. After being inspired by the hybrid electronic/instrumental acts he witnessed at Hulaween, Nick began his journey in creating music which has transplanted him from North Carolina to Denver’s hub of creativity and collaboration. Nick shares how he drew inspiration from artists not only with regards to music, but also building an authentic brand. We reflect on the evolution and success of the intimate “family” fanbases and mission statements of artists like Griz and Daily Bread as Phyphr...2022-01-181h 44

Almost FamiliarThe Rust Music EpisodeGet familiar with The Rust Music, a collective that curates some of our favorite gatherings on the East Coast. From the events, to the artists they represent, to their blog, the crew at The Rust Music does everything with the intent of authenticity to push the boundaries of how we experience electronic music. We chatted with Talent Buyer/Manager/Event Curator Jezze Boya and Editor of The Rust publication, Pasquale Zinna. We get into the origins of The Rust, how they curated a community defined by collaboration in New York’s capricious nightlife scene, and how their intention and de...2021-07-302h 24

Almost FamiliarThe Sanctuary Radio EpisodeGet familiar with Stacey Forrester’s Sanctuary Radio, a weekly podcast about safer nightlife with a focus on consent and harm reduction. Stacey runs the harm reduction program at British Columbia’s boutique Bass Coast festival, co-founded the Vancouver chapter of Good Night Out, and creates beautiful harm reduction graphics that you may recognize from G Jones and CharlesTheFirst events. On this swap cast, Stacey challenges Wes and Elizabeth to consider whether it’s possible to separate the art from the artist and how this factors into the larger conversation about sexual violence. We discuss how we can do...2021-06-221h 38

Almost FamiliarThe DB Montana EpisodeGet familiar with DB Montana, who used social media to create a safe space for the victims and survivors of Bassnectar’s disturbing and pathological abuse to anonymously share their stories that shattered his public image built on meticulous manipulation. Montana tells this story from the beginning, taking us back to the controversial reputation he developed for his criticism of Bassnectar as an admin of the irreverent Weird Drunken Uncle Facebook group. We reflect on the dangers of idolatry, toxic positivity, and unhealthy relationships with the scene. Montana’s relentless pursuit of the truth is a labor of lo...2021-06-061h 35

Almost FamiliarThe Father Figure EpisodeGet Familiar with Father Figure, an East Coast-based producer and fellow Mudson Project survivor with whom we exchange horror stories from the trial-by-fire that was Camp Bisco. From a profound Amon Tobin ISAM set, to playing the renegade stage, Matt’s seasoned perspective allows him to reflect on why some of the staples of today’s scene such as the Philos crew and CloZee feel more intimate than its pioneers. Matt shares the complex familial origins behind his stage name and how his infectious Prodigal Son LP symbolizes coming full circle with those relationships.Follow Father Figure: ...2021-05-141h 29

Almost FamiliarThe Midicinal EpisodeGet Familiar with Midicinal (Scott Rhatigan), an Arizona-born producer currently residing in Denver whose music is imbued with themes of travel- pulling from his own experiences of moving frequently. As his name suggests, Scott fully understands music’s healing properties and shares his experiences of both performing and internalizing “midicinal” music. Scott shares the epic story behind his memorable Sonic Bloom set where he brought out the dancing lobsters, resulting in an unforgettable synchronicity the following weekend at Electric Forest.Follow Midicinal on Social Media: Instagram: @midicinalmusicSoundCloud: MIDIcinalFollow Almost Familia...2021-04-231h 16

Almost FamiliarThe PLF Series Vol. 3: Jesska CvijanovicGet familiar with Jesska Cvijanovic whose pins, photography (214), and merch are foundational to the Pretty Lights Family that she helped create. Jesska shares how her photography passion changed her experience and perspective of shows, the history of the Illuminator and Vibe Adjuster programs, and the significance of some of the early Pretty Lights Family gatherings at festivals. She tells an unforgettable birthday story where her longtime friend Michal Menert gave her the ultimate VIP treatment at Electric Forest 2013. Jesska unapologetically advocates for Michal Menert’s underrepresented place in the scene, and shares her take on the controversial history of Ta...2021-04-091h 41

Almost FamiliarThe 5AM EpisodeGet Familiar with 5AM, an innovative electronic music producer who is pushing the boundaries on what improvisation can look like in the abstract corner of electronica. 5AM went from asking “What’s a Tipper?” when first encountering his name on a festival lineup to kicking off Uptempo night for his “Tippsgiving” event at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn, cementing himself as a staple in a scene whose influence we compare to the French Impressionists and Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label. We chat about the 5AM Trio’s approach and the process of establishing a cohesive vision with his band mates, Tygris & Zone D...2021-03-261h 46

Almost FamiliarThe PLF Series Vol. 2: Sam AckelsGet familiar with Sam Ackels, whose first show was Pretty Lights’ last - the second night of Red Rocks 2018. Wes and Elizabeth learn that context was not required to experience the profundity of that singular show. Sam shares the moments that hooked him and how it influenced his journey and taste through electronic music. We discuss the slippery slope of the Pretty Lights merch game, Goose’s magnetic appeal amid their meteoric rise, and where we draw the line at too much wookery. Sam’s excitement around Pretty Lights is almost familiar to when we were first turned on & proves...2021-03-151h 14

Almost FamiliarThe Vincent Antone EpisodeGet Familiar with Vincent Antone, the man behind the “All the Pretty Lights” tribute that recently reverberated some much-needed positive vibes in the Pretty Lights Family. Vincent shares which Pretty Lights interviews he sampled in the tribute, his creative process on making music that Makes You Feel, and how a Pretty Lights performance video on YouTube inspired him to get on the waitlist for a monome made by a couple that only builds 200-300 a year. Vincent is a talented musician whose various projects have performed at many major festivals including Austin City Limits, Wakarusa, and even the last Prett...2021-02-122h 06

Almost FamiliarThe PLF Series Vol. 1: Brett Shredmunds“Red Rocks ‘18, bitch!” We couldn’t have said it any better ourselves. Get familiar with Brett Shredmunds, an admin for the Pretty Lights Family group on Facebook, who was one of the group’s first 10 members and has named his fair share of songs. Brett takes us through listening to reggae as a fetus, learning about Utah’s rave scene in the ‘90’s, attending Emancipator’s first show in Portland, to serendipitously purchasing tickets to his first Pretty Lights show moments before it sold out.Wes, Ethan, and Elizabeth learn that Derek’s (Pretty Lights) dad was a preacher and how t...2021-01-152h 22

Almost FamiliarThe ReVibe Rewind with Andrew Frost EpisodeGet familiar with Andrew Frost, the stage manager who pulled off the Pretty Lights surprise at ReVibe Wellness Festival in Myrtle Beach - the first COVID-compliant festival of its kind. Currently Sunsquabi’s tour manager, Andrew shares stories about how he cut his teeth in this trade - from volunteering at The Aggie Theater in Colorado, to chasing down the thief who stole a guitar from The Floozies' Green Room, to accidentally forgetting GRiZ’s saxophone before the last night of his tour. An all-around good guy who knows his weed and coffee, Andrew is the perfect example of some...2020-12-181h 25

Almost FamiliarThe Thought Process EpisodeGet familiar with Thought Process. This prolific producer specializes in what he has coined, (and we fully support) high fidelity sound design. This conversation took us through his journey loyal street teamer to promoter, to performer at Denver's iconic bass mecca, The Blackbox. We talk about his undertaking and inception the first annual Beat-Tober where he created a unique beat for every day in the month of October. Although his other love is Pretty Lights, the music Thought Process makes is unlike anything you've ever heard during a PL set. It's rich in sound, oozes i...2020-12-041h 32

Almost FamiliarThe Kaptain EpisodeGet familiar with Kaptain, a producer currently based in Denver whose music pulls from electro-soul, electro hip hop, future funk, and glitch hop to create a sound that is as hybrid as the culture itself. Stephen shares his perspective on why the Denver scene is so magnetic and conspicuous compared to other places, and we use Lightning in a Bottle as a case study to explore what makes West Coast festival culture different. We discuss our favorite Pretty Lights moments, the transformative nature of the music, how various dynamics from the "default world" manifest in our community, and how...2020-11-192h 03

Almost FamiliarThe JD Vanderwiel EpisodeGet Familiar with JD Vanderwiel, who has likely been the first person in and last person out at some of the shows and festivals you have attended within the electro soul scene. Such is the life of this tour manager/production manager/lighting designer extraordinaire. You have probably seen his stage designs or visuals if you’ve seen Ganja White Night, Adventure Club, Late Night Radio or Flamingosis in the last few years. We talk about the evolution of the electro soul scene, his favorite places to experience it, mental health on the road, and much more.Fo...2020-10-301h 15

Almost FamiliarThe B. Getz EpisodeGet familiar with one of the music scenes most active and knowledgeable journalists, our friend, B. Getz. B. started working in the music industry dating back to the 90's. Throughout his career he has been to countless historic concerts/festivals, transcribing them in his incredibly captivating style of writing. Today he is still as active as ever as a journalist as well as the host for his own podcast, "The Upful Life". B. takes us all the way to the back to his first Dead show, leading to his life-changing sun-rise encounter with Abraxis the Golden Dragon at Burning M...2020-09-302h 36

Almost FamiliarThe Rape Culture & Consent in the EDM Community EpisodeCW: Rape culture & sexual assaultGet familiar with what rape culture actually looks like and feels like in the live music community and how you can empower yourself to challenge it in the wake of allegations against Space Jesus and Bassnectar. Wes, assistant manager at Syracuse’s Westcott Theater, and Elizabeth, a rape survivor, share their observations and experiences of rape culture in the EDM community, including Wes’ firsthand experience navigating an encounter with Datsik. Bass Coast’s Harm Reduction Manager & co-founder of Good Night Out Vancouver Stacey Forrester offers an anecdote about transformative justice as we consid...2020-08-171h 35

Almost FamiliarThe Pilot EpisodeGet familiar with your co-hosts! Elizabeth Dreeson and Wes Johnson crossed paths for years across the festival scene without actually connecting until they discovered their mutual interest in Pretty Lights at a String Cheese Incident show in Syracuse. When did music festivals become more than just a party for you? When did you “get it?” In the pilot episode of Almost Familiar, Wes and Elizabeth reflect on these questions and more as they discuss how they got into “the scene” and the evolution of their music tastes. They have a feeling their stories might feel almost familiar. They try not to t...2020-08-1633 min