Shows
Hot TakesEpisode 84: Super Retrospective Mega Episode II Turbo"Hot Takes" season four had to come to an end at some point, so Skelly and Shiro decided to let the mod team take the reins; and they flipped the entire format upside down, posing their own recommendations and takes and lobbing questions at the hosts for the three-hour run. A deviation from the show's typical fare, we got to get some phenomenal insight into the "Hot Takes" mod team's tastes and get the know the two show hosts and their backgrounds quite a bit better too! Six profoundly important scene builders and taste making titans gave us their...2025-05-093h 06Hot TakesEpisode 83: Solodolo84We showcased ubiquitous visual artist and vaporwave superfan Solodolo84 on the 83rd episode of "Hot Takes"! We brought back the community vote format, and Solo had a strong lead from the beginning that he maintained during the entire two weeks of polling, so we gave the people what they wanted. Solodolo84 is a natural conversationalist and man of the people, so the hours felt like minutes as memorable moments abounded, like Solo's story of his experience hearing vaporwave for the first time and the moving series of passionate shout outs he gave at the episode's conclusion. Solodolo84 may or...2025-04-262h 01Hot TakesEpisode 82: V4NGOEFor episode 82 of "Hot Takes", the bois decided to bring another act from the vaporwave zero genre to the broadcast! Skilled breaks-influenced vaporwave producer and 1/2 of VaporVA alongside Roge Corp, V4NGOE is known for being a pioneer of a subset of vaporwave that is more vocal-driven and influenced by breaks and 90's R&B than your typical slowed and reverb fare. He helped drive the growth of that new sound alongside acts like Ahero, Satin Sheets, and Simple Syrup; he and Roge Corp together threw a blockbuster show called i2K in Richmond, Virginia in Summer 2024; and he's...2025-04-122h 00Hot TakesEpisode 81: QuizDuring the eighty-first episode of "Hot Takes", the bois used an ace in the hole and brought on Quiz, a path-finding colleague and friend to the show, spending the evening chatting about a number of things, including the story behind the curation of "Hot Takes Vol. 1" and the difference between listening to metal music and playing it live. Known primarily for his flashy tracksuits and dance moves at live shows, Quiz is also known for being a scene builder, show thrower, and community activist in his personal life. He's a member of Philadelphia-based band Burning Sunrise, de-facto leader of...2025-03-272h 01Hot TakesEpisode 80: Vitesse XFor the eightieth episode of "Hot Takes", we were honored to be graced by the presence of Vitesse X. With a background in cross country skiing, track, and field and having played live in shoegaze and punk rock bands, independent electronic artist and label owner Vitesse X told us her stories and divulged some intensely personal and edifying advice about being sincere with your art. Lots of talk about acts like Fugazi, Paul McCartney, and The Orb, advice on how to sell yourself and get work in New York City performance spaces, and a comical series of takes about...2025-03-142h 00Hot TakesEpisode 79 REMIX: FrankJavCee x Luxury EliteWe brought back the remix format for "Hot Takes" episode 79, featuring previous guests and friends of the show FrankJavCee and Luxury Elite! When it comes to dear friends, engaged members of the community, and perfectly inspirational conversationalists, Frank and Lux were some of the first two people that came to mind when planning for this episode. The energy of episode 79 was at an all time high, with both bois fully nerding out, Lux ranting away, and Frank frenetically jumping from topic to topic in rapid, rampant fashion. Lux may have divulged some info about a secret Vektroid release and...2025-02-212h 05Hot TakesEpisode 78: Miami Nights 1984Skelly, Shiro, and the "Hot Takes" horde got to spend a night with Miami Nights 1984 on the latest episode of the show! A veritable pathfinder of the outrun synthwave music scene, Michael has been recognized as one of the forefathers of the synthwave resurgence and has been involved with numerous high profile projects such as remixing acts like Gotye and Gunship, being featured in Rolling Stone, and sharing a lineup with John Carpenter on the "Rise of the Synths" documentary soundtrack. Our two hours with Miami Nights 1984 blazed by as we discussed things like his enormous hardware collection, his...2025-02-072h 03Hot TakesEpisode 77: Desert Sand Feels Warm at NightDesert Sand Feels Warm at Night visited us this week on "Hot Takes"! An astoundingly skilled and popular vaporwave artist, Desert was surely the people's choice for a guest, and he did not disappoint in the slightest as we discussed all manner of subjects like Desert's social habits, hands-on application of music theory with regards to production, and his experience playing ambient music live at Slushwave 2024. Growing up in a musical household and trained in audio engineering with classical music, Desert Sand Feels Warm at Night came on the scene in the late 2010's and has since released countless...2025-01-262h 01Hot TakesEpisode 76: Zer0 ReiZer0 Rei came on "Hot Takes" this week to chat with us! A well respected musician and visual artist in the vaporwave scene, Zer0 Rei was someone we wanted to amplify and celebrate; and he clued us in about a lot of things during his episode, like his daily work ethic, his work with Desert Sand Feels Warm at Night, and his longtime love of Japanese noise rock band Melt-Banana. Starting with harsh noise music and bringing with him a wealth of experience in the live punk rock and metal scenes, Zer0 now not only runs a vaporwave and...2025-01-102h 02Hot TakesEpisode 75: DV-iWe were visited by the lovely and skilled artist DV-i on "Hot Takes" this week! A mysterious vapor-adjacent audio/visual artist that has been growing meteorically in popularity lately, Valerie's presence on our show meant we were able to share a memorable evening full of anecdotes and quips about topics like escapism, perfectionism, DAWs, VSTs, and more. A consummate multimedia artist that has been creating for over a decade, DV-i has played countless live shows in several countries and has scored a couple of video games as well. We got to hear lore like the concept behind DV-i being...2024-12-202h 03Hot TakesEpisode 74: MiniDisc.wikiWe brought our delightful friend Shortstuf888 from the MiniDisc.wiki project on "Hot Takes" this week! Beloved scene builder and moderator of the MiniDisc.wiki Discord server and "Hot Takes" Discord server, Tiffany excitedly agreed to join us for an evening of exposition and education on the defunct minidisc format, along with some backstory about her journey with the project, and of course a strongly held opinion or two for a treat. Having discovered the format as an adult, Shortstuf and partner Special K built and now manage the wiki page and several social media accounts revolving around the...2024-11-302h 03Hot TakesEpisode 73: Dreamcastle™We got Dreamcastle™ on "Hot Takes" this week! A reclusive multimedia dungeon synth and vaporwave artist, Dreamcastle™ agreed to pull the curtain back about their artwork, share his taste with us, and entertain the chat's thirst for knowledge. Coming from a background of religion, classic musical training, and medieval composition, Dreamcastle™ clearly possesses the tools and ingredients needed to create. He's been working on profoundly cool multimedia projects like live shows in a head-to-toe handmade LEGO minifig costume, a point-and-click adventure game, and a fully rendered film dedicated to the classic era of the LEGO Castle theme during the 80's and...2024-11-142h 00Hot TakesEpisode 72: Runners Club 95We got to host Runners Club 95 this week on "Hot Takes"! The husband in married Swedish vaporwave duo Runners Club 95, Carl joined us on the show to offer advice, compare and contrast pop music in the 90's and 2000's in Sweden vs. America, and of course drop a spicy take or two. Taking the scene by storm in 2017 after earning placement on a highly regarded vaporwave Spotify playlist or two, Runners Club 95 have woven pop songwriting sensibility within and without their vaporwave compositions. They have performed in both London and Los Angeles and have released several well acclaimed albums...2024-10-302h 06Hot TakesEpisode 71: Jumper KimmonsOn the most recent "Hot Takes" episode, we spent some time in the mind of Jumper Kimmons! Experimental electronic musician and visual artist Jumper Kimmons gave us two hours of his time and we spent it well, trading strong opinions, sharing tastes, and musing about various topics during the evening. James may not have been in the scene for long, but he has made many friends and connections and quickly amassed an impressive list of accomplishments with his analog glitch visual style. Earning a meteoric rise within the DIY scene, Jumper has created visual accompaniments for countless artists and...2024-10-112h 03Hot TakesEpisode 70: Van PaugamOn "Hot Takes" latest episode, we brought on world renowned city pop DJ and music critic Van Paugam! Van consented to go a few rounds with us and talk about his unique lived experiences, his opinions about various art and music, and of course to share with us his spiciest takes about future funk and vaporwave. Though he's slowed down as of late, Van Paugam has been DJing and writing about music for quite some time, and he is best known for helping bring attention to city pop music worldwide and for his scathing critique of the vaporwave scene...2024-09-272h 01Hot TakesEpisode 69: strip_silenceHot off the presses for the sixty-ninth episode of iconic internet podcast "Hot Takes", we scheduled a visit with strip_silence! Artist, DJ, "Hot Takes" mod, and Utopia District team member strip joined the bois for a rousing round of riveting history, invigorating geekout sessions, and scalding takes. Coming from a hip-hop background, strip_silence's roots and influence has brought so much well-needed discipline and flavor to the vaporwave community through the classic vapor albums he's released and scratch-heavy DJ sets he's performed. Get the scoop on what it's like to mix on wax vs. Serato or Rekordbox! Hear...2024-09-132h 05Hot TakesEpisode 68 REMIX: Chris††† x LimerenceEpisode 68 of "Hot Takes" is a very special remix episode featuring prior guests Chris††† and Limerence! We had so much fun having them on the show before that when they reached out about reprising their roles we just couldn't decline. Episode 68 was a rowdy one, featuring a lot of banter between the boys, silliness with Limerence, and grumbles with Chris†††. An asinine conversation about pizza, wings, hot chicken, and quesadillas with Limmy may have taken place. Some admonishment from Chris††† about backing content up and running a successful record label needed to take place. And of course Skelly blows his top countless...2024-08-222h 08Hot TakesEpisode 67: SkyYamahaFor "Hot Takes" episode 67, this independent art and music talk show got to host SkyYamaha! Skilled visualist and mystical electronic musician alike, Sky is known for her surreal, enigmatic 3D rendered visual artwork, her danceable spin on vaporwave music, and her foundational work with the Phoenix, Arizona based Desert Dreams Collective. She has played a series of live shows as SkyYamaha in the desert southwest, has released a number of albums and EPs, and has also done work with other visualists in the scene like All Hell Breaks Loops, Chiefahleaf, Tropical Virtual, and Z.E.R.O. Stream the...2024-08-092h 00Hot TakesEpisode 66: 회사AutoOn "Hot Takes" episode sixty-six, Skelly and Shiro spent two hours with 회사Auto, discussing everything from his eight hour long collected Noir release to his many experiences seeing such live acts as My Bloody Valentine and Sigur Rós. Beside his winning smile and playful approach to vaporwave production, 회사Auto is known for collaborating with countless hallmarks acts of the genre such as Nmesh and Saint Pepsi. He has bridged and blended countless flavors of vaporwave and experimental electronic music, and he has released on such prominent vaporwave labels as Business Casual, Dream Catalogue, Fortune 500 Records, and more. Don't miss the...2024-07-192h 00Hot TakesEpisode 65: Heaven SampleFor episode number sixty-five on independent music podcast "Hot Takes", Heaven Sample brought the party with his extensive experience in the music scene and well cultivated taste in art and music. Known as of late as being an up-and-comer with live performances with i2K and Bass House HMTL and collaborations with the likes of Sevag H, Heaven Sample wowed us with his tales of drumming in various bands and touring worldwide pre-vaporwave scene. Come for the stories about drumming in shoegaze band The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and a geekout session with Skelly about South Jersey...2024-07-052h 00Hot TakesEpisode 64: FuturefunkrockerKicking off "Hot Takes" season four, we brought on an OG from the early days of the vaporwave scene, Futurefunkrocker. Known for releasing an album square in the middle of "Chuck Person's Eccojams Vol. 1" and "Spend the Night With Games", Brent has been to hell and back with the scene and adjacent experimental and hypnagogic projects as well, paving the way for vaporwave's popularity via an early, profoundly popular Tumblr page. Futurefunkrocker rapped with the bois for a couple of hours on Monday night about his love of ambient and drone music, seeing Growing and Slowdive live, incessant self...2024-06-212h 00
FutureSounds FMS3E4 - “HOW TO BUG YOUR PARENTS” - WITH WHITEWOODSFutureSounds FM is back for a third season! After a catch-up and some scene-setting with Fakeman and Rob, it's over to Richmond, Virginia and the home studio of Whitewoods. Thom and Enzo caught up with the lo-fi pop pioneer to chat parenthood, Spaceship Earth, nostalgia and the ‘American Dream’. Plus, a few Nobody Here updates along the way, in advance of a future episode interviewing the director of the long-awaited film.USEFUL LINKS:Highway Superstar: https://highwaysuperstar.bandcamp.com/track/caribbean-romance Luxury Elite - talk soup...2024-05-061h 21Hot TakesEpisode 63: Yet Another Retrospective Mega EpisodeAs is now customary for "Hot Takes", we finished season 3 with another mega episode, but this time we wanted to concentrate on involving the community! Bringing on more guests to the show simultaneously than ever before, episode 63 is more brief than the last two retrospective episodes, but what it lacks in length it makes up for with pure chaos! We've lost count of how many people joined us live that night, but we made sure to make room at the table for not just prior guests but friends of the show, donors, mods, and members of the vaporwave community...2024-02-092h 02Hot TakesEpisode 62: Crystal EternalRight on time, we we came forth with episode number sixty-two of "Hot Takes", and our special guest on the show was graphic designer, producer, and show organizer Crystal Eternal! We spent two hours on Monday night talking taste, technique, and opinion with Reina, and it was a delight. Known for their phenomenal graphic art as Chameleon Crafts and future funk/vaporwave production, Crystal Eternal appeared on the show right after releasing "Keygen" on Business Casual and immediately prior to putting on their second Nostalgia Lounge show in Columbus, Ohio, featuring Imcopav, King Quartz, VCR Headaches, and Frankjavcee. We...2024-01-292h 02Hot TakesEpisode 61: Donor LensOpen late and ready for service, "Hot Takes" episode number 61 introduces the gang to well-seasoned and highly requested British vaporwave duo, Donor Lens! Staying up late with the bois and the attending audience, Jay and Thom chopped it up with us, dropped some takes for the audience, and shared some secrets that you won't want to miss during their time on the independent art and music talk show. Known for their prolific work and progressive interpretation of the vaporwave sound, Donor Lens has been moving and shaking, collaborating with many acts in the scene and amassing a dedicated online...2024-01-112h 00Hot TakesEpisode 60: SlyVinyl RecordsThis sixtieth episode of "Hot Takes' featured community member Eric from the label SlyVinyl Records! It made sense to bring Eric onto the show, having been releasing work by independent net-based electronic acts for so long and also recently involved with My Pet Flamingo and Utopia District's Flamingo Fest event. Two hours really wasn't enough time, but what time we did have was packed with fun moments like talking about Eric's background producing and selling skate tapes in school and deep diving into the three's love of Radiohead and their discography. There may or may not have been some...2023-12-182h 02Hot TakesEpisode 59: JD Senuti"Hot Takes" episode 59 is an ode to JD Senuti! When considering the microgenre of vaporwave that overlaps with lo-fi house music, JD Senuti was the most obvious guest for us to invite. We didn't quite get our traditional two hours with our guest due to eleventh hour technical difficulties, but the valuable time that we did have overflowed with memorable conversations like the transgressive nature of vaporwave music and overused tropes in pop and rock music. JD Senuti had some thoughts about eurodance, the future of music, and the band The Drums. The topic of making a living on...2023-12-031h 49Hot TakesEpisode 58: Device Operator"Hot Takes" episode 58 was focused on multifaceted vaporwave up-and-comer Device Operator! Following a pattern of working closely with Pacific Plaza Records and affiliated acts, we managed to dodge an episode delay and coordinate our schedules so that we could sit down for an evening with our friend. Known for their work with Business Casual and Pacific Plaza Records, their affiliation with Luxury Noise's Coast to Coast Collective, and their recent "Kiwi Pop" album of future funk heaters; Device's time he spent with us was definitely not enough, as we learned his backstory and took live audience submitted queries as...2023-11-171h 59Hot TakesEpisode 57: Topaz GangFront and center for "Hot Takes" episode 57 was seminal early vaporwave duo Topaz Gang! We have been wanting to bring some guests from across the pond on to the show for a long time, and what better act to debut with than our old friends Topaz Gang!? Known for their early involvement in the scene, collaborating with such greats as Luxury Elite, Saint Pepsi, and even Vektroid herself, our allotted time with Topaz Gang hardly seemed sufficient to pick their brains and celebrate their stories. We got to know their backstories making chiptune in Newcastle, along with plenty of...2023-10-222h 10Hot TakesEpisode 56: PopcultrFor "Hot Takes" episode 56, Skelly and Shiro called upon vapor-adjacent up-and-comer Popcultr! With a background in dubstep production and audio engineering, Popcultr has put out a handful of tight, clean chillwave-meets-vaporwave releases and has played several live shows within the scene, including Utopia District's tape swap events and Virtual Memory live shows as well. If you take a raincheck on this episode, you'll never get to hear about the unique vocal techniques Popcultr utilizes for his studio and live output, the team's thoughts on leftfield sample usage in vaporwave, the degree to which a DJ should prepare for their...2023-10-052h 02Hot TakesEpisode 55: AugnosEpisode 55 of "Hot Takes" stars longtime friend of the show and vaporwave jack-all-trades Augnos, joining the duo for a series of engrossing discussions about such topics as World of Warcraft and the ability and willingness to teach oneself new skills. In addition to the release of their recent vapor-infused breaks mini-album "Gilded Sentience", Augnos has made a name for themselves with their stellar concert photography portfolio and noteworthy performances as a DJ as well; boasting such events as Crystal Nostalgia and Terminally Chill: NorCal Edition! They also code and mix and master audio too. Enjoy hearing Augnos' thoughts on...2023-09-172h 00Hot TakesEpisode 54: Geometric LullabyOn the 54th episode of "Hot Takes", we strategically chose to bring on vaporwave label owner, artist, and metal musician Geometric Lullaby. A musical polymath with a background in metal now rising to the forefront of the vaporwave live show circuit, Geometric Lullaby was our top choice for the show owing to his Summer Slushy Fest event coming up right before ElectroniCON; and we spent the evening geeking out and learning about the man behind the label and various projects. Our two hours that we shared with the community flew right by, as we chatted about the differences between...2023-08-132h 00Hot TakesEpisode 53: NavigateurStarring in the latest episode of "Hot Takes": Skeleton Lipstick, YUNG SHIRO 白, and guest of honor Navigateur! Genre-bender extraordinaire and an OG producer from the early days of the independent net-based retro electronic music explosion, Navigateur has produced faithfully throughout the chillwave years, found a degree of success in the synthwave scene, and is featured consistently as a key player throughout the early years of the vaporwave movement. We hardly had a sufficient amount of time to cover the number of topics that we wanted to cover with Carlos, touching on such concepts as SPF420 and Turntable.fm groups in...2023-07-312h 01Hot TakesEpisode 52: MingkurrayFor "Hot Takes" episode 52, Mingkurray joined us on the show! Mingkurray, musical artist, visualist, and livestream show organizer, descends upon "Hot Takes" with Skeleton Lipstick and YUNG SHIRO 白 for 120 minutes of inside jokes, insider info, and of course hot takes. Mingkurray's renown transcends many scenes and media, being known for his glitchy vaportrap music, his use of antiquated media like Gameboy Advance cartridges, his decaying digital visual effects, and sprawling livestream URL events. During our episode with Ming, we get to hear about his relationship and work with EDM artist Flux Pavilion. Ming and Shiro share many moments geeking ou...2023-07-241h 59Hot TakesEpisode 51: DatagirlThe latest "Hot Takes" episode stars Skelly, Shiro, and highly coveted special guest Datagirl! An extremely skilled DJ, musician, and visual artist, Datagirl has been working silently within and without the vaporsphere, playing club and house shows, dropping albums on labels like Pacific Plaza Records, and creating phenomenal 3D rendered visuals for livestream events, including for 100% Electronica. Our two hours with Datagirl were over before they even began, discussing such concepts as nostalgia for trance and big beat music, controlling the entire music making process from the ground up, and love for the N64 game Paper Mario! Only on...2023-06-262h 02Hot TakesEpisode 50: Luxury NoiseWe broadcasted with Luxury Noise for this installment of the show! Longtime friend and supporter of the show, Paul's camaraderie, taste in art, outspoken nature, and experience in the industry made him a picture perfect candidate for a "Hot Takes" guest, and we relished the chance to get his take on everything from production techniques to ElectroniCON 3's food truck situation to Roseanne and Webster. Having gotten his start in the vaporwave movement during the pandemic lockdown era, Luxury Noise has since become a force to be reckoned with, contributing heavily to the Coast to Coast Collective's releases and...2023-06-092h 01Hot TakesEpisode 49: Hawaii94This week on "Hot Takes", Skelly and Shiro managed to source Leroy Honeycomb all the way from Melbourne, Australia for an evening chat (well, it was evening for us)! A multi-instrumentalist that's been playing since long before the independent electronic music explosion in the late 2000's, Lee is half of the monumental psychedelic vaporwave duo Surfing, and has released music under the names Hawaii94, Neoclone, and Skyraider. We have been wanting to bring on a guest that isn't living in the Americas since the show's inception, and being that he is so skilled and such a dear friend of...2023-05-261h 58Hot TakesEpisode 48: PatchnotesFor our forty-eighth "Hot Takes" episode, Skeleton Lipstick and YUNG SHIRO 白 brought on fan favorite and red hot up-and-comer Patchnotes, covering all kinds of subject matter that night, including but not necessarily limited to his production background (or lack thereof) and love of M83 and Washed Out. Aside from his gentle, enthusiastic affect, Patchnotes is known for his portfolio of vaporwave-infused takes on breaks and dream pop that have been released via Pacific Plaza Records. He's also one of the OG members of the Coast to Coast Collective, which is known for their stellar vaporwave-influenced breaks and house music co...2023-05-142h 00Hot TakesEpisode 47: SegaoctopusSegaoctopus was our featured guest during this talk show episode! Renowned for her vapor-adjacent visual art, Segaoctopus has been a highly coveted guest for us to have on "Hot Takes", and we relished getting her input on various animation techniques like rotoscoping and stop animation, making sure to not miss our chance to also pick her brain on favorite anime and Western animated media. A longtime visual artist, Segaoctopus has released several longform digital comic strips and has produced everything from chibi caricatures to rotoscoped animations of various vaporwave acts, such as Equip. As an immensely treasured member of...2023-04-292h 01Hot TakesEpisode 46: Geo MetroThis week on "Hot Takes" episode 46, after a brief hiatus, Skelly and Shiro pulled Philly area act Geo Metro for the show! Eccentric, well-spoken, and a heavyweight in the Philadelphia independent electronic music scene, it made perfect sense for us to bring Andrew on; and he kept us entertained with his thoughts and stories about Britpop, Bossa Nova, wall-of-sound in music, and his chain-smoking sixty-year-old former roommate from Iraq. A man of many aliases, Geo Metro can also be found online as Aesir Archivist, Bonneville, Mad Gear, and Vimanas. He's released albums on several labels, including Philly's own Virtua94...2023-04-222h 02Hot TakesEpisode 45: King QuartzOn the "Hot Takes" vaporwave talk show this week, longtime vaporwave and vaportrap artist King Quartz agreed to come by for a session! Drawing from myriad influences and scenes, King Quartz brought a lot to the table, regaling us with their perspective on what they consider to be bad art, their thoughts on micro-genres, and their experience with roadside schnitzel and goulash while touring in Germany. Master of many different instruments both analog and digital, Quartz has played and performed in metal music, hip-hop, and vaporwave music too, releasing a couple of highly lauded album in the mid 2010's...2023-03-312h 00Hot TakesEpisode 44: WhitewoodsThis week on "Hot Takes", we were graced with the presence of one Whitewoods! An OG act from the early chillwave and vaporwave days, Whitewoods spent his two hours chatting us up about his love of CDs as a physical medium, collecting vintage commercial blocks during the Tumblr heyday, and his experience seeing Radiohead live during the "Kid A" tour. Having produced his brand of hypnagogic vaporwave for years, Whitewoods has been an enigmatic and evasive actor in the scene that has inspired many since the early days. Not only has he been creating and releasing music for over...2023-03-162h 02Hot TakesEpisode 43: CyanBlueOn "Hot Takes" this week, we had a sitdown session with future funk hit-maker CyanBlue! Enigmatic, eccentric, and extremely skilled, we brought Cyan on to fill us in, treat us to some of his insights, and expose any uninitiated viewers to his outrageous personality. Having been producing music outside the vaporwave and future funk scene for the past ten years, CyanBlue exploded on the scene in October, 2021 with "Cyantology", a phenomenal album comprised of chopped and looped 80's R&B and new jack swing. Not only did he revitalize the scene, as he would claim, but he's since gone...2023-03-032h 02Hot TakesEpisode 42: Another Retrospective Mega EpisodeIn honor of last year's conclusion to season one of "Hot Takes", we decided once again to see how many of our former guests from both seasons would be interested in joining us for another mega episode, and so many people agreed to participate! Managing to pack even more guests into the timeslot than ever before, episode 42 is flush with exciting moments courtesy of our beloved talent, all tasked with arguing, debating, geeking out, and/or offering us only their hottest of takes during their group sessions! Thirty-five guests joined us throughout the evening, in addition to a private...2023-01-073h 18Hot TakesEpisode 41: FrankJavCeeFor the penultimate episode of "Hot Takes" season 2, we got FrankJavCee to join us on stream! Francisco Contreras, the real person behind the renowned internet comedian, DJ, and producer tag, joined us for a rap session, featuring two hours' worth of wild stories, insightful wisdom, and hilarious takes. FrankJavCee is an internet OG and famous Youtuber, best known for his instructional videos poking fun at niche internet-based genres of electronic music like chiptune, trap music, and vaporwave. Building on his success on Soundcloud and Youtube, FrankJavCee has not only performed at many festivals and parties, but has also released...2022-12-222h 06Hot TakesEpisode 40: Bee FantThis week on "Hot Takes", we had a visit with Bee Fant! Known for their visual art and music within the vaporwave scene, Bee rapped with us all night, bringing plenty of insight, thoughts, opinions, and takes to the show for us! Having been involved with the scene for a while, Bee has developed an iconic visual art motif that's instantly recognizable by anyone that knows anything about the vaporwave movement. They've worked with countless labels, artists, and characters within the vaporsphere, most notably producing flyer artwork for Dan Mason, Mossy Frog Tapes, 식료품Groceries, and live shows put on by the...2022-12-122h 03Hot TakesEpisode 39: Sonavision Deluxe x KomitOn episode 18 of "Hot Takes" season 2, we brought on some vaporwave up-and-comers to join us on the show: Sonavision Deluxe and Komit! Sona and Komit, the wizards behind the breakout independent electronic release "Creation", took over "Hot Takes" with the bois for a couple of hours' worth of production techniques, secret inspirational sauce, and ranting and raving about good and bad art alike with the live audience in chat. Having received critical acclaim due to their recent release and work with acts like Windows96, we felt it necessary to pick Sona and Komit's brains, owing to the quality of...2022-11-262h 02Hot TakesEpisode 38: Fashionista BoyfriendFor our latest episode of "Hot Takes", we brought on a vaporwave-infused chillwave up-and-comer, Fashionista Boyfriend! We've wanted to bring Casey on for a long time, so of course we were excited to have the opportunity to showcase his latest work, get the 311 on his production techniques, hear the stories behind his artform, and find out what his most controversial opinions on music and art were. Fashionista Boyfriend has been involved in the vaporwave scene for quite some time, releasing work and performing under the names AM Àffairs, Fashionista Boyfriend, and Gaiaxis. He has collaborated with OG artists like K...2022-11-122h 04Hot TakesEpisode 37: Eventual InfinityAfter a brief hiatus, we brought to our listeners and viewers the hotly anticipated 37th episode of "Hot Takes", and joining us was vaporwave/vaportrap up-and-comer Eventual Infinity! For two hours last Monday night, we got to talk production, tastes, personal views, and more with Paden. Known for their acclaimed early vaportrap work and albums released via fan favorite Pacific Plaza Records, Eventual Infinity when they joined us was on the cusp of releasing a brand new album that delves into a totally different more dreampunk-infused soundfont. The timing of our visit with them could not have been more...2022-10-302h 01Hot TakesEpisode 36: DrinkyourtearsHot and ready for "Hot Takes" episode number 36, we brought to this net-based independent electronic music talk show a well-respected synthpop-influenced-vaporwave up-and-comer, Drinkyourtears! Joining the bois and the whole "Hot Takes" family, Drinkyourtears regaled us with opinions, takes, and tales for the two hours that we were privileged to spend with her. Known for her DIY production style and new wave and synthpop influence, Drinkyourtears has been making moves lately, building upon her fusion of strong, melodramatic melody, pop sensibility, and retro soundfont. She boasts many dedicated fans in the scene and adjacent scenes and has collaborated with other...2022-10-022h 04Hot TakesEpisode 35: 3D BLASTEpisode 35 of "Hot Takes" is dedicated to all things 3D BLAST! Randy was an obvious choice for the show, being not only an accomplished DJ and artist, but also known on the internet for their brazen opinions and hilarious delivery. The two hours felt like nothing and brimmed with noteworthy moments like talking shop about Denon DJ decks and the benefits and drawbacks of playing live shows and dance parties. 3D BLAST may or may not have had some things to say regarding Daft Punk, Kanye West, and Panic at the Disco during the show. An in-depth dive into...2022-09-182h 05Hot TakesEpisode 34: Digital SexOur focus for the 34th episode of "Hot Takes" was senior vaporwave producer Dreaming Diary fka Digital Sex! Sebastian reached out to us about making an appearance on the show, and we rushed his scheduled episode due to our excitement over working with someone so tenured and multifaceted in the scene. Known for their work with Dream Catalogue, their vaporwave collaboration with OSCOB, and their recent work in the synthpop genre, the two hours we had with Dreaming Diary flew right by, as we enjoyed each others' company and the live viewers helped us pick their brain. Conversations were...2022-09-042h 01Hot TakesEpisode 33: Be CarefulDuring our thirty-third episode, Skeleton Lipstick and YUNG SHIRO 白 contrived to sit down with vaporwave up-and-comer Be Careful! Creator of Homesick FM, mastermind behind the recent Circuit Zero 2022 Summer Tour, and prolific recording artist, Be Careful has already dipped their feet into so many different vibrant sections of the community. They've been instrumental in organizing various livestream events and have helped promote the work of countless burgeoning artists in the DIY scene, all of this while regularly creating quality new solo content themselves. If you decide to skip this episode, you'll miss out on the secrets behind the planning of...2022-08-242h 05Hot TakesEpisode 32: PJ RorkFor our 32nd episode, "Hot Takes" features one of our own die hard supporters and visual artists for the show, PJ Rork, for an engrossing conversation on such topics as worldbuilding in fiction media and creating art for one's enjoyment rather than for a paycheck. In addition to their sharp sense of humor and flair for style, PJ Rork is known for their iconic high fantasy character design and caricature work, boasting clients such as Equip, The Yetee, and us too! They also create lush imaginary video game OST music as Fighting Island, having recently released the immersive concept...2022-07-302h 05Hot TakesEpisode 31: 18 Carat AffairFor "Hot Takes" episode 31, we lucked into an interview with eccentric and elusive vaporwave auteur 18 Carat Affair. Having been engineering retro-themed net-based independent electronic music since before the days of vaporwave, 18 Carat Affair was a top pick and in fact a stretch goal for the show; and we spent the evening enchanted by insight into their craft and taste in art and music. The evening seemed to end before it even started, as we heard 18 Carat's poetic takes on everything from age-old methods of cratedigging, the importance of negative emotions like terror and tragedy in art, and the extremely...2022-07-162h 03Hot TakesEpisode 30: Persona La AveThe latest episode of "Hot Takes" features Skelly, Shiro, and special guest Persona La Ave! A multifaceted genre-bender and tenured member of the independent net-based retro electronic music club, Persona has released music for years through myriad labels under their alias, spanning the gamut of genres, including chillwave, hypnagogic pop, and vaporwave. We found that our time with Persona La Ave was far too short lived, as we covered such topics as old side projects (like Purity Ring's), Onlyfans, and the early chillwave scene with Toro y Moi and Washed Out in the South. Only on the hottest vaporwave...2022-07-022h 07Hot TakesEpisode 29: SyllabusSyllabus joined us this time around for our bi-weekly broadcast session! Longtime member of the classic vaporwave club, Syllabus' contributions to the movement and her resurgence in popularity made for a perfect guest on "Hot Takes", and we very much enjoyed getting her thoughts on everything from OG favorites like Lay Bac and Topaz Gang to famous auteurs like Nine Inch Nails; and of course we got her vote on the eternal My Bloody Valentine vs. Slowdive battle. Having gotten her start early on in the vaporwave movement, Syllabus has released on nearly every major vapor label, including Business...2022-06-192h 03Hot TakesEpisode 28: AuragraphFor this week's "Hot Takes" episode, the boys pulled multifaceted audio/visual artist Auragraph in for a quick session! An extremely skilled genre-bender and jack-of-all-trades, Carlos was a shoo-in for the show, and he kept us on our toes with his story of coming to vaporwave via 猫 シ Corp and Hiraeth Records, sharing production tips, a show-and-tell of his formidable synth collection, and musings on his experience working as a sound engineer on Netflix original show "Stranger Things". Having proven himself an adept composer via releases on Hiraeth, Auragraph went on to release, perform, and participate in livestream events put on b...2022-06-031h 58Hot TakesEpisode 27: Dan Mason ダン·メイソンThis week on the "Hot Takes" talk show, fan favorite and good friend of the show Dan Mason ダン·メイソン stopped by to hang! A veteran in the scene at this point, we went round and round with Dan, getting the scoop on his musical background with his family, his favorite Midwest emo acts, and his abhorrence of bad brass patches in music. Multitalented and well-versed in various music styles, the "saddest man in vaporwave" has produced myriad different styles of electronic and non-electronic music, has deeply entrenched himself in the community, and has performed for several livestream events and IRL events, inclu...2022-05-142h 10Hot TakesEpisode 26: VaperrorFor "Hot Takes" this week, we invited Vaperror to join us! One of the very early players in the vaportrap movement, Jeff spent a couple hours chatting with Skelly and Shiro about early seminal bands he was involved in, secret sideprojects of his that haven't yet seen the light of day, and divulged some conceptual background info on the Vaperror project, while opining on the state of Georgia and our good friend George Clanton. Producing music, DJing, doing graphic design, and running Plus 100 Records, Vaperror is a man that seemingly never runs out of energy, involving and embedding himself...2022-04-302h 07Hot TakesEpisode 25: Virtua94This week on "Hot Takes", we had a tête-à-tête with Philadelphia's eminent collective and label, Virtua94! Comprised of numerous artists and DJ's in the Philly area, we brought on the two biggest names in the group, Mr. Hideyoshi and Toadofsky, to talk shop, share some insight, and regale us with stories. Having been involved in the vaporwave and vapor-adjacent scene in Philly for years as both artists and DJ's, Victor and Andrew have been releasing albums like Enraile's "Spaceworld 2000", throwing dance parties like Super Party Ball, and have also been integral to the visual art direction of...2022-04-162h 09Hot TakesEpisode 24: Vincent RememberFor this week's "Hot Takes" episode, we brought Vincent Remember to the neighborhood! Vaporwave jack-of-all-trades and master of them all, Mark joined the conversation and brought to the table plenty of insightful stories, lovely compliments, and wild opinions about art and music! An early actor in the scene, Vincent Remember has released material with several noteworthy labels like Business Casual, Bedlam Tapes, and Dream Catalogue, and he even released a split album with famed producer Telepath テレパシー能力者. He draws from countless sources in his material, having done everything from slushwave to high energy mashups to indie rock music in his current project...2022-03-262h 01Hot TakesEpisode 23: Hotel PoolsFor the sophomore episode of "Hot Takes" season 2, we got Hotel Pools to join the broadcast! Ben Braun, the mastermind behind Billboard charting chillsynth act Hotel Pools, crashes "Hot Takes" with Skelly and Shiro for 2+ hours of crazy stories, intimate insight, and back-and-forth with the bois and the live audience in chat. Hotel Pools is one of the more well known and successful acts in the popular chillsynth subgenre, which builds upon the gentler analog sounds often used in synthwave and chillwave music. Helping launch independent electronic music label Stratford Ct into a higher echelon of success and popularity...2022-03-122h 05Hot TakesEpisode 22: DiscoholicTo kick off the second season of "Hot Takes", we brought on one of the hottest, funniest personalities in the entire vaporwave scene, Discoholic! The Disco man said he was honored to join us, so of course we jumped at the chance to delve into the lore behind his character, hear his story of how he came to find the scene, and get as many antics and hot takes out of the man as possible during our two hours that we spent together. Discoholic exploded into the future funk scene a ways back, being best known for his outrageous...2022-02-242h 10Hot TakesEpisode 21: A Retrospective Mega EpisodeAs a very special conclusion to our first season of independent music podcast "Hot Takes", Skelly and Shiro decided to see how many of their first twenty guests would be down to join them for a retrospective mega-sode, and to no one's surprise, all but one said yes. The most tremendous undertaking since the show's inception, episode 21 features almost four hours of rousing content courtesy of 20 special guests rotating in and out at breakneck speed, all tasked with bringing to the airwaves their hot take to end all hot takes! Twenty legends joined in throughout the evening, in addition...2022-01-223h 54Hot TakesEpisode 20: LunitasComing in hot for the twentieth episode of independent art talk show "Hot Takes", we brought on another big visual artist in the vaporwave scene, Lunitas! Joining the Hot Takes homies for two hours' worth of deep dives, Lunitas brought the takes, the taste, and some fascinating stories and background behind their project. Known for being one of the most iconic and distinctive looking visual artists in the scene, Lunitas has designed artwork for Dan Mason, Popcultr, 猫 シ Corp, and several flyers for shows and events as well, like Austin's Body Cruise vapor dance party. Tune in to hear Lunitas tell...2022-01-072h 05Hot TakesEpisode 19: Golden Living Room"Hot Takes" episode 19 showcases illustrious ambient and experimental vaporwave producer Golden Living Room! Joel was itching to come on the show, and we were flattered to feature such a renowned artist from the early heydays of Dream Catalogue, known also for collaborating with the prolific artist Telepath テレパシー能力者 and performing at both ElectroniCON festivals. This latest episode flew right by and had a lot of memorable moments, including a handful of special attendees, like Shiro's dad and a Golden Living Room superfan that tuned in during the early morning hours in their country. There may or may not have been some insight int...2021-12-242h 03Hot TakesEpisode 18: Keith RankinFor "Hot Takes" episode 18, Skelly and Shiro bring on another member of Death's Dynamic Shroud.wmv to the vaporwave talk show experience! Illustrious freelance graphic designer, label head of experimental and vaporwave label Orange Milk Records, experimental electronic artist Giant Claw, and finally 1/3 of acclaimed vaporwave trio Death's Dynamic Shroud.wmv, Keith Rankin is a serious heavyweight in the independent art and music scene. He's had a hand in the album artwork for countless acts in and outside of the vaporwave scene, had his artwork featured in countless high profile publications, was instrumental in the creation of some of...2021-12-112h 08Hot TakesEpisode 17:Groovy KaijuOn "Hot Takes" episode number 17, Skelly and Shiro brought on a last minute guest, very dear friend of the show Groovy Kaiju, discussing a wide range of topics throughout the evening including the benefits of lo-fi versus hi-fi music and the stories behind the album artwork for Aaron's releases. Aside from his kind, friendly personality and iconic hairflip, Groovy Kaiju is known for his prolific production in future funk and lo-fi hip-hop with side projects Aviscerall and Marquice Turner. He's also one of the resident DJ's for Pacific Plaza Records' Orange County based vapor dance party Virtual Memory and...2021-11-252h 08Hot TakesEpisode 16: EyeclickIn the second episode of vaporwave talk show "Hot Takes", we decided to bring on vaporwave duo Eyelick so that we could enjoy their antics and learn from their yin and yang. Exploding into 2020 and 2021 with a handful of uniquely curated themed albums featuring a variety of never before used samples, Eyeclick members Enraile and Will Wade regaled us with stories and gave us insight into their own tastes in art and music and what they bring to the production of new Eyeclick material. Getting into the nitty gritty of genres like K pop, riddim, and bloghaus, trash talking...2021-11-142h 07Hot TakesEpisode 15: NmeshOn the latest episode of "Hot Takes", the bois and the whole Hot Squad got to kick it with Nmesh! An engimatic, eccentric, and prolific long-term member of the scene, Alex has received numerous accolades for his work and has been covered by countless high profile publications, along with a slew of remixes, mixtapes, and awe-inspiring audio/visual creations to his name. Our visit with Nmesh flew by as we covered topics like his myriad doppelgangers at the ElectroniCON festivals, his experience drumming in various bands, and of course his thoughts on things like New Jack Swing, harsh noise...2021-11-012h 03Hot TakesEpisode 14: Luxury EliteThis week on "Hot Takes", we were visited by Luxury Elite! Vaporwave OG and the person that coined that genre name "late night lo-fi", Lux was a shoo-in for the show, and having her join us paid off tenfold as we covered topics like nostalgia for late night TV programming, her experience with vaporwave over the years, and her love of tapes and URL shows. Having gotten her start as early as 2011 via Turntable and Black Moth Super Rainbow fanclubs, Lux eventually started the wildly successful and seminal vaporwave label Fortune 500 and has gone on to host countless radio...2021-09-302h 08Hot TakesEpisode 13: Pacific PlazaOn this week's episode of "Hot Takes", Alyx from Pacific Plaza Records came by to chat! Head honcho of one of vaporwave's most reputable labels, Alyx was an easy top choice for our next guest, and he kept us entertained with stories about his musical background, his wild employment history, and his thoughts on paying talent, including visual artists. Having mixed at countless parties and produced his own music as Trucks Passing Trucks, Alyx not only runs a successful vapor-adjacent DIY label but also throws the wildly successful Virtual Memory vapor dance parties in Orange County, California, starring himself...2021-09-192h 12Hot TakesEpisode 12: Porter VongOn "Hot Takes" this week, we were graced with the presence of our dear friend Porter Vong! A well loved relative newcomer to the scene, we brought Michael on for a rousing evening of discussion regarding love and vulnerability in interpersonal relationships, favorite and least favorite artists and live experiences, and a plethora of other spicy personal revelations from the wealthiest man in vaporwave. A hyperbolic reaction to some of the most prolific, clout chasing acts in the scene, Porter Vong's hypercapitalist persona is based on 80's self-help personality Tom Vu, and his charming roleplay has captivated countless fans...2021-08-201h 59Hot TakesEpisode 11: FibreThis week on "Hot Takes", we spent some time with our good friend Fibre! Future funk OG from back in the early days of the genre's explosion in popularity, Alex enthusiastically consented to join us for an evening of rousing tales, comparing notes on DJing and production, and of course, some strongly held opinions on music genres. Producing since a very young age, Fibre was a part of Artzie Music and Future Society Collective, riding the wave during future funk's heyday, and now he runs his own label and studio, Montaime. In addition to all of those accolades, Alex...2021-08-052h 07Hot TakesEpisode 10: Chlorine MistFor this week's episode of "Hot Takes", we brought on an instrumental hip-hop OG, Chlorine Mist! A cloud rap producer since the late 2000's and 1/2 of acclaimed duo Friendzone, Dylan joined us to express his feelings regarding art and production, geek out with us about shared favorite acts and artists, and chop it up with the chatroom. Having been involved with various bands and collectives since his early teenage years, Dylan has dipped his feet in everything from noise music to trap music, producing extensively for the Greenova crew, which boasted acts like Main Attrakionz, Mondre M.A.N...2021-07-222h 04Hot TakesEpisode 9: Angel MarcloidThis week on "Hot Takes", we got to host Angel Marcloid! The mastermind behind avant-garde fusion project Fire-Toolz and slushwave act Mindspring Memories, Angel showed up to regale us with tales, dole out advice to young up-and-coming vaporwave artist, and of course gush with us about favorite acts and genres of music. An extremely prolific provocateur, Angel has performed in countless bands and performed alongside numerous big players in the metalcore and other scenes. She has mixed and mastered a plethora of releases and does her own graphic design for many of her releases. On this episode, we get...2021-07-082h 13Hot TakesEpisode 8: Chris†††For the latest episode of "Hot Takes", we got Chris††† in the house! John Zobele, the mastermind behind Chris†††, 아버지, and eminent vaporwave label Business Casual, jumps on the podcast with Skeleton Lipstick and YUNG SHIRO 白 for 2+ hours of strong opinions, intimate musings, and back-and-forth with the live audience in chat. Chris††† is one of the early players in the vaporwave scene, headlining the more plunderphonics aspect of the movement. Directly instrumental in the release and distribution of countless noteworthy releases, Mr. Zobele also arguably pioneered the deathdream subgenre with his side project 아버지. In today's episode, we learn about how his rejection by a label du jour...2021-06-142h 31Hot TakesEpisode 7: EquipFor the latest episode of "Hot Takes", we are joined by the cursed knight himself, Equip! Kevin agreed to grace us with his presence and bring to the show his unique take on matters, his personal opinions on music and art, and of course one or two spicy hot takes. Equip has been in the game for a long time, but he is best known for his vaporwave-influenced spin on 16- and 32-bit video game music in full-lengths like "I Dreamed of a Palace in the Sky" and "Cursebreaker X". In this episode, we cover everything from Equip's favorite...2021-06-142h 19Hot TakesEpisode 6: Vaporspace StLComing in hot for episode six of vaporwave talk show "Hot Takes", we bring the Vaporspace StL bois on for our very first double feature! Ronny Louvre and Sound Market, the heart and mind behind popular St. Louis vapor dance party, join Skelly and Shiro for a riveting round of hard hitting questions, ripping rants, and spicy hot takes. Known for being one of the first and most fervently promoted vaporwave shows in America, Vaporspace StL has featured countless heavy hitters, including but not limited to Equip, Vaperror, and Yuni Wa, and a whole slew of other greats amongst...2021-06-142h 17Hot TakesEpisode 5: Yuni Wa"Hot Takes" episode five features legendary future funk and lo-fi hip-hop producer Yuni Wa! Our good friend is one of the most prolific and seasoned acts in the game and has mixed and performed at countless IRL shows across the US, including headlining at Vaporspace in St Louis, Missouri. Despite some technical difficulties, episode 5 featured a lot of memorable moments that you'll just have to press the play button to experience. Geeking out about 80's R&B and quiet storm music may or may not have happened. Some insightful words about how to best uplift and celebrate the voices...2021-06-142h 03Hot TakesEpisode 4: Tech HonorsOn the fourth episode of vaporwave talk show "Hot Takes", Skeleton Lipstick and YUNG SHIRO 白 are joined by a COVID positive Tech Honors! 1/3 of seminal vaporwave trio Death's Dynamic Shroud.wav and founding member of the Ghost Diamond Collective, Tech is known for his production skills, off-the-wall sense of humor, his beautiful singing voice, and his uncanny resemblance to Fred Figglehorn. He's played countless live shows as Death's Dynamic Shroud.wmv and appears regularly on "Dino Hour with Tech Honors" and the "Neo Gaia" livestream, both hosted on 100% Electronica's Twitch and Youtube channels. Tune in to watch Tech deep di...2021-06-142h 17Hot TakesEpisode 3: FM SkylineFor our third episode on "Hot Takes", Skeleton Lipstick and YUNG SHIRO 白 got to rap with vaporwave artist FM Skyline for a couple of hours, covering everything from his love of the "Mind's Eye" series to his scandalous "mild take" about a certain popular track in the scene. Beside his cool, chill demeanor and distinctive hairstyle, FM Skyline is known for his MIDI-esque original compositions, his memorable performances at both ElectroniCON events, and for his astounding contributions to the 100% Electronica catalog. Be sure to listen in as we get him to play "Fuck, Marry, Kill" with the audience's least fa...2021-06-142h 03Hot TakesEpisode 2: The Wizard of LonelinessIn the second episode of vaporwave talk show "Hot Takes", The Wizard of Loneliness crashes the party with his unique insight and sage advice. Known in part for his zany skits on social media and also for his carefully curated selection of releases as the label owner of Halcyon Tapes, The Wiz regaled us with more than a handful of his own hot takes. Come for the Animal Collective geekout session and the moment Skeleton Lipstick called the Wiz and YUNG SHIRO 白 "old", and stay for a rousing debate about re-using material for livestreams and a poignant moment in wh...2021-06-142h 28Hot TakesEpisode 1: Indy AdvantFor the premiere of "Hot Takes", we are joined by vaporwave maven Indy Advant. A well loved figure in the community, Indy heads the Utopia District collective, runs Tiger Blood Tapes, and was instrumental in the creation of the new defunct Private Suite magazine and podcast. Indy joins us as we rant about synthwave, The Mars Volta, bruised egos, and the importance of eccojams in the vaporwave scene, along with a host of other topics.
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