Rave to the Grave

This is Part 2 of our episode with Baseck, as part of our collaborationg with Holly Dicker and her book, Dance or Die. We pick up where episode 1 left off, with Baseck discussing his later journey in the hardcore rave scene, the formation of L.A. crew Dark Matter Soundsystem and his transition from turntablism to using drum machines and modular synths. We talk about his collaborations with Boys Noize, AG Cook and Lady Gaga, his favorite sounds and gear and the resurgence of trance. We also talk about talk about creativity, community and the meaning of this music and culture, plus fun stuff like Terminator, arpeggiators and the mall! This is part two of a two-part episode, hosted by Vivian Host aka Star Eyes. For more info and extras, visit Ravetothegrave.org or Instagram @ravetothe.grave.

In this special collaborative episode with Dance or Die, I'm talking to Derrick Estrada, better known in the worlds of breakcore, hardcore, jungle and sonic synthesis as Baseck. Baseck was raised in Lancaster, California halfway between the Angeles National Forest and the Mojave Desert. As a youth he became intoxicated by car bass test CDs, scratch records, jungle mixtapes, gangster rap, and illegal raves. Put this all in a blender with DIY punk, Chicano subculture and a battle mentality and you get halfway to what Baseck is about. Sometimes Baseck is playing wild shows that combine turntablism, live hardware, modded gameboys and thrash vocals; sometimes he is throwing raves, designing clothes, doing noise shows at the museum, or making synth modules. He's collaborated with Boys Noize, Charli XCX, A.G. Cook and Zach de la Rocha and recorded for too many labels to name. He calls in from his current home in Tulsa, Oklahoma to talk about cutty L.A. raves, Midwest hardcore, sonic transformation and how he became a warrior of the breaks. This is part one of a two part episode, hosted by Vivian Host aka Star Eyes. For more info and extras, visit Ravetothegrave.org or Instagram @ravetothe.grave.

In this special collaborative episode with Dance or Die, author Holly Dee sits down with Siuli Ko in the Netherlands. Siuli has been integral to the Dutch free party rave scene since its late '80s acid punk beginnings. From fronting the noisy DIY group MINIGOD to organising some of The Hague's first basement raves, Siuli was a rebel youth with a diehard love of music and bringing people together beneath the blinding flash of a strobe. Whilst living in one of Holland's most famous squats Blauwe Aanslag, she organised the infamous Acid Planet parties where Unit Moebius and the Bunker label forged their cantankerous acid techno punk sound. Linking up with the newly exiled Spiral Tribe in the early '90s, she helped establish the Network 23 record distribution network and launched her own labels Grijs and Nocturnal State a.o. to support local talent. Four decades in, Siuli is still playing vinyl, raving, and producing multimedia exhibitions and festivals – we find out more about the extraordinary journey of this cornerstone of the scene. Hosted by Holly Dicker (aka Holly Dee). For more info and extras, visit Ravetothegrave.org or Instagram @ravetothe.grave.

This episode kicks off our collaborative mini-series with Dance or Die on hardcore and what better way to start the whole thing than by talking to Holly Dicker aka Holly Dee. Holly is a music journalist and raver who has devoted over a decade to covering the history of hardcore while working for places like Resident Advisor, Boiler Room, Tresor and PRSPCT Records. Then she spent four years of blood, sweat and tears writing Dance or Die, a book that traces the history and evolution of hardcore electronic music. Holly and I talk about her formative experiences from renegade UK drum 'n' bass bunker raves to free tekno parties, breakcore squats and Dutch gabber mega-raves. We also discuss the cornerstones of hardcore, compare notes as rave journalists, discuss changing visual and surveillance culture and explore current women-led, queer and inclusive hardcore movements. Hosted by Vivian Host (aka DJ Star Eyes). For more info and extras, visit Ravetothegrave.org or Instagram @ravetothe.grave.

Journey from Montreal to various raves on the African continent with San Farafina and Hervé from Montréal's post-border interdiscipinary collective Moonshine. We explore their journey from throwing full-moon house parties in 2014 to linking up with the African diaspora around the globe, along the way building a brand, creative hub, and party institution. We hear about what's going on in Kinshasa, Abidjan, Dar es Salaam, Lisbon and beyond and learn how not even electricity cuts, high tides, police and giant insects can keep them from a party. We also discuss their relationship to Vanyfox (our guest on episode #39), the evolution of batida, the changing landscape of DJing worldwide and our run-ins with Game of Thrones characters at the rave. Hosted by Vivian Host (aka DJ Star Eyes). For more info and extras, visit Ravetothegrave.org or Instagram @ravetothe.grave.