Sam Barker, a Berlin-based music producer, and David Pearce, philosopher and author of The Hedonistic Imperative, join us on a special episode of the FLI Podcast to spread some existential hope. Sam is the author of euphoric sound landscapes inspired by the writings of David Pearce, largely exemplified in his latest album — aptly named "Utility." Sam's artistic excellence, motivated by blissful visions of the future, and David's philosophical and technological writings on the potential for the biological domestication of heaven are a perfect match made for the fusion of artistic, moral, and intellectual excellence. This podcast explores what significance Sam found in David's work, how it informed his music production, and Sam and David's optimistic visions of the future; it also features a guest mix by Sam and plenty of musical content.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

-The relationship between Sam's music and David's writing
-Existential hope
-Ideas from the Hedonistic Imperative
-Sam's albums
-The future of art and music

You can find the page for this podcast here: https://futureoflife.org/2020/06/24/sam-barker-and-david-pearce-on-art-paradise-engineering-and-existential-hope-featuring-a-guest-mix/ 

You can find the mix with no interview portion of the podcast here: https://soundcloud.com/futureoflife/barker-hedonic-recalibration-mix

Where to follow Sam Barker :

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/voltek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/samvoltek
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samvoltek/
Website: https://www.voltek-labs.net/
Bandcamp: https://sambarker.bandcamp.com/

Where to follow Sam's label, Ostgut Ton: 

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ostgutton-official
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ostgut.Ton.OFFICIAL/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ostgutton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ostgut_ton/
Bandcamp: https://ostgut.bandcamp.com/

Timestamps: 

0:00 Intro
5:40 The inspiration around Sam's music
17:38 Barker - Maximum Utility
20:03 David and Sam on their work
23:45 Do any of the tracks evoke specific visions or hopes?
24:40 Barker - Die-Hards Of The Darwinian Order
28:15 Barker - Paradise Engineering
31:20 Barker - Hedonic Treadmill
33:05 The future and evolution of art
54:03 David on how good the future can be
58:36 Guest mix by Barker

Tracklist:

Delta Rain Dance – 1
John Beltran – A Different Dream
Rrose – Horizon
Alexandroid – lvpt3
Datassette – Drizzle Fort
Conrad Sprenger – Opening
JakoJako –  Wavetable#1
Barker & David Goldberg – #3
Barker & Baumecker – Organik (Intro)
Anthony Linell – Fractal Vision
Ametsub – Skydroppin’
Ladyfish\Mewark – Comfortable
JakoJako & Barker – [unreleased]

This podcast is possible because of the support of listeners like you. If you found this conversation to be meaningful or valuable, consider supporting it directly by donating at futureoflife.org/donate. Contributions like yours make these conversations possible.

Sam Barker and David Pearce on Art, Paradise Engineering, and Existential Hope (With Guest Mix)

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former 1020 Resident , now on the lam
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The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is a nonprofit working to reduce global catastrophic and existential risk from powerful technologies. In particular, FLI focuses on risks from artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, nuclear weapons and climate change.

The Institute's work is made up of three main strands: grantmaking for risk reduction, educational outreach, and advocacy within the United Nations, US government and European Union institutions.

FLI has become one of the world's leading voices on the governance of AI having created one of the earliest and most influential sets of governance principles: the Asilomar AI Principles.

Independent record label/event series, co-founded in 2008 by Sam Barker and Ned Beckett.

We focus on irregular, experimental dance music beyond the realm of 4/4 beats, spanning across various genres such as Techno, IDM, Electro, Breakbeats, Rave, Bass & House.

LSR026
Dopplereffekt - Neurotelepathy is out now:
https://leisuresystem.bandcamp.com/album/neurotelepathy

LSR025
JakoJako - Lux EP
https://leisuresystem.bandcamp.com/album/lux-ep

LSR024
Dream Sequence - Do You Still Think About It?
https://leisuresystem.bandcamp.com/album/do-you-still-think-about-it

LSR023
JakoJako - Aequilibration
https://leisuresystem.bandcamp.com/album/aequilibration

Selected past events:
27.04.18 - Berlin, LS.33 @ Säule
31.08.18 - Berlin, LS.34 - 10th Birthday @ Berghain + Säule
19.10.18 - Amsterdam @ ADE
23.11.18 - Berlin, LS.35 @ Berghain
15.12.18 - Paris @ Rex Club
23.08.19 - Berlin @ LS.36 @ Berghain
01.09.19 - Barcelona @ Brunch-In the Park
18.10.19 - Amsterdam @ ADE

DJ & radio host

@RefugeWorldwide

askgoldenmedusa@gmail.com

selected past gigs: 
27.04.18 - berlin, leisure system.33 @ säule
21.06.18 - berlin @ griessmühle
25.08.18 - berlin, atonal festival @ tresor
26.10.18 - berlin, riot @ fiese remiese
03.11.18 - berlin @ diskothek melancholie 2
23.11.18 - berlin, leisure system.35 @ berghain
21.12.18 - berlin, pte @ farbfernseher
08.02.19 - berlin @ arena club
23.02.19 - berlin, weeeirdos @ ohm
08.03.19 - berlin, slave to the rave @ griessmühle
10.05.19 - berlin, herrensauna @ tresor
22.06.19 - wupptertal, yyard @ mauke
13.07.19 - berlin, mother's finest @ griessmühle
19.07.19 - stockholm, weeeirdos @ bronx sauna
23.08.19 - berlin, leisure system.36 @ berghain
01.09.19 - barcelona @ brunch-in the park
14.09.19 - copenhagen, 1yr bday @ ved siden af
04.10.19 - berlin, killekill @ griessmühle
19.10.19 - milan, cyberspeak @ secret warehouse
30.10.19 - leipzig, heet @ mjut
14.12.19 - berlin, refuge @ griessmühle
03.01.20 - berlin @ griessmühle
31.07.20 - berlin @ oxi garten
20.09.20 - berlin @ warning safe rave
03.10.20 - berlin @ oxi garten
18.09.21 - berlin, burial soil @ sc club
25.09.21 - berlin, kontinuum @ trauma bar & kino
05.11.21 - berlin @ aeden
02.04.22 - athens @ qrelcaim
22.04.22 - berlin, grounded theory @ rso
23.04.22 - düsseldorf @ salon des amateurs
28.05.22 - berlin @ oxi
11.06.22 - cologne @ gewölbe
25.06.22 - fluid festival
07.08.22 - berlin @ aeden
19.08.22 - bau mich auf festival
11.11.22 - london, technomate @ unit 58
23.11.22 - berlin @ kwia
11.03.23 - berlin @ oxi
05.05.23 - berlin, takseer @ fitzroy
24.11.23 - berlin, takseer @ panke
03.02.24 - berlin, zilzal @ panke
03.03.24 - berlin, gig for gaza @ lark
30.03.24 - berlin @ oxi
17.04.24 - berlin, la casita @ ohm
18.05.24 - barcelona @ zilzal 
27.09.24 - berlin, no stone @ panke
07.11.24 - berlin, la casita @ ohm
16.11.24 - berlin, soli party @ rote insel
15.02.25 - berlin, soli party @ rigaer94
12.07.25 - berlin, soli party @ zigrastr

a strange owl who lives in the swamp
looking for nice places
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