In this episode of Poducer, recorded live at Summer’s End Smokeout, we sit down with Manic Focus. The genre-bending producer who has built a reputation on soulful beats, heavy grooves, and an unfiltered approach to storytelling through music.

From his first concert memories to the dynamics of working with his brother as both manager and creative partner, Manic Focus opens up about the honesty, trust, and tension that shape his art. We dive into his unique production style, how he avoids chasing trends by designing sounds with swing and swagger, and the lessons he’s learned from years of performing on stage.

He also speaks candidly about living with bipolar I, how music serves as his medicine, and why being open about mental health matters not only for himself but for the wider community of fans and artists. Along the way, we touch on his biggest live inspirations, creative rituals, and what it means to keep growing while staying true to your sound.

🎧 Listen to Manic Focus: https://manicfocus.com
📲 Follow Manic Focus: https://www.instagram.com/manicfocus
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

Chapters:
00:00 – First Concert Memories (Pretenders & B-52s)
01:12 – Working With His Brother as Manager
04:23 – Early Inspirations & Making Beats
05:42 – Sound Design, Wobbles, and Avoiding Trends
10:41 – Music, Mental Health & Bipolar I Journey
12:40 – Game-Changing Concert: Moby’s Play Tour

The Podcast for Producers

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Summer's End Smokeout 2025: Manic Focus

In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Charlie Heldman — Chicago-based artist, producer, and founder of Windy City Wavs, a grassroots music production collective dedicated to building community, fostering creativity, and supporting independent artists.

Charlie opens up about his journey from his early teenage band days to developing his own R&B-inspired sound — blending sweet lyrics with soulful, sexy beats. We explore his approach to growth as an artist, the role of collaboration in shaping his music, and how consistency and community feedback have fueled his development.

Beyond music, Charlie shares his perspective as a studying therapist, reflecting on mental health, empathy, and the importance of creating safe spaces for expression. He talks candidly about navigating self-doubt, learning to shift negative self-talk, and balancing passion with purpose.

📲 Follow Charlie Heldman: https://www.instagram.com/cbbeatsofficial/
🌊 Learn more about Windy City Waves: https://www.instagram.com/windycitywaves/
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

Charlie Heldman: Building Community, Creating R&B Vibes & Finding Balance

In this collaboration episode of Poducer with NSW, we sit down with UK producer HIJINX (formerly known as Mr. K) — an artist who’s evolved from heavyweight dubstep roots into a boundary-pushing sound that blends groove, texture, and raw energy.

From his beginnings in Essex and early raves at Brixton Academy to releasing on respected labels like 1985 Music, White Peach, and his own imprint Fortune, HIJINX opens up about the creative reinvention that’s carried him through two distinct eras of his career.

We dive into his transition from Mr. K to HIJINX, his shifting production style, and why he’s more interested in originality and groove than chasing trends. Along the way, he reflects on collaboration, the challenges of staying inspired in dubstep, and the crossover influences of metal, skate culture, and techno in his music.

HIJINX also shares candid thoughts on the music industry — from the realities of releasing on major labels to the freedom of running his own platform, and what true success looks like outside of metrics.

📲 Follow HIJINX: https://www.instagram.com/morehijinx/
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

NSW x Poducer Ep 7 HIJINX — From Mr. K to Mischief, Evolution & Originality in 140

In this episode of Poducer, recorded live at Summer’s End Smokeout in Republic, Michigan, we sit down with Hypho and CØNTRA — two forward-thinking artists bridging UK and US bass culture with a shared love for heavy sound design, collaboration, and community.

Hypho reflects on his roots in Manchester’s dubstep and MC scene, releasing on labels like Swamp81 before co-founding Manuka Records, while CØNTRA shares his path from classical violin and guitar to discovering rave culture in San Francisco and eventually settling in Denver’s thriving bass scene.

We dive into the vision behind Manuka, the freedom of running an independent label, and their upcoming plans — from no-phone club tours to festival highlights like Wicked Woods and Lost Lands. Along the way, Hypho and CØNTRA open up about influences ranging from UK drum & bass and 90s hip-hop to French downtempo, world bass, and reggae.

📲 Follow Hypho: https://www.instagram.com/hypho.mnk/
📲 Follow CØNTRA: https://www.instagram.com/contra.slaps/
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

Summer's End Smokeout 2025: Hypho & CØNTRA

In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Zino B and Jimmy Bonks — producers, engineers, and co-founders of Channel Recording Company, a brand-new Chicago studio designed to feel like a living room while sounding world-class.

They share the story of transforming a raw warehouse into a fully treated space in Fort Knox Studios, complete with cedar diffusion walls, a 25×25 ft live room, and a glass-walled ISO booth big enough for a grand piano. We dive into their philosophy of hospitality-driven engineering, why “good sound should be the default,” and how creating a comfortable environment frees artists to focus on making their best music.

Beyond the technical build, Zino B and Jimmy reflect on their paths through the Chicago scene — from Joyride sessions with legends like Buddy Guy to Grammy-nominated projects, to building a community hub where artistry, collaboration, and care come first. They also tackle big topics like AI in music, the importance of “first listeners” in mastering, and how true fans sustain independent art.

📲 Follow Channel Recording Company: https://www.instagram.com/channelingcompany/
🎚️ Learn more & book sessions: https://channelrecordingcompany.com/
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

00:00 Intro — Channel opens to the public
03:15 From Joyride to Channel: credits, craft, and workflow
05:45 Designing for comfort: glass wall, open doors, quiet rooms
14:35 Building a studio (cedar, diffusion, floors)
23:50 What makes Channel different (hospitality + musicianship)
33:05 Chicago scene: world/jazz, Americana, blues lineage
45:20 AI & the “first listener” argument for human mastering
52:30 True fans, community, and sustainable careers 
57:40 What’s next: projects, outreach, and how to book

Channel — Inside Chicago’s Most Artist-Friendly Studio (w/ Zino B & Jimmy Bonks)

In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Chicago creatives Greg Corner — bassist, DJ, promoter, and co-founder of the legendary Darkwave Disco parties. From playing bass with Kill Hannah to booking breakout artists at JBTV, Greg has lived through multiple eras of Chicago music and helped shape the city’s underground into a global influence.

He shares the journey from sneaking into raves and punk shows to sharing stages with icons, why the “bloghouse” years created a blueprint for today’s DJ culture, and what it really takes to build a scene. We dive into his philosophy on curation, taste, and trust, plus the challenges of breaking artists in a city that often celebrates its own only after they’ve left.

Greg also gives his perspective on the future: how AI could flood dance music, why bands may be poised for a comeback, and why real fans — not algorithms — still decide which art lasts.

🎧 Follow Greg Corner: https://www.instagram.com/gregcorner
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

00:00 – Intro
01:22 – Darkwave Disco & Chicago’s Bloghouse Era
06:00 – From Metal to Electronic: Skrillex, Justice & Bass Culture
11:20 – Joining Kill Hannah & Blending Rock with Electronic Influences
22:31 – Life on a Major Label in the 2000s
28:20 – JBTV & Discovering Bands Before They Blew Up
36:43 – Why Music Became a Rich Kids’ Pastime
41:05 – AI, Dance Music, and the Future of Live Bands
46:16 – Culture Over Headliners: Throwing Parties in Chicago
48:46 – Daft Punk, French Touch & Chicago House Legacy
55:36 – Bands Writing Together vs. Bedroom Producers
1:12:32 – From Tracks to Songs: How EDM Went Mainstream
1:13:21 – DIY Culture vs. Capitalist Festivals
1:15:07 – Touring the World with Kill Hannah
1:20:22 – Behind the Scenes with Kesha’s Comeback
1:36:12 – Best Concert Ever: Rage Against the Machine at Metro
1:42:43 – Closing Thoughts & Shoutouts

Greg Corner — Kill Hannah, Darkwave Disco & Chicago’s Underground Music Scene

In this collaboration episode of Poducer with NSW, we sit down with Detroit-based producer DÊTRE (pronounced “Detra”) an artist whose path runs from guitars and rap vocals to intricate bass design, blending grit, groove, and raw self-expression.

He grows weed by day (as an irrigation manager) to building bass-heavy tracks rooted in emotion and precision, DÊTRE opens up about his creative evolution, mental health, and the balance between passion and stability. We explore the meaning behind his name, how Vital and additive distortion shaped his sound, and why he sometimes records his own vocal hooks instead of relying on samples.

We dive into Detroit’s warehouse scene, Movement Festival, and the “homie fest” culture that keeps underground music alive. Along the way, DÊTRE shares unfiltered thoughts on panic attacks, moderation, and staying grounded while navigating the modern music industry from corporate festivals to small, community-built events.

📲 Follow DÊTRE: https://linktr.ee/detrebeats?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacLYvf57T6mdjiybQWbGOWeEzhpKSANYlABzHC1JLo5hEjARFVH6P-MSWFIBQ_aem__Tf82tMrHP8JgfUHa6d9JA
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

Chapters:
00:00 Cold open (ZYNs, Electric Forest)
03:14 Intro & name—what “DÊTRE” means
03:38 Day job: growing weed (irrigation manager)
05:46 Panic attacks, Apple Watch chaos, and coping
10:41 Healthcare costs & hot takes
11:06 From trim tables to iPad-run grow ops
12:36 Michigan vs. Chicago weed reality
15:54 Moderation, mushrooms, and festival culture
19:23 Music without substances & set-night nerves
22:55 Icebreaker → first concert (Eminem/G-Unit)
24:47 Family roots, college crew, and starting to produce
30:51 Play: “10 Bands” (vocal hooks + identity)
36:13 Sound design: Vital, harmonic distortion, additive layers
38:18 “James Cameron,” Titanic jokes, and advisors from hell
40:14 DIY Detroit warehouse parties
42:46 Movement Festival & why it matters
49:16 Is bass music “up”? Pockets, Denver, and $18 drinks
55:36 Why small festivals slap (Infrasound energy)
57:02 Growth, money, and keeping your values
1:07:17 Ignore the negativity, build what you love
1:12:48 Play: “Quarter Hook” (quarter-note concept)
1:20:37 Play: “Wind” (Wubaholics)
1:23:55 Following the signs + choosing your people
1:29:29 Favorite live memory: ZHU at Burning Man
1:33:53 Shoutouts & where to find DÊTRE

DÊTRE — Detroit Roots, Panic Attacks & The Reality of Modern Bass Music | NSW x Poducer EP 8

In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Dr. Shannon Switzer, Doctor of Audiology at Sensaphonics, the Chicago based clinic trusted by touring artists around the world. Specializing in music industry hearing health, Dr. Switzer bridges the gap between science and sound, helping musicians protect the very tool that defines their craft.

From growing up in Vermont to studying audiology at Northwestern and joining Sensaphonics, she shares how her background in music led her to a career focused on preserving it. We dive into how hearing actually works, why the modern world has become dangerously loud, and how overexposure to sound quietly reshapes your ability to create and enjoy music.

Dr. Switzer breaks down everything from the physics of hearing and tinnitus to custom in ear protection, high fidelity earplugs, and the misconceptions that make musicians ignore hearing care until it’s too late. She also explains why properly fitted, filtered earplugs can improve how music sounds and how Sensaphonics helped pioneer custom in ear monitors for some of the biggest names in the industry.

From the science of the cochlea to the culture of live shows in Chicago, this episode bridges the worlds of music and medicine, showing why protecting your ears isn’t just about safety; it’s about preserving your art.

🎧 Follow Dr. Shannon Switzer: https://www.instagram.com/ears.by.shannon/?hl=en
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

The Podcast for Producers

Chapters:

00:00 Intro and welcome
00:36 Who she is and why hearing wellness matters
03:41 First concert, Vermont roots, and moving to Chicago
09:37 Path to audiology
15:16 Custom molds and Sensaphonics
16:27 How hearing works
26:33 Reading tests and the classic noise notch
32:13 Safe listening standards and in-ear monitors
35:36 Protect your ears: high-fidelity plugs and customs
43:27 Fan moments and client privacy
50:55 Inside a Sensaphonics appointment and finding the right audiologist
54:10 Sensaphonics origin and the in-house lab
1:00:18 Tinnitus overview, ear canal resonance, and measuring sound
1:06:44 Testing ears, education, and practical protection
1:18:13 Acoustic reflex and early signs of loss
1:24:39 Tinnitus deep dive, myths, and OAEs
1:34:37 Spreading hearing-health culture and why hearing matters
1:39:25 Why EDM is high risk and lifestyle factors
1:44:34 Headphones vs speakers, phone limiter, and dB Check
1:52:20 Tech today: hearing aids, cochlear implants, 3DME, and research
2:05:40 Venue rules in Europe and HELA certification
2:08:13 Most impactful concert
2:14:36 Shout-outs to teachers
2:19:32 How to book and socials
2:21:33 Wrap-up
2:22:46 Outro and CTA

Dr. Shannon Switzer — Hearing Health, Sensaphonics & Why the World Got Too Loud

In this Poducer: Chicago Series episode, we sit down with John Rynecki, a DJ, producer, event promoter, and educator whose mission is simple: bring abundance to the dance floor. From growing up across Panama, Puerto Rico, and Germany to finding his creative home in Chicago, John shares how his multicultural upbringing shaped his sound and his vision for a more collaborative, community-driven nightlife.

He talks about his early influences from salsa and Everything But the Girl to Craig David and Rusko at Congress Theater, and how those experiences evolved into his approach to DJing: sets that breathe, connect, and tell stories rather than chase drops. We explore how growing up abroad helped him view music as a universal language, and why he believes Chicago’s scene can thrive through openness and shared purpose rather than competition.

John also shares the story behind co-founding the Chicago Electronic Music Conference (CEMC), an event built to educate, connect, and inspire, and how it aims to elevate dance music to the same cultural status as jazz and blues. He reflects on the realities of leaving a stable tech career to pursue music full-time, the challenges of sustaining creativity in today’s economy, and what “success” really means as a modern artist.

From imagining a city-backed Chicago Electronic Music Week to breaking down how to market independent releases and use data-driven ads effectively, John offers grounded, actionable insights for artists carving their path.

🎧 Follow John Rynecki: https://linktr.ee/jryneckimusic?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaf2Dbmz2LTETyU2La0npSgj8Cz3oKyLkCfXR5XiUukwSdmkZrhecuL5ZAZaEA_aem_AwVhYoROjgZFE7nqWkJhqg
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

The Podcast for Producers

Chapters:

00:00 Intro and welcome to Poducer
01:34 First concerts: Shakira and Rusko at Congress Theater
06:04 Musical influences: Salsa, Everything But the Girl, Craig David
08:45 Early production talk: Reese bass and breakbeat love
12:32 Growing up abroad and third-culture identity
17:09 Chicago as home and finding purpose in house music
23:24 Founding CEMC and building a movement inspired by Amsterdam Dance Event
26:39 The city’s role in preserving house music
31:27 Mainstream vs progressive house and the art of storytelling sets
35:45 CEMC year one: Wins, lessons, and next steps
38:00 How to make dance music a respected art form
40:49 Money talk: The truth about art and survival
45:42 Defining success as an artist
51:33 The idea for a Chicago Electronic Music Week
55:15 Track break: “Sirena” (deep progressive and jazz-house blend)
1:03:27 Jazz-house culture and the future of day events
1:06:26 Smart marketing for independent artists
1:08:35 Most influential sets and final shout-outs

John Rynecki | Chicago Series — Building Chicago’s Electronic Music Culture & The Vision Behind CEMC

In this Poducer: Chicago Series episode, we sit down with Aria Pedraza, community archivist and founder of the Midwest Rave Culture Archive (MWRCA) — a living digital collection preserving the Midwest’s underground electronic music history. From growing up surrounded by DJs and renegade parties to scanning and cataloging decades of flyers, zines, cassette tapes, and VHS footage, Aria shares how the project began and why documenting rave culture matters now more than ever.

She opens up about the process of digitizing fragile materials, the ethics of archiving a misunderstood subculture, and how Chicago’s DIY spirit continues to shape the city’s dance music identity. Together, we explore the evolution of the Midwest rave scene — from illegal warehouse parties with 24-hour info lines to the influence of modern technology — and discuss how community-driven preservation keeps these stories alive for future generations.

Aria also reflects on her vision for exhibitions, collaborations with museums, and the future of the archive as both a cultural and academic resource. For anyone passionate about house, techno, and the roots of Midwest dance music, this episode captures the heart of a movement determined not to be forgotten.

🎧 Follow Aria Pedraza & MWRCA: https://mwrca.org
https://archive.org/details/@midwest_rave_culture_archive/uploads
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

The Podcast for Producers

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and welcome to Poducer
02:14 Aria’s career in aesthetics and how it connects to archiving
03:40 Preserving rave flyers, zines, and VHS footage
06:08 Her first rave experience and family’s role in the culture
10:38 How the Midwest rave scene spread across Chicago, Milwaukee, and beyond
14:39 Decoding rave flyers and what they tell us about the times
15:58 The era of illegal parties and 24-hour info lines
17:18 Designers, sound systems, and the artistry of early flyers
20:33 Archiving ethics: ownership, representation, and cultural preservation
27:37 Tech, scanning, and community-based preservation methods
42:49 Storage, humidity, and the science of keeping history alive
46:02 From analog to digital: when archiving meets art
50:40 Museums, installations, and building legitimacy for rave culture
52:48 House vs. rave: defining the difference in Chicago’s lineage
54:47 The philosophy behind early raves—DIY, defiance, and creativity
58:38 Why archiving matters and how memory keeps scenes alive
1:03:13 What survives: from marble inscriptions to digital decay
1:12:02 How sound evolved from jungle and acid to modern house and techno
1:14:49 The future of MWRCA and the importance of community input
1:20:40 Where to find the archive and how to get involved

Aria Pedraza | Chicago Series — Preserving the Midwest’s Rave Legacy & The Story Behind MWRCA

The Podcast for Producers



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