AIR Podcast Emma Robertson

Episode 67 invites a producer, DJ, and live performer who is probably my most requested guest…. I’m happy to welcome @JochemPaap, also known as Speedy J.

With a string of successful releases on Warp and Plus 8 throughout the 90s and early 2000s, Speedy J’s name became synonymous with a special kind of driving, peak-time techno that helped define the genre. Although he’s explored ambient, sampling, and the world of audio-visual, his deepest dive has been into live performance and improvisation, both solo and in collaboration with fellow techno stalwarts like Chris Liebing, Surgeon, and Lucy.

His pandemic-inspired project STOOR is just the latest in a decade of devotion to the craft of live performance, welcoming other artists into the fold for an entirely improvised live show that can last as long as eight hours. In this conversation, Speedy J and I explore the intricacies of improvisation, the thrill of the moment, and how he captures captures that excitement in the studio.


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Music:
"Klave" - Speedy J (2010) (2021 remaster)
"The Fun Equations" - Speedy J (1995) (2021 remaster)
"The Oil Zone" - Speedy J (1995) (2021 remaster)


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This month’s episode welcomes British producer Leon @Vynehall. After a start DJing around the UK, Leon’s focus shifted to production as he released his debut EP Music for the Uninvited, and a widely acclaimed first album on Ninja Tune called Nothing in Still. Inspired by his grandparents emigration from the UK to New York, Nothing is Still also included a novella and a set of short films, an entire world crafted from the seed of the music. His second and much loved album Rare Forever, however, focused inwards, as Leon explored his own identity, capability, and ambition; although it lacks a traditional narrative, Leon himself became the protagonist. With Rare Forever as a jumping off point, Leon and I explore his journey in self-acceptance, his growth as an artist, and how to thrive from failure as well as success.

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Music:
"Duofade" - Leon Vynehall (2024)
"Ecce! Ego!" - Leon Vynehall (2021)
"Drinking it in Again (Chapter IV) - Leon Vynehall (2018)


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This month’s episode welcomes Reykjavik based Australian producer, composer, and sound artist @BenFrost. Early albums like Theory of Machines, By The Throat, and Solaris established Ben Frost as a frontrunner in conceptual, boundary-pushing, and sometimes aggressive electronic music — echoed in his earth shaking live performances, which themselves are celebrations of spine tingling bass frequencies and volume.

Not for the faint of heart, his music is inspired by punk rock guitar, minimalism, and in the case of his most recent album, heavy metal, often eschewing storytelling altogether in favour of a visceral, physical musical experience. And yet, his work in film and TV scoring, dance, and even opera suggests he’s still interested in narrative artwork.


In this conversation, Ben and I explore the different facets of storytelling, or lack thereof, as a musician, his new album Scope Neglect, and his approach to composition across these decidedly different fields.


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Music:

"Unreal in the Eyes of the Dead" - Ben Frost (2024)
"Chimera" - Ben Frost (2024)
"Ich Dachte, Ich Haette Mehr Zeit" - Ben Frost, from the Netflix series Dark (2019)
"The Burning World" - Ben Frost (2022)

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This month, my guest is a true icon in the UK dance music scene, and that is Manchester’s own DJ Paulette.

A club kid from her earliest days, Paulette cut her teeth at Manchester’s number one club, before earning her first residency at Flesh, the beloved queer party at the infamous nightclub Hacienda. She helped forge the electronic music scene in the UK as one of country’s first and best-loved black female DJs, celebrated for her expert selection and her inimitable charisma behind the decks. She continues to carry the torch for the next generation of young artists — a journey explored at length in her new memoir.

In this conversation, Paulette and I discuss her book Welcome to the Club, her vital and pioneering role in music, and what it means to be trailblazer.

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Music:
"Sheroes" - Massey & DJ Paulette (2018)
"And I’m Telling You" - Donna Giles (Stonebridge Poppers Full Delight Remix) (1994)
"Violins & Things" - Massey & DJ Paulette (2018)


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Best known for albums like Radio Amor, Ravedeath 1972, Harmony in Ultraviolet, and his most recent project, No Highs, @TimHecker has always been interested in going beyond the superficialities of ambient — preferring to craft music that challenges, confuses, enthralls, and excites.

His creative process reflects this, often including bleeding channels, feedbacking pieces, pitch shifting, noise, and distortion. His live shows, meanwhile, can be flooded with darkness or cloaked in fog.

In this conversation, Tim and I discuss his musical philosophy and love of creative and artistic dissonance, and the inherent challenges in making music that isn’t always easy.


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Music:

"Monotony" - Tim Hecker (2023)
"In The Fog" - Tim Hecker (2011)
"Chimeras" - Tim Hecker (2006)


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This is also the last episode of 2023, and I’m so grateful for what’s been an incredible year of episodes. I’m happy to say that AIR has grown since last year, but on top of that, I feel more and more like I’m making something of value. Thank you all for your ongoing support, can’t wait to show you what I’ve got in store for next year.

This month’s episode welcomes Russian producer, composer, live performer, and sound artist @Dasha-Rush. Dasha has become known for pushing the boundaries of music and art, exploring the visual realm through AV projects, performance, and art installations, including use of spatial sound, generative imagery, light, and even dance performance. The constant seeker, Dasha’s fascination about everything from science to black holes to the human brain have opened up her productions beyond the realm of every day techno. In this conversation we explore her every intricate curiosity and how they intertwine with her music, her art, and her life.


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Music:
"Summer Photons" - Dasha Rush (2023)
"Light and Dust" - Dasha Rush (2023)
"Dance With Edgar Poe" - Dasha Rush (2015)
"Outer Space" - Dasha Rush (2015)


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