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