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

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

In this live episode of Poducer, recorded at Summer’s End Smokeout, we sit down with Joe Nice — a pioneering figure often credited with bringing Dubstep to the United States. From launching the legendary Dub War parties in New York to shaping the global spread of the genre, Joe has been at the heart of underground culture for nearly two decades.

We dive into his journey as a tastemaker, his thoughts on the modern expectation for DJs to also be producers, and how he stays grounded through organization, sobriety, and a commitment to mental health. Joe also speaks on the responsibility of artists to use their platform for advocacy, his favorite sound systems around the world, and why unionization could be the future of fair treatment in electronic music.

🔥 Whether you’re a longtime Dubstep head or just discovering the roots of the scene, this conversation is packed with history, honesty, and perspective from one of the culture’s most respected voices.

📲 Follow Joe Nice: https://www.instagram.com/joenicedj

🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction at Summer’s End Smokeout

00:20 – Joe Nice & the origins of Dub War

04:09 – DJ vs Producer: changing expectations in electronic music

07:16 – Mental health, energy, and preparation on tour

12:34 – Sobriety, veganism & living with balance

13:40 – Advocacy, activism & using your platform responsibly

18:10 – Sound system culture & community through music and food

22:13 – Unionization & fair treatment for DJs and artists

25:11 – Closing thoughts & gratitude

In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Chicago-based house producer, DJ, and attorney Arum — a rising voice in the underground scene known for his soulful, groove-forward productions, community organizing, and fiercely human-centered approach to music.

He shares how early influences like Crystal Castles and Death from Above shaped his love for experimental rhythms, and why he now champions house music with emotion, texture, and intention.

Arum breaks down his creative process, his views on algorithm-driven promotion, and how he uses marketing tools like Meta ads with intention — all while avoiding the industry’s pressure to chase empty numbers. We also dive into his legal background, discussing music contracts, AI concerns, and why empowering artists with knowledge is at the core of his mission.

Plus, we talk about Beyond Ecstasy Vol. 2, the multi-genre event he’s curating at Book Club Chicago on August 2, featuring names like Backpack, Dante Drives, Yannaa Lynette, and more — a night that blends house, hip-hop, experimental electronics, and rave history into one vibrant community gathering.

🎟️ Beyond Ecstasy Vol. 2 Tickets: https://bookclubchi.com/event/beyond_____ecstasy-2-ft-backpack-beatz-more/bookclub/?direct=true

🎧 Listen to Arum: https://linktr.ee/iswearimarum

📲 Follow Arum: https://instagram.com/iswearimarum

🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

🔗 Links & Credits

📲 Follow Sling Wave: https://linktr.ee/Sling_Wave

📲 Follow JoeBig: https://linktr.ee/JoeBig

🎧 Listen to Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

📌 Support the Podcast: Like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth artist interviews and behind-the-scenes insights from the music industry!

In this episode of Poducer at Sound Haven 2024, we link up with Tree Gaud and Ozztin — two close friends and rising names in the underground bass scene. From throwing down original edits on the UFO stage to geeking out about lasers at a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert, this convo covers it all.

We get into their unique approaches to performance, like Tree Gaud’s “Flip God” set packed with bootlegs and bass, and Ozztin’s genre-blurring style that lands somewhere between weird and heavy. They talk about growing up on Grateful Dead, Weird Al, and Adventure Club, and how those early shows shaped their path into electronic music. We also hear the full story of a surprise backstage moment with Skrillex at Soul Quest, and why that night was a turning point.

From dreadlock maintenance to military stories and festival bromance, this one’s full of wild memories, unexpected tangents, and pure Sound Haven energy.

📍 Recorded live at Sound Haven Festival 2024

🎙 Hosted by Jerry Valakas | Poducer: The Podcast for Producers

👉 Follow Tree Gaud: https://linktr.ee/TreeGaud?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaccTsBipv1fYdAEiG65aLYp0KbbXDZVmmtYloN9p-RX_G5uRU24GmVCpaMwdQ_aem_2p_Gsc6BxDJO58xMfm63ZA

👉 Follow Ozztin: https://linktr.ee/ozztinmusic?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAael8zUmyeKJFGQ3TTXzmg-uaUrlpt6n3czoPNegkPTtkun1Nr5jxp74e29MfQ_aem_WOzd5ia5U1g21Mwixk7uww

🎟️ Grab your tickets for Sound Haven 2025 now at https://soundhavenfestival.com/

Medicine Place joins Poducer live at Sound Haven 2024 to share stories about his musical roots, cultural background, and the path that led him from college basketball to becoming one of the tallest DJs in the game. We talk about his first concert (Beyoncé in Miami), growing up on a reservation, and how the name “Medicine Place” represents something deeper than just music.

This episode touches on Native tradition, the healing power of sound, learning from elders, and how Electric Forest changed everything. Plus shoutouts to Snake Blood, Big Bird, and the Wiggles.

📍 Recorded live at Sound Haven Festival 2024

🎙 Hosted by Jerry Valakas | Poducer: The Podcast for Producers

👉 Follow Medicine Place: https://linktr.ee/medicineplace?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacPFX-Mjflt8TOprinTwU8TkTedkZSqoyuDxPaIj0ZVFpvqw3TDm6nsbd0-0A_aem_N5o15RTfhTkISNKczg3qvg

🎟️ Grab your tickets for Sound Haven 2025 now at Had the chance to catch up with the homies EAZYBAKED backstage at Sound Haven 2024. We talk about their first concert (Mac Miller + hotboxed arenas), early inspiration from Wiz Khalifa’s day-to-day vlogs, and what it feels like to play iconic venues like Red Rocks and the Ogden Theater.

They share stories from the road, what it’s like being in full creative control right now, and how wild their Shambhala set was last weekend. There’s some Swiftie talk, too—don’t ask, just watch.

📍 Recorded live at Sound Haven Festival 2024

🎙 Hosted by Jerry Valakas | Poducer: The Podcast for Producers

👉 Follow EAZYBAKED: https://linktr.ee/eazybaked?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadJIOMbGZF-r5kBmOvJVt2k18ZVokto4BQbIhFK7aazo3cWx65InJuTU2OS4w_aem_itILm9OPprQrQUk-1VIg7Q

🎟️ Grab your tickets for Sound Haven 2025 now at https://soundhavenfestival.com/

Had the chance to catch up with the homies EAZYBAKED backstage at Sound Haven 2024. We talk about their first concert (Mac Miller + hotboxed arenas), early inspiration from Wiz Khalifa’s day-to-day vlogs, and what it feels like to play iconic venues like Red Rocks and the Ogden Theater.

They share stories from the road, what it’s like being in full creative control right now, and how wild their Shambhala set was last weekend. There’s some Swiftie talk, too—don’t ask, just watch.

📍 Recorded live at Sound Haven Festival 2024

🎙 Hosted by Jerry Valakas | Poducer: The Podcast for Producers

👉 Follow EAZYBAKED: https://linktr.ee/eazybaked?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadJIOMbGZF-r5kBmOvJVt2k18ZVokto4BQbIhFK7aazo3cWx65InJuTU2OS4w_aem_itILm9OPprQrQUk-1VIg7Q

🎟️ Grab your tickets for Sound Haven 2025 now at Had the chance to catch up with the homies EAZYBAKED backstage at Sound Haven 2024. We talk about their first concert (Mac Miller + hotboxed arenas), early inspiration from Wiz Khalifa’s day-to-day vlogs, and what it feels like to play iconic venues like Red Rocks and the Ogden Theater.

They share stories from the road, what it’s like being in full creative control right now, and how wild their Shambhala set was last weekend. There’s some Swiftie talk, too—don’t ask, just watch.

📍 Recorded live at Sound Haven Festival 2024

🎙 Hosted by Jerry Valakas | Poducer: The Podcast for Producers

👉 Follow EAZYBAKED: https://linktr.ee/eazybaked?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadJIOMbGZF-r5kBmOvJVt2k18ZVokto4BQbIhFK7aazo3cWx65InJuTU2OS4w_aem_itILm9OPprQrQUk-1VIg7Q

🎟️ Grab your tickets for Sound Haven 2025 now at https://soundhavenfestival.com/

Artie Do Good dives into the philosophy of himboism, exploring the rise of emotionally intelligent masculinity in modern culture. From Dragon Ball Z's Goku to Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, we break down the core traits of the modern himbo: strength, kindness, and a blissful lack of ego.

Artie shares how working with kids in the age of Andrew Tate has influenced his perspective on masculinity, and why he’s embracing the “himbo” identity as a way to promote compassion, vulnerability, and self-awareness. We also touch on the need to shatter outdated gender norms, and how big-hearted energy just might help save the world.

Links:

🎶 Follow Artie Do Good: https://www.instagram.com/artiedogood

💿 Listen on Bandcamp: https://artiedogood.bandcamp.com

🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast

In this collaboration episode of Poducer with NSW, we connect with genre-warping UK producer Sam Binga — known for pushing the boundaries of club music with raw textures, cheeky edits, and forward-thinking sound design. From his early days in Bristol’s drum & bass scene to becoming a global force in hybrid electronic music, Binga shares the creative mindset and community ethos that have shaped his path.

We dig into his evolution as an artist, his approach to collaboration (with names like Nikki Nair, Addison Groove, and Bianca Oblivion), and why he's more interested in vibe than perfection. Binga talks honestly about the current state of gig culture, the pressure of staying relevant on social media, and how he balances underground respect with broader recognition. He also shares the story behind Pineapple Records, his outlet for fun, functional, and distinctly weird club tools — and how it’s become a space for artists to explore sound without overthinking.

🎧 Listen to Sam Binga: https://sambinga.bandcamp.com

💿 Listen to Pineapple Records: https://pineapplerecords.bandcamp.com/

📲 Follow Sam Binga: https://www.instagram.com/sambingamusic

🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast