Founder of Pitchfork and music media pioneer Ryan Schreiber sits down with Kai Whiston for the latest episode of Prod, tracing the journey from a teenage bedroom project to Pitchfork’s ascent as the internet’s most influential music voice for the last feature of Lux Cache Season 9. Schreiber explores the publication’s transition from dial-up era uploads to round-the-clock criticism, investigates how regional sound identities can still flourish in a streaming economy, and explores what today’s artists and creatives can contribute when they share their work with true intent rather than algorithmic compliance.

As the founding editor of Pitchfork, Ryan Schreiber rewrote the rules of music media, guiding a DIY web-zine into a global barometer of taste that could amplify unknown acts overnight and interrogate mainstream giants with equal rigour. His career spans two decades of cultural disruption: launching festivals that turned online discourse into physical community, and ultimately steering the site through its Condé Nast acquisition before stepping away to write and reflect. Since leaving Pitchfork in 2019, Schreiber has consulted for emerging media projects, guest-lectured at universities, and curated a weekly “What’s Good” playlist that retains his ear for new music. Schrieber is currently writing the definitive Pitchfork memoir—an inside chronicle that traces the site’s DIY origins, its cultural high-water marks, and the personal reckonings of it's legacy.
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Did it begin with a sound, or with the echo of a sound? Do we truly find ourselves at the mercy of digital reflections, or have we simply mistaken the mirror for the muse? Is validation a currency, a compass, or a curse? What if the creative plateau isn’t a failure of output, but a failure to tune into autonomy, competence, and connection? Is the plateau a myth sold to us by a culture that worships peaks? When the novelty fades, what remains? Does the studio serve us, or do we serve it? Is a feedback loop the sound of growth, or a scream of isolation? When we patch into ourselves, what are we actually routing through? Can maturity include moments of embarrassment? Can art exist without the product? Is the project the point, or is it just a byproduct of a deeper ecology? At what cost do we protect ourselves from sincerity? If vulnerability is risk, is it also the only path to real resonance? In a world of endless reflection, can we still locate the source?
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Why worship the crackle of vinyl if we’ve never held a needle? How does tweaking a filter cutoff become a meditation? When does a “flaw”—a stuttering snare, a breath caught mid-take—outshine quantised perfection? Can an 808 ever mirror the womb’s hum, or are we just scripting synthetic mythologies? What if constraints birth inspiration the well-equipped ignore? Does MIDI’s tremor hold more soul than audio’s marble permanence? Is nostalgia’s static a warm lie or a truth we’ve outrun? Why let collaborators’ voices dilute the vision when friction might magnify it? When does self-critique murder the seedling of intuition? Are we cartographers of the imperceptible or just ghosts polishing fossils?
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Why do we continuously seek to disrupt the methods of music creation, pushing boundaries only when they’re most firmly established? What leads us to embrace both historical music theory's rigour and digital experimentation's uncharted territories? How can the blend of structured technique and chaotic spontaneity become the fertile ground for sonic innovation? How does the tension between discipline and rebellion shape the soundscapes we create? When does innovation turn into clout, and how do we ensure our own voice rises through the noise? Why is it that all the complex rules of balance, space, and frequency seem to vanish in a magical moment of inspiration? What’s the real difference between a ‘happy accident’ and careful crafting, and how do we know when to stop tweaking and start listening? How can something as intangible as a sound wave challenge our perceptions of experience?
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DJ and multidisciplinary artist Juliana Huxtable joins Kai Whiston in our newest episode of Prod, delving into the post-COVID cultural explosion surrounding DJing, her transformative studio collaborations with SOPHIE, the multidimensional nature of her artistic practice, and the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary nightlife.
As a leading voice in nightlife culture, Juliana Huxtable has reshaped the intersections of art, music, and identity. From her early explorations with Virtual DJ at house parties to establishing herself as a pivotal figure in the club scenes of New York and Berlin, her journey embodies the transformative power of nightlife. Her practice spans DJing, visual art, poetry, and performance, showcasing a visionary approach that continues to push the boundaries of contemporary club culture.
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'Prod: Essays On Music Production In The Human Experience' is a podcast that examines the crucial ways that sound, music, and all aspects of audio culture have shaped our lives.

Today we are joined by influential curator and cultural strategist Michail Stangl (opium_hum), discussing the evolution of curatorial standards in music, the dynamic balance between the underground's niche origins and its global impact, and the considerations of local music scenes that resonate on a worldwide scale.

As a leading voice in underground music, Stangl has reshaped the landscape where avant-garde, activism and club cultures intersect. As one of Boiler Room’s primary architects, he was essential in its evolution from a DIY webcast to the world’s largest underground music platform. Beyond Boiler Room, Stangl co-curates Berlin’s pioneering CTM Festival, showcasing a global reach of experimental music in spaces such as Berghain and OXI. Through his ongoing work in radio, festivals, technology and social causes, Stangl is a felt presence of innovation and community within the music world, merging grassroots movements with global connectivity.

You can find our library of tools, tutorials, sample packs, and insights into experimental music production over at LUXCACHE.COM

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What happens when the once-vital world of music media collapses under the weight of algorithmic convenience? As music blogs and niche publications fade into abandonment, how do we navigate the diminishing context that once enriched our understanding of sound and culture? When hot takes, instant gratification and trend speculations have overtaken thoughtful critique, what is lost in the conversation around music? Why, in a world of endless content, do we find ourselves patient and deliberate when curating our own musical experiences in the digital deluge? Are we witnessing the slow death of music media, or is there still a margin to revive the depth and intentionality it once embodied?

'Prod: Essays On Music Production In The Human Experience' is a podcast that examines the crucial ways that sound, music, and all aspects of audio culture have shaped our lives.

Today, we're joined by Sarah Belle Reid, a groundbreaking trumpet player, composer, and innovator in music technology. Sarah is not only celebrated for her pioneering work in experimental music and interactive systems but also for her commitment to exploring the intersection between acoustic tradition and modern electronics.

You can find our library of tools, tutorials, sample packs, and insights into experimental music production over at LUXCACHE.COM

How do genre labels like 'hyperpop' and 'deconstructed club' affect an artist's sense of ownership and identity? How do artists reconcile the need for labels with the desire for creative freedom? What is the role of 'Digital Audio Fantasy' in transcending traditional genre classifications? Can the manipulation of digital sonic elements truly simulate new, otherworldly environments? How does the isolation of modern-day music production affect a producer’s creative process? How has the commodification of auditory disruptions transformed their role in music production? Will the trend towards shorter, more immediate gratification in music composition continue to dominate? How does prioritising efficiency over quality in audio formats affect the listening experience? Can music retain its intrinsic value amidst the pressures of commodification in the digital age? In what ways does 'Digital Audio Fantasy' serve as a cultural and philosophical shift in contemporary soundscapes? How can exploring fantasy in music deepen our understanding of the digital cosmos?

Benn Jordan joins Kai Whiston in the latest episode of 'Prod' to discuss artist autonomy in the contemporary music landscape, exploring musical evolution, the role of being an educator in the online space, and Aphex Twin's foreshadowing concept of 'music as code'.

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