The myriad of dance music scenes is a symphony of all sorts of souls united by auditory aptitude. And while our identities can be diametrically different, character can strike chords of harmony when least expected.

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

When the music is doing the talking- no words need to be said. And dancefloors present ideal opportunities for body language to build bridges that could potentially lead to social progress. 

Tune in to hear the potential benefits of encounters with strangers, who just might be kind. Of course, so long as they're not creeps.

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

Dancefloors are where we gather in heightened states of vulnerability. Making them uniquely situated opportunities to collectively impact each other. Whether that's for the positive or negative depends on "Give and Take."

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Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

Music is an ever-evolving soundscape, so it can be easy to label songs into buckets. But perhaps the copious and countless genre, subgenre and style names subconsciously limit our exposure to audio we might enjoy.

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

Misogyny is an unequal offender, but the prejudiced culprit isn’t always a straight man. Sexuality and gender don’t preclude anyone from bias towards women- whether intentional or not. And dance music scenes of all types have their unfair share.

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

Liz Warner is among a long lineage of Detroit radio hosts whose prolific perspectives have impacted music and culture globally. For three decades, various iterations of her radio show, "Alternate Take" has introduced, inspired and reminded scores of producers, DJs, music aficionados and novices alike with a wildly eclectic cross section of sounds and deep cuts.

Tune in as we take a deep dive as to why Detroit is so sonically distinct to our souls and ears. And explore Liz’s approach to curating her legendary show, which is unrestricted by the limitations of genre. In this era of significant technological change, we also hypothesize on what the future of radio might look like.

Be sure to check out Alternate Take on WDET 101.9 FM on Thursdays, 8-10pm ET. It’s also aired again on Saturdays 10-midnight ET and can be streamed live and on-demand at WDET.org.

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

Connie Girl, Eric De La Cruz and Shawn Dickerson join host Tovah Feinberg for a live panel discussion recorded at Libera in NYC on March 13, 2025. These esteemed and legendary luminaires- each in their own right, shed light through their lenses of experiences and wisdom to guide, inspire- and perhaps help steady worries during these turbulent times. Because though they can seem unprecedented, dancefloors over the decades have weathered crises of similar scale- such as the AIDs epidemic, the Reagan era and NYC Giuliani nightlife laws.

Just how can we better tap into music at parties? Those essential escape hatches to release and recharge. Because when each of us translates sound into movement, we collectively vent bottled up energy, anxieties, dreams and fears; feeding directly into the delicate ecosystem of nightlife. 

Connie Girl: A trailblazing icon whose indelible influence began as an 80's club kid, fashion model and muse for designers such as Thierry Mugler and Vivienne Westwood. Today, Connie’s far-reaching impact also extends to visual arts and mentorship further evolving global culture. @therealconniegirl

Eric De La Cruz: An international nightlife veteran with a career spanning over four decades in event management, promoting and booking. Eric has been there, done that- has stories in spades…and continues to shape queer nightlife. @the_real_ericdlc

Shawn Dickerson: Longtime NYC nightlife gatekeeper and forever dancer extraordinaire. Shawn’s unmistakable twirls, enigmatic energy and distinctive laugh take just about any dancefloor from meh to magical. @akamrdickerson

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

Everything and nothing in synchronicity. Because a music centered life doesn't mean one or the other.

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

From his formative years to those now spent electrifying stages worldwide, Josh Caffé’s life has been one immersed in music. Decadently so. As a rare artist who’s mastered production, singing/songwriting, performing and DJing, Josh is a jack of all trades- who will jack your body to boot. But though his predilection and fascination with music were apparent from the jump, his path to becoming an artist wasn’t quite as clear.

Tune in to this episode to hear Josh’s unique perspective as to why live performances are of crucial importance at parties. And more essential than ever in an era when DJing is pervasive and live shows are far lesser so.

And check out Josh Caffe's music on: joshcaffe.bandcamp.com & soundcloud.com/josh-caffe

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan

Is the ceaseless cycle of catacalysmic current events occupying to much of your mind?! Focusing on the new rather than the news can at once surprise AND delight you. While it’s no easy to task, it’s one anyone can at least try and put their mind to.

Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform.

Music x Claude Young Jr / Logo x Michael Magnan