Will Runzel finally joins The XLNT Show, and this episode goes DEEP into the *real* mechanics of building a career in dance music. From throwing college raves in Indiana and getting fired from clubs, to booking Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, Zedd, and helping launch projects like **NGHTMRE, Slander, Joyryde, Audien** and more, Will breaks down the parts of the industry most producers and DJs never get honest access to.We get into his full come-up, the wins and brutal losses, and then turn it into actionable game for artists who actually want to make this a career.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Will’s origin story- From college parties to full-on touring

- Joining Steve Aoki & building Dim Mak Tuesdays 

- Talent buying, fees, and how the money *actually* works 

- Negotiation & offers (for DJs and producers) 

- From talent buyer to manager & founding Prodigy Artists 

- Stories behind Slander, Nightmare, Joyryde & Good Vibrations

- What a manager actually does (and doesn’t do)

- When you’re really ready for a manager

- Branding and storytelling for artists 

- Multi-genre vs. picking a lane- Step-by-step blueprint for new artists (2026 reality check)

- EDM right now: is it still growing? 

- How to actually pitch yourself to people like Will

Whether you’re a producer trying to break out, a DJ who wants to understand the business behind offers and fees, or an artist trying to build a real brand in a crowded EDM scene, this episode is packed with gems.

Longstoryshort finally joins The XLNT Show, and this episode goes DEEP. From going viral with his DJ transitions to building a career that's equal parts DJ, producer, and content creator, he breaks down the real strategies behind making it in dance music today.

We talk about:

• How a random tour moment became his entire social media strategy

• Why he believes DJing and producing are two completely different skills

• Collaborating with Wax Motif and Dillon Francis

• The truth about labels vs. independent releases

• His 15-minute songwriting process for finishing more music

• What it was really like beta testing Serum 2 with Steve Duda before release

• Why objectivity might be the most important skill a producer can develop

Whether you're a producer trying to finish more tracks, a DJ looking to stand out, or just a fan of dance music, this episode is packed with gems. Huge shoutout to Long Story Short for pulling back the curtain and sharing so much of his process with us.

Wax Motif sits down with the XLNT Show to pull back the curtain on a career built at the intersection of house music and hip-hop. From the origins of Night Bass to what really happens when a house producer walks into a Kanye session, this one goes everywhere...

We get into the origins of Night Bass and G-House, his decade-long friendship with Ty Dolla $ign, what it was really like in those sessions abroad, and why he's spent years quietly building one of the most unique producer résumés in the game.

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In this episode:

• The origin of Night Bass, how AC Slater, Trouble & Bass, and a Fly Kicks remix started it all
• The Kanye Vultures session: landing in Florence, walking into Sting's villa, and making beats on a kitchen table
• Why he never tries to make "Ye-sounding music" in a Ye session, and what to do instead
• The story behind WET, made in an hour and accidentally became a classic
• His two-folder system that completely changed how he approaches studio sessions
• How EDM and hip-hop are colliding right now, and how long it can last
• House of Wax 2, what's coming and what to expect

If you're a producer trying to figure out your lane, build real industry relationships, or just stop overthinking your sessions, this one's for you.

Said The Sky returns to the XLNT Show! This time to talk about breaking out of EDM expectations, making music without rules, and why his latest album has almost no drums. From building emotional records that feel more like singer-songwriter projects than dance music, to navigating identity in a scene that doesn’t fully fit what he makes—this episode gets real about creativity, risk, and trusting your instincts as an artist.

We also dive into his songwriting process, working with vocalists, and how he balances collaboration without losing his own sound.

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In this episode:

• Why Said The Sky made an album with almost no drums (and why it wasn’t planned)
• The two-album strategy: one for fans vs one completely for himself
• Making emotional music in EDM—and why it doesn’t fit the scene (but still wins)
• The hidden challenge of balancing Spotify success vs live show energy
• Why focusing on songwriting > sound design changed everything
• How he builds tracks around vocals using “undercarriage” production techniques
• The real key to great sessions: communication, psychology, and producing the room
• AI in music: tool or threat? And what happens when emotion gets automated

If you’re trying to find your sound, write better songs, or break out of the “type beat” mindset—this one’s for you.

OddKidOut pulls up to talk creativity, career pivots, and how he built a lane by refusing to stay in one lane. From a wild “one night in LA” moment that turned into living with Skrillex, to learning the power of simplicity, motifs, and world-building inside a track, this episode is packed with real producer talk.

We get into finger drumming, Maschine, Ableton workflow, label experiences (and what labels actually do beyond “plays”), and the mindset shift that helped him go from experimenting across genres to funneling his sound into a stronger live show + artist identity.

In this episode:

• The Skrillex story: how one session turned into moving to LA and building a career
• The biggest lesson from watching Skrillex work: simplicity, callbacks, and using what’s already in the track
• Why OddKidOut avoids reference tracks, templates, and overthinking—“fishing” for ideas instead
• Maschine as an instrument (not a DAW): why it’s strictly performance-first for him
• How he navigated releasing across major labels—and the real “perks” that matter (touring, games, community, opportunities)
• Performing without CDJs: how to make venues/sound techs love you even with extra gear
• EDM friendships vs business relationships: building real connections without forcing it

If you’re a producer trying to find your identity, improve your workflow, or understand how to play the long game in electronic music, this one’s for you.

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In this episode of The XLNT Show, Danny & Parker sit down with Seven Lions for a deep conversation on creativity, emotion, and the philosophy behind melodic bass music. Jeff opens up about his upcoming album Asleep in the Garden of Infernal Stars, his loyalty to FL Studio, and why subtle details matter more than overproduction.

They discuss:

• Why music feels spiritual and how emotion carries across time
• The vision behind Asleep in the Garden of Infernal Stars and keeping albums fully solo
• How Seven Lions approaches vocals, songwriting, and melodic structure
• Performing as an introvert, impostor syndrome, and building confidence on stage
• World-building, visual identity, and the role of Ophelia Records
• Melodic bass longevity vs trend-driven EDM
• Production workflow in FL Studio and adding depth through subtle textures
• Thoughts on AI in music and protecting the human element of art

New album: Asleep in the Garden of Infernal Stars — 12/12

Welcome to a new episode of The XLNT Show, where Danny and Parker sit down with producer, vocalist, and performer Whipped Cream for one of the most honest and inspiring conversations we’ve had on the channel.

Caroline walks us through her full journey: from growing up as a competitive figure skater, to a brutal ankle injury that changed everything, to discovering electronic music at a small festival stage and deciding to bet her entire future on making music. With no mentors, no local scene, and no roadmap, she moved back into her parents’ basement, taught herself Ableton from YouTube, and slowly built the Whipped Cream project from the ground up.

They discuss:

• How a serious figure skating injury pushed her toward a completely new life
• The tiny side-stage set at Sasquatch Festival that flipped a switch and made her decide, “I need to make music”
• Learning production in isolation on Vancouver Island, with no female producers around and no real industry connections
• Getting obsessed with Baaur, trap, and Jersey Club, and how chopping samples shaped her early sound
• Evolving from mid-tempo into techno, cinematic dance, and vocal-driven records while keeping everything authentic
• Discovering her singing voice in the studio, using lyrics from her notes app, and treating vocals like another instrument
• The reality of being a woman in EDM: assumptions about ghost production, image policing, and double standards
• Her philosophy on collaboration, credits, ghost producing, and why she doesn’t demonize help behind the scenes
• Designing full show concepts like “Someone You Can Count On,” building characters, stage design, and world-building
• Trying to balance big long-term vision with the practical need to “focus on what’s working” right now

The episode opens up into a larger conversation about identity, resilience, and longevity in dance music: why she refuses to be boxed in, how she handles criticism and rumors, and why her real goal is to impact people emotionally—on stage and in their headphones.

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Welcome to a new edition of The XLNT Show: Bad Boys, where it is just Danny and Parker talking uncensored. No filters, no script, and no holding back.

In this episode, the guys break down one of the most interesting dynamics in EDM right now: the parallel rise of ISOxo and Knock2, and their first-ever festival, Nighthearts. Danny and Parker talk about how unexpected it was to see artists known for bass house and trap music program themselves as openers at their own festival, and how that decision alone says a lot about their understanding of audience momentum.

They discuss:

• How artists like ISOxo and Knock2 ended up sharing the stage with heavyweight co-headliners  Skrillex and Zedd
• Why Knock2’s track “dashstar*” feels like one of the last modern EDM classics with a true solo anthem identity
• The difference in how ISOxo and Knock2 are being positioned based on genre, sound, and fan reach
• The shift from progressive house domination to bass house and hybrid trap taking center stage
• The challenges new genres face in producing universally memorable EDM “classics”
• What makes a live festival debut stand out versus a traditional tour set

Danny also gets Parker to zoom out into the bigger picture: why duos and tight creative units matter so much in EDM today, and whether moving as a unified brand could end up being more powerful than going it alone.

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Welcome to a new edition of The XLNT Show: Bad Boys, where it is just Danny and Parker talking uncensored. No filters, no script, and no holding back.

In this episode, the guys dive into one of the most overlooked conversations in the EDM scene right now: major artists taking ideas and drops from smaller producers without giving proper credit. Using the recent situation between Fred again and Liny as the centerpiece, Danny and Parker break down how a viral edit blurred the lines between inspiration and attribution, and why it struck such a nerve in the producer community.

They discuss:

• The timeline behind the Victory Lap edit and LYNY's original track
• Why credit matters for smaller artists trying to break through
• Whether big artists have a responsibility to elevate new talent
• The culture shift around IDs, edits, and promo on TikTok
• The role of community building in EDM
• When borrowing becomes poaching
• Whether Fred again actually helped LYNY or overshadowed him

The conversation expands into a wider look at the industry: the lack of mentorship, the expectations placed on top artists, and whether the community holds different people to different standards based on their public persona.

What happens when you start a DJ duo with your middle school best friend - and it actually works?

In this episode of The XLNT Show, we sit down with LA-based legends Two Friends to trace their full journey - from mashing up indie rock in Pro Tools during college, to building the Big Booty Mixes empire, to throwing arena-sized shows with full drumlines, sax solos, and pyro.

We cover it all:

• The early days of mashups and hip-hop beats
• Producing electronic music entirely in Pro Tools
• Playing over 150 frat parties across the country
• The science (and chaos) behind Big Bootie Mixes
• How they build stadium-sized live sets with color-coded Google Sheets
• Touring with sax players, drumlines, and custom visuals
• Navigating a long-term creative partnership without burning out
• Blending pop, country, EDM, and halftime heat into one sound

Whether you’re a DJ, producer, or part of a creative duo trying to define your voice, this is a masterclass in identity, experimentation, and staying power.

We also talk about upcoming music with Quinn XCII, the challenges of BPM “jail,” and what it takes to build a team you can trust.

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