Shows / RA Exchange
RA Exchange
The weekly RA Exchange is a series of conversations with artists, labels and promoters shaping the electronic music landscape.
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Episodes
RA ExchangeEX.817 Chase & Status
Two decades in, the UK drum & bass duo are still filling stadiums. They talk staying hungry, resisting the algorithm and their eighth album, Generic…
RA ExchangeEX.816 Boys Noize
The German producer on touring with Nine Inch Nails, pushing past criticism and his new full-length album, 7LLVSION. Alex Ridha is notoriously private. Ridha…
RA ExchangeEX.816 Kenneth Blume, Denzel Curry & Vince Staples
On the heels of ii, three of hip-hop's most boundary-pushing artists talk collaboration, creative risk and the threat of AI.Kenneth Blume, Denzel Curry and…
RA ExchangeEX.815 Saul Williams & James Massiah
Kicking off a run of artist-on-artist Exchanges for RA25, the musical multi-hyphenates discuss poetry, religion and their experiences as protectors of…
RA ExchangeEX.814 Syd
The frontwoman of Grammy-nominated The Internet talks ambition, contentment and her third solo album, Beard. Syd, born Sydney Bennett, is nearly 20 years into…
RA ExchangeEX.813 Marlon Hoffstadt
The trance DJ on clickbait journalism, commercial success and making a name in the viral age. Marlon Hoffstadt started DJing at 17. By 18, he got his first…
RA ExchangeEX.812 Interpol
Frontman Paul Banks on the legacy band's creative evolution, why he prefers hip-hop to rock and their new album, This Mirror Weighs a Ton. Interpol might not…
RA ExchangeEX.811 Jorja Smith
Jorja Smith's career took off in 2016, when "Blue Lights" introduced her voice to a global audience. In the 10 years since that single went stratospheric, the…
RA ExchangeEX.810 SHERELLE
The British jungle star reflects on grief, artistic integrity, bass communities and why slowing down has become central to the next phase of her career. In…
RA ExchangeEX.809 Mykki Blanco
The US musician, poet and performance artist reflects on "queer rap,” the industry that boxed him into it and the reinvention he's built on the other side. A…
RA ExchangeEX.808 Tiësto
Decades after walking away from trance, the superstar DJ unpicks the machinery behind his own brand, and what a career spent at the top actually costs. Tiësto…
RA ExchangeEX.807 Overmono
The British sibling duo talk creative process, stepping away from successful solo projects and their new album, Pure Devotion, on XL Recordings. Tom and Ed…
RA ExchangeEX.806 Eartheater
The genre-fluid multihyphenate on motherhood, songwriting with FKA Twigs and her new album, Heavenly Body: If I'm the Bottle You're the Message. American…
RA ExchangeEX.805 Martyn
The Dutch producer on flow state, communal music-making and his new album, Music for Existing. Martijn Deijkers, AKA Martyn, has spent close to three decades…
RA ExchangeEX.804 Kurupt FM
The UK pirate radio crew and cult TV stars discuss their rebirth and forthcoming EP, Grindah's Decided We're Doing Music Again. Many UK natives will be…
RA ExchangeEX.803 Two Shell
The masked duo go on the record to address criticisms, identity and their forthcoming album, Infinite Now. Anonymous DJ-and-producer duo Two Shell are both…
RA ExchangeEX.802 Bladee
The Drain Gang cofounder talks about mysticism, Gen Z and his new album, Sulfur Surfer. Bladee's work as a founding member of the Swedish collective Drain Gang…
RA ExchangeEX.801 Peaches
The queer icon and punk provocateur talks bodily autonomy, embracing ageing and her new album, No Lube So Rude. Merrill Nisker—known to most of the world as…
RA ExchangeEX.800 Anton Corbijn
The Dutch photographer and art director on his longtime collaboration with Depeche Mode, moving into feature films and 50 years of documenting music culture…
RA ExchangeEX.799 Takuya Nakamura
The jungle DJ and trumpeter talks about late-career popularity, jazz in Japan and what it means to build a life in music. You probably know Takuya Nakamura…
RA ExchangeEX.798 Suzanne Ciani
The pioneering artist talks philosophy, Berghain and touring on the eve of her 80th birthday. Suzanne Ciani is a synth music legend. After establishing herself…
RA ExchangeEX.797 Ed O'Brien
The Radiohead guitarist talks about finding spirituality, life inside one of the most mythologised (and occasionally polarising) bands of the last 40 years…
RA ExchangeEX.796 Benji B
The longtime BBC Radio 1 DJ talks about his rigorous music-discovery routine, soundtracking the world's most elite runways and the legacy of his party series…
RA ExchangeEX.795 Avalon Emerson
The musical polymath talks creative left turns, the collapse of music media and her new album as Avalon & the Charm, Written into Changes. A decade after her…
RA ExchangeEX.794 Calibre
The Irish veteran talks about his prolific output, making music beyond the drum & bass canon and his forthcoming album, Tricklemore Sea. Dominick Martin—AKA…
RA ExchangeEX.793 Chris Stussy
The Dutch phenomenon unpacks the myth of overnight success and the story behind his debut album, Lost, Found & Forgotten. They say it takes ten years to become…
RA ExchangeEX.792 Tiga
Electroclash icon Tiga talks about the manosphere, the currency of cool and his first album in 10 years, HOTLIFE. Canadian producer Tiga—born Tiga Sontag—has…
RA ExchangeEX.791 Loraine James
The London artist talks about self-doubt, overcoming creative blocks and her forthcoming album on Hyperdub. Today's guest has spent the last decade proving…
RA ExchangeEX.790 Freddy K
The vinyl purist discusses his late-career ascent, the discipline of the marathon set and the shifting class dynamics threatening the underground. In an era…
RA ExchangeEX.789 Interplanetary Criminal
The contemporary face of garage talks about obsession, overnight success and his turn towards a more mature image and sound. Over the last few years, Zac…
RA ExchangeEX.788 Kim Gordon
The Sonic Youth cofounder opens up about her solo output, the intersection of art and music, and her new album, PLAY ME. For over four decades, Kim Gordon has…
RA ExchangeEX.787 Voices From The Lake
For the Exchange's Season Two relaunch, the visionary duo discuss their first release in 13 years and the inspiration behind their trailblazing sound. Neel and…
RA ExchangeEX.786 Barker
The Leisure System co-founder talks psychology, behavioral science and his standout album of the year, Stochastic Drift. Sam Barker's influence on contemporary…
RA ExchangeEX.785 Isabella Lovestory
The Honduran artist talks about the rise of reggaeton, the dark side of beauty standards and her new album, Vanity. In the past decade, reggaeton has taken the…
RA ExchangeEX.784 Sub Focus
The drum & bass veteran talks about bass music eras, dance culture in America and his new album, Contact. British artist Nicolaas Douwma, AKA Sub Focus, has…
RA ExchangeEX.783 Dixon
The Innervisions cofounder reflects on the label's 20-year anniversary, the art of DJing and bringing politics back to the underground. One of the most popular…
RA ExchangeEX.782 Annie Mac
The longtime BBC Radio 1 host talks about the liberation of leaving broadcasting, her pivot to fiction writing and her party series, Before Midnight. If you…
RA ExchangeEX.781 Paul van Dyk
The German legend talks about the state of modern trance, what it takes to create a legacy and writing his most recent album. Poll the average dance music fan…
RA ExchangeEX.780 Liz Pelly
The New York-based journalist talks about her breakout book, Mood Machine, live from Soft Centre Festival in Sydney. As we approach the end of 2025, it's clear…
RA ExchangeEX.779 PinkPantheress
The TikTok tour de force talks about '90s electronica, UK garage and her 2025 mixtape, Fancy Some More? There's a new generation of artists who've come up…
RA ExchangeEx.778 Batu
There are few names as widely loved in clubland as Bristol-based producer Omar McCutcheon, AKA Batu. His label Timedance, currently celebrating its ten-year…
RA ExchangeEX.777 Sama’ Abdulhadi
The DJ talks about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and how the music industry, and some of her peers, have failed Palestine.The most deeply divisive topic of the…
RA ExchangeEX.776 Soulwax
"We're trying to show more of who we are." The Belgian brothers unpack their decades-long career and first album in more than seven years.There are some songs…
RA ExchangeEX.775 Studio Karhard
"Designing clubs is about understanding psychology." The famed architects talk about bringing emotions, durability and hidden logic into era-defining nightlife…
RA ExchangeEX.774 Cormac
"There are no new feelings, just new words." The Irish DJ talks about finding commonality in polarising times, CSD weekend and his podcast, Queerly Beloved.In…
RA ExchangeEX.773 JakoJako
“The hardware world is like a sport.” The DJ and producer talks about mastering synthesis and finding community in a male-dominated music ecosystem. Is talent…
RA ExchangeEX.772 Papi Juice
"These spaces are sacred." The Brooklyn trio reflect on 12 years of throwing parties that celebrate New York's queer community of colour.New York nightlife has…
RA ExchangeEX.771 Dominga (Föllakzoid)
"There's a lack of continuity for FLINTA* individuals." The Chilean artist talks about trans rights and the launch of her new sex party, ABOV.What would…
RA ExchangeEX.770 rRoxymore
"I want more risks." The French DJ and producer talks about groundbreaking musical practices, musique concrète and her forthcoming album, Juggling…
RA ExchangeEX.769 Emily Witt
"I'm ready to bring back gatekeeping." The New Yorker staff writer discusses how to protect the underground, experimenting with drugs and her new book, Health…
RA ExchangeEX.768 BAMBII
"Is the infrastructure working?" The Canadian DJ and producer talks playing Coachella 2025 and the music industry's unequal power dynamics.Is the electronic…
RA ExchangeEX.767 Cosey Fanny Tutti
"I'm an individualist." The Throbbing Gristle co-founder on extreme experimentation, difficult women and her new album, 2t2.As long as underground culture has…
RA ExchangeEX.766 Surgeon
“My mission is to explore the boundaries of psychedelic music.” The revered artist talks about expanding consciousness, breaking boundaries and his new album…
RA ExchangeEX.765 Lee Ann Roberts
"Music kept me sane." The hard techno breakout opens up about how life's greatest challenges have made her headstrong.To honour Mental Health Awareness week…
RA ExchangeEX.764 Maria May (CAA)
"Everyone tells me I'm terrifying." The powerhouse agent talks about being a woman in a male-dominated world and growing the careers of artists like David…
RA ExchangeEX.763 Theo Parrish
"It was so difficult to become someone." The house hero talks about Chicago's competitive scene, developing a sound and letting go of his ego. Theo Parrish is…
RA ExchangeEX.762 FKA twigs
"I'm in a place of brutal honesty." The electronic pop auteur talks about her new album, the pressures of performing and falling in love with techno.One of…
RA ExchangeEX.761 Mike Parker
The vaunted techno producer discusses the connections between visual art and music, balancing a full-time career as a fine artist and how he creates his…
RA ExchangeEX.760 The Economics of Independent Dance Music
"There's a long chain of people who benefit from artists making records." Nabil Ayers, the US president of Beggars Group, talks about independent artistry and…
RA ExchangeEX.759 Rene Wise
"Sound systems are really what move me." The up-and-coming techno artist talks about the physicality of sound and how psychedelics inform his work in the…