Kinetic Audio's Impact on Raleigh's Music Scene

Join us on the Vinyl on the Ground podcast for an engaging conversation with the team behind Kinetic Audio, Johan Yardan and Kat (a.k.a. Poetic Note). The duo shares their vision and the hard work needed to support Raleigh's burgeoning underground music scene. They discuss their dedication to curating unique and memorable events, the challenges of growing a scene in a relatively small market, and the importance of showcasing local talent. Highlights include Johan's passion for sound systems and technical expertise, Kat’s journey and influences, and upcoming events that promise to keep the underground alive and thriving in the Triangle area. Don't miss out on this insightful episode that will inspire any aspiring event organizers and music enthusiasts!

00:00 Welcome to the Vinyl Underground Podcast
02:15 The Underground Scene: Challenges and Growth
03:16 Late Night Party Realities
04:40 Memorable Parties and Influences
06:38 Building the Techno Community
22:51 The Importance of Sound Systems
34:30 Exploring Musical Styles and Influences
35:10 The Evolution of Techno and Ambient Sounds
36:16 Memorable Performances and Musical Influences
40:18 Building the Local Music Scene
42:00 The Importance of Community and Collaboration
44:21 Showcasing Local Talent and Events
01:02:27 Upcoming Events and Future Plans

• (00:00) - Welcome to the Vinyl Underground Podcast
• (02:15) - The Underground Scene: Challenges and Growth
• (03:16) - Late Night Party Realities
• (04:40) - Memorable Parties and Influences
• (06:38) - Building the Techno Community
• (22:51) - The Importance of Sound Systems
• (34:30) - Exploring Musical Styles and Influences
• (35:10) - The Evolution of Techno and Ambient Sounds
• (36:16) - Memorable Performances and Musical Influences
• (40:18) - Building the Local Music Scene
• (42:00) - The Importance of Community and Collaboration
• (44:21) - Showcasing Local Talent and Events
• (01:02:27) - Upcoming Events and Future Plans

Creators and Guests

Host

Tim Piner

Host of the Vinyl Underground Podcast

Host

Tony Rivera

Built from the streets Specializing in Crowd Control

What is The Vinyl Underground?

Welcome to The Vinyl Underground, a podcast created by fans, for fans of electronic music in North Carolina. Hosted by Crowd Control, this show dives deep into the local and regional scenes across Raleigh/Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, and Wilmington.

Our first series, Behind the Decks, showcases the hottest emerging DJs—sharing their stories, musical styles, inspirations, and favorite dancefloor moments. Whether you're Gen Z discovering the scene or a seasoned Gen X raver revisiting your roots, The Vinyl Underground is where beats meet community.

Tune in, get inspired, and stay connected to the movement.

004 - Vinyl Underground -
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[00:00:00]

[00:01:00]

Tony Rivera: Thank you guys for coming to the [00:02:00] show. Kinetic Audio. We finally in the house in the building, you know, come in Johann. Yeah. And Kat poetic note. And you know, glad you guys are here and you know, here to share our time with my, with me and Tim over here on the Vinyl on the Ground podcast. You know, we really admire what you guys are doing, you know, for the scene and whatnot especially the underground stuff.

You know, we like the Yeah, yeah. You know, the, the underground scene out here is almost non-existent. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, this is why we named the vinyl underground because we want to keep, you know, what's going on in the, on the ground, you know? Yeah. Going and, and keep it you know, keep it happening.

But we enjoy you guys.

Kinetic Audio: I really appreciate that. Thank you guys like that, that means a lot to us and thank you guys for doing this because Yeah. Yeah. This just, like you said, the underground's really small here, but it's, it's burgeoning.

I mean, we're growing. It just takes people putting the, frankly, the time and the work into doing things like having a podcast, showcasing some of the talent we have have out here. Yeah. You [00:03:00] know, underground focus, you know, promotions like us or some of the guys up in, up in Durham that, you know, we all know the dance groove guys, no Visa, all those guys.

It's, it just, it just takes time and logistics that people tend not to see. Yeah, yeah. It's true. They, they, they, they come to the party, they have a great time. They talk about it to their friends. Meanwhile, they're over at the after party kicking back. Mm-hmm. We're still cleaning and Right. Setting up for the next one.

And this is

Tony Rivera: why. This is why, and I realized that, I mean, I was just at your spot, you know, this past weekend. Mm-hmm. Um, and you know, you know, I know that by the time I left people were still coming in. I. And, um, this was already like three after three in the morning. Right. So I was actually kind of impressed.

I was like, there's actually people who are starting to figure it out. Yeah. You know what I'm trying to say. And they're starting to figure it out. Mm-hmm. They're starting to say, well, yeah, there's a spot, you know, it's after two, we don't wanna go home and this and the third, you know, let's look up, can I, can I audio and head over there?

Tim Piner: Yeah.

Tony Rivera: But um, but then I thought about. Yeah. That means that they gotta be here till like five working and, you know, cleaning up [00:04:00] and stuff. And it's

Kinetic Audio: by the, by the time we clean up, drive home, shower. 'cause especially now seven, it's, it's, it's hot. We're sweaty. Yeah. Yeah. We're going to bed about seven in the morning.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I'll say though,

Kat: one of my favorite things about cleaning up at the end of the night is all the things that I find. Oh,

Kinetic Audio: fans. Yeah. Hats, everything, everything.

Kat: Drinks, bottles, sweat, sweaters, clothing. God. Yeah. Parts of their trinkets. Yeah. Yeah,

Tony Rivera: yeah. I can imagine. Because people are like, they're not, they're not walking in there. Sometimes they're kind of tripping in there. Right. So, yes. Yeah. Right. So, you know, but hey, that's a good thing.

People are having fun, you know, mean this, this past weekend was, was a great night. I mean, Johann, you know, you know, Johann is, both of you guys are actually spending that night and, um, you know, had that the Abyss party. Yes. One of my favorite parties, you know, for techno here really is, um, I found these.

Back in when you started, when did you start the B

Kinetic Audio: party? So the first one was March of 2023. Was it ba [00:05:00] Yeah. Basement of the fruit. It's, it's wild to think. Wow. It's been a while. It's been that long. Yeah. Two years.

Tony Rivera: But yeah, I know. I found it. So I, I, I don't know how I came across it, but I was, I was like watching, all of a sudden I heard about, you know, the fruit and then that's when I started getting back into the scene.

And then I heard of, you know, the underground, you know, the, the, the basement parties over there. And I was like, there was your party. And I think there was, um, another. The sub tech was, it, I think was Oh, the OG sub tech thing? Yeah.

Kinetic Audio: That and, and that was even before, that was long before I even started DJing.

Think Sean was going, I, Sean was

Tim Piner: the og kind of with really pioneering Shaw boy. Yeah. Shout out to Sean. 'cause I think he sub had the vision. That's how I met you. I think SCA 2018 maybe a, a Molino Babylon Yep. Kind of thing. Where you

Tony Rivera: Hmm?

Tim Piner: You played for us. Yeah.

Tony Rivera: Yeah. And that's, that was, that was you know, one of the first, I was like, what is this?

You know, there's this underground. Then when I went to the party, I went to check out, you know, I was [00:06:00] party and then I was like, I walked in. I was like, oh my gosh. I, yeah. You know what I'm saying? I was like, wait a minute, minute. He like the driving rewind. Where am I at? I'm in Durham. Oh yeah,

Tim Piner: I know. Tony's taste ish.

We were broad. And then when I heard the

Tony Rivera: techno, I was like, man, this is it, bro. And then, and actually, honestly. When I started going tour this party, I said, I gotta get into like DJing and you know, get into the scene heavily and you know, because just 'cause of that, seriously, just 'cause of your party really kind of, really, really brought out, you know, a lot of the,

Tim Piner: I remember you saying that one.

'cause because we've known each other for, I mean, when, since he moved here, maybe early on and caught you, but one of the Sean Gall, you know, shows or something. Yeah. And

Tony Rivera: I went to Sean's, I went to Sean. I found, actually, I found Sean first, right? Sean from Rabbit Hole. Shout out to Sean. And um, you know, I found him, he was throwing the parties over at a shady Yeah, those were good times.

So random. Those good times. But they were, they were solid man. There were, and I've met you there. Shout out to car Met you there, right? Yeah, we did

Tim Piner: meet

Tony Rivera: there.

Tim Piner: That was a great night. Shout out to Garner, right?

Tony Rivera: Hey, I [00:07:00] was like, well the Hell's Garner. Right? Right. Because I'm like, I'm in Durham and stuff and um, you know, I'm looking at the, the map and how long it gets there and like 33 minutes away and it's like, where it's not in Raleigh, it's like down that way.

Right. So. We get out there and you know, I look, look for the party, you know, it was all, of course the windows are all blackened out and all that. And, and, but I told her, I'm like, I don't think the party's here. Yeah. So I walk up to the door, I could hear music. Yeah. They're like, it's a private party. I'm like, all right.

Well, I turned back around, started walking to the door. I'm like, nah, this ain't right. I didn't drive out here for nothing, man. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So I went, I went up to the door again and I, you know, I think some bounce opened up. I forgot who he was, and he invited me in. He was like, what's up?

Come in. I was like, all right. And then got her and we went in lo and behold, and that was it. So, but you know, even then I was like, yeah, this is, this is what's up. Because I, at first time I've experienced something like that. Right. It was like something that I haven't seen in a triangle, that type of party.

Yeah.

Kinetic Audio: Yeah. That was before COVID though.

Tony Rivera: Yeah. Wasn't it? No, it was after, it was 2021.

Tim Piner: Ah, yeah. Oh, just we're getting through [00:08:00] maybe 80% of the buzz kill. I don't know. It was still 2021. Pretty fresh then. Yeah.

Tony Rivera: But but it wasn't until, you know, I got to Johann's party and kinetic audios. Mm-hmm. This party, it was, was like, oh, you know, I like this.

I know real underground feel that I'm, you know, that I like. And that's when I really started, I was like, you know, I wanna get on this mission. Mm-hmm. Yeah. But yeah. All the credit to you, bro. Right. Underground podcast. Thank you. Legit. Legit. Thank you. Thank you. But

Kinetic Audio: it's, my influences even come from, I don't know if you guys went, it was a spot in Chapel Hill called Nightlight.

Tim Piner: Yeah.

Kinetic Audio: So, so, but I, but

Tim Piner: I didn't know that. Yeah. Yeah. So,

Kinetic Audio: and, and, and again, unfortunately they didn't survive COVID. Um, yeah. That was to me the purest just representation of underground in the triangle. Really? It was gritty, it was punk, it was experimental. Yeah. Like you go there on any given night, you're gonna hear some can can we, can we cross on this podcast?

Yeah. You're gonna hear some weird shit. Yeah. Yeah. And that was what got [00:09:00] me into experimental techno. Ah, interesting. And this was back in like 2017? Yes. And I didn't even know what it was. I was just like, this is, this is it. This is right. You know, I want more of this. Right. Yeah. And unfortunately, they, they didn't survive COVD.

Um, but then, you know, coming back outta COVID, getting more active into DJing, and then really me being like, you know, no one's putting on this kind of techno party that I want. Mm-hmm. And even at launch, like initially. The, the abyss we were doing is significantly different than the abyss we're doing now.

Mm-hmm. The vision, the sound design. Mm-hmm. The people we booked, because it took this long to really refine that idea and that concept. Yes. Yes. To where now like abyss is just gritty driving industrial technology, great lighting, really damn organic fog. Exactly. It just kind of materializes, um, to where like, it, it, it really feels like a blend [00:10:00] between like.

Dungeon. Yes. And decrepit back room of a factory. Yeah. Yes. It took that long. 'cause I remember our first Abyss party, shout out to Adam. The faces blur. Yeah. You know local icon? Mm-hmm. But he did the lighting for us. Yeah. Oh, I didn't know that because I always

Tim Piner: love your lighting, man.

Kinetic Audio: And, and like the light, we had lasers that's burns and it was super bright and it was like pink, green, blue, red, and it was fun.

And it was a great party. Yeah. But world's different than of course, of course. What a dish is now. Yeah. Abyss is blood red. Yes. And banging techno, but isn it red, the

Tim Piner: light that we all just need and warm lighting, man. Oh yeah. And I definitely

Tony Rivera: felt it this past weekend. I mean, you guys put on a show and the, the, the, of course the, the techno was just driving and it had me, I mean, that day, check this out, that day I was up at six 30 in the morning.

I was telling you that I, I was, I was up since six 30 in the morning and had gone to a party before that. At, at seven 30 and I was, damn, we were dancing like crazy and you know, that was that [00:11:00] section four party, shout out to section four. Mm-hmm. And um, actually I was jumping around dancing 'cause it was kind of, you know, one of those type of parties.

So then, you know, and I was up at six 30 in the morning doing was like, you know, I had some boys that was the same night as worked the house,

Tim Piner: same

Tony Rivera: place. Holy, same night. So I went to that, then I went to their party about that life and, and then they, and then their music had me like, ah, dancing. Right? Yeah.

Until like three. I was like, yo, man, I'm tired man, I think I'm gonna fall out. If I don't drive back home now I'm gonna fall out, bro. We get it. We get it, man.

Kinetic Audio: Yeah, it's, it's funny. Before the show you know, so David ot, good friend of ours. Yeah. Snake charm, shout out, just charm. He opened. Then Zach Burden was after and we were all talking and we were like, let's just go as hard as we can.

Like, let's just rip it tonight. Yeah. Like, we're not holding back. Damn. Really? You know, it's. We're, we're, we're, we're seeing people trick, trickle in. They're wearing all black. They're here to party. Like we're just, we're just all ripping it tonight. Yeah. Well, that's

Tony Rivera: right. I [00:12:00] definitely did, man. And you know, the crowd was you know, they were coming in and we were like, yeah, this is what's up.

The vibe was definitely my man. My man. I don't know. The guy was in front of me. Tall white guy. Shout out to the tall white guy that was standing in front of me dancing. He was Wyatt. Huh? Wyatt? Yeah. Oh, the bald.

Tim Piner: Is he the bald baldin guy? Without that's bad. I, I don't standing that tall

Tony Rivera: guy. He is like tall, older guy.

Little gray hair. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Wyatt. Wyatt. I think

Tim Piner: so.

Tony Rivera: Works with Ashley. Yeah. That's, I love that guy. Guy. We were so

Kinetic Audio: surprised because we were dance bros. He was at Dance Bros. Old men. So, so he was at the first foundation when it, it was just a weekend resolution show. Yes. Um, before, like, we named it Foundation.

And that was when Jermaine, Keith, Lydia, and Marshall played. Yeah. Right. And he's loving it. He's dancing. So I thought he was a house guy. Yeah. Not this weekend. Not this weekend. He was, we were like, he was standing in front

Tony Rivera: of me, just like, boy, and I was like, yeah. I was like, he just had me dancing. Yeah,

Tim Piner: I know.

He is fun, man. I, I love that guy. Yeah. It, it

Kinetic Audio: is, [00:13:00] it, it took a couple months, but we're finally getting to the point where we're really, we're reaching the people who get it. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And those are the people who are coming out to the parties lately. The, the, the majority of them are people who are coming out for that music and for that experience.

And like, you guys can see the energy in the room lately. Yeah. Has been incredible at these parties. Like even if we have a small turnout, sometimes as you know, things happen, you have small turnouts, especially in a college town like this, we're in the off season. Yep. I mean, we still get a room of 50, 60 people and they're all dancing.

Yeah. And the energy's great, and they're smiling. Mm-hmm. It's just a wonderful time. And it's a, and it's a great

Tony Rivera: diverse crowd, man. You know? I mean, it, they have all kinds of people, young, old, yes. You know. All kinds of different people, which I, I enjoy, you know, because, 'cause you get surprised. These people actually like, came here to bang on some techno, you know what I'm saying?

I can feel that. You know, they're out there,

Tim Piner: man. And it's and this, as, as we know it can be a stubborn growth process here in [00:14:00] this area. Even with all these great transplants that have seen mm-hmm. Big city vibes, a lot of 'em still just haven't been able to find where it's at, where they think we're just so lame.

And of course they'll run into, even, even I can say, Hey, there's three or four things, you know, happening this week, tonight, whatever. But I think as we've talked about on the show before, it, there's, we're still, I dunno if we're, if it's a population thing, but it spreads everyone out a little thin. Right?

Yeah. Something happening in Durham could be one of your dear friends, but they coincidentally are doing something. You're doing something here. Somebody's doing something at Chapel Hill. Yeah. Spread. We're all pulling, spread out small percentages away from each other. Yeah. But pretty kick ass either way.

It looks like It's absolutely, absolutely growing.

Kinetic Audio: So one thing that we've noticed, which was a surprise to us, so you know, viewers know we live an hour away. That's true. Like, like, like, so I didn't know that.

Tony Rivera: Sanford or favorite. Yeah.

Kinetic Audio: Yeah. Just, just outside. I. For us, the drive to Raleigh versus the drive to Durham is a 10 minute difference because it's just a difference between [00:15:00] hopping on 40, going north a little bit.

Yes. To Durham. Yeah. I didn't realize until we started doing these shows, that depended on where you live. It can be a 45 minute drive from Raleigh to Durham. Yeah.

Tim Piner: Oh yeah. Yeah. I agree.

Kinetic Audio: And

Tim Piner: so it deters me sometimes, honestly. Yeah, exactly.

Kinetic Audio: And exactly putting ourselves in the shoes of people of like the party goers.

Right. People who are driving, maybe they wanna have a couple drinks or something. Yes. And so that, that's a lot to ask of them. Yes. To drive 45 minutes to come to our show from Durham. Yes. Because, you know, for years we were doing parties at Durham. Correct. In, in Durham at the Fruit. We built up a really great following.

Sure. Didn't, but Yeah. It's like, Hey, drive 45 minutes for a local show. Yeah. It, it's right. That, that, that's, that's a big ask. Yeah. And so sometimes they'll make the drive down. Yeah. But we've really. Been organically growing a rally following. Yes. And it's been a bit of a culture shock because we're reliving the first year of throwing events in Durham.

Yeah. Which, which frankly bruises the [00:16:00] ego a little bit. I mean, I mean, our 2023 closing party, I think it was. Mm-hmm. We had a local lineup and we had over 200 people in the basement of the fruit.

Tony Rivera: Mm-hmm. That's awesome. I remember that night and

Kinetic Audio: yeah, it was a wild night. Yeah. Boston, Boston 1 6 8 came out, we sold 167 tickets to that show.

Yeah. Wow. And that was for a great show, techno headliners. It was a great show. Yeah. But 90% of the people in that room didn't know who they were. Yeah. That makes it even better. Right. And so it, it's been a slight change of mindset to constantly remind myself at least to say, Hey. Yeah, you did all this stuff in Durham, but this is a completely different city.

Yeah. Yeah. You're, this is a completely new demographic that we're, we've gotta build trust with. We've gotta actually show them what makes us different, the way we do parties, the way we book lineups and, and build their trust. Yes, yes. And, and, and there's no rushing that.

Tony Rivera: Yeah, you're right. Awesome. I mean, that takes time.

And, um, but once you get it, and once the people catch on, [00:17:00] like, I've seen it, like I've seen it this past week, and people are catching on. Yeah. I mean, I've, like, I was just talking to Zach not too long ago. We were like, you know, some of these people, we've seen it, we've never seen in our lives like, well, who are these people?

Right. I, right. I love, and it is like, mm-hmm. I love that. Because, you know, we knew, we knew some of the, you know, regulars, right. And then we came from, they came from Durham or whatever. Enjoy that too. But, you know, strangers. Yeah. Now it's like, you know, we've seen people, it's like, who are these people? And, which was a good thing, you know, and then it just, you know, it just mixes it all up.

Tim Piner: They're never really any bad energy with, you know, these things either. So it's kind of like, you know, I'll kick them out. I could come by myself in an Uber and I'm fine. And then you end up knowing a lot of people. 'cause we've been here for a bit. But yeah, it,

Kinetic Audio: it's, it's, I've had to kick out three people.

Tony Rivera: Yeah. There's not many.

Kinetic Audio: Yeah. Th three people over seven months sometimes doing three shows a month. Yeah. It's, it's a great track record, but. I have zero qualms about kicking people out. Yeah. Like if you are, if your energy's bad, you're a business man too. Exactly. Like professional. I am not gonna let anyone in that [00:18:00] space kill who is, is gonna be a detriment to the, to the energy.

Yes. Who's gonna be belligerent? Yes. Who's gonna be predatory? Like, we don't tolerate any of that. Like it's safe

Tim Piner: space. Damn Right. Damn right. Exactly. And I, and that's, she's a good enforcer too.

Tony Rivera: Snatch 'em off. I like

Kat: to think I'm head of security. Head of security.

Tony Rivera: Um, yeah. And um, you know, um, we were just talking with, with one of our last guests about one of the only underground, you know, after our places mm-hmm.

That that are actually doing what you guys are doing. Like, um, who was the guy? The who cares? Guy Who cares already? That Kenley Kenley. We had him on a show last, um. And a fusions. Fusions party fusion. Three of 'em. You guys are one of 'em, right? We're, I'm telling you, you're the consistent

Tim Piner: one we can count on though, but like, like Raleigh's getting there, we, we are, we got things

Kinetic Audio: popping

Tim Piner: off and it's a good sign.

And

Kinetic Audio: I, I refuse to get into the train of thought of like, there's not enough to go around and Raleigh, I like that. I mean like, like the, [00:19:00] the, the metropolitan area you consider Raleigh Durhams Yes. Surrounding suburbs? Yes. Just over like 1.1 million people out here a lot. You know this, I think like roughly four and a half hundred thousand of those are in Raleigh itself.

Uhhuh, it's like, yeah. Durham's like 2 96 or something. Yep. But. Mean, you're telling me each party can't get a hundred people. There's enough, there's enough artists to go around it. Well, well said. Well said. And the great thing is we're all doing different things. Mm-hmm. Like kinetic audio. Like our style is just like, yeah.

We have foundation, which is house crawlspace, which is kind of fusion. We're gonna be releasing Tantra, which is like a melodic theme show. Mm-hmm. But we're, we're techno like, yeah, yeah. We're abyss through and through. Yeah. Dark, gritty, driving techno

Tim Piner: even your poster conveys. Yeah. Yeah. Just,

Kinetic Audio: just, just like a razor's edge.

And then like, who cares? Their tech house. They're Latin, they're like Miami rooftop vibe like, like, you know, Kenley thrown down, you know Kenley really driving tech house. Yes. In the triangle. Yeah. He's [00:20:00] one of the hardest workers that I know production wise. Managing these events. Yeah. He has the space, the warehouse space.

Exactly. Like they're doing their thing. And then the fusions guys like. They, I love that they are the hub of the Shuffler community. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. It, it's, that is, shout out to the Fusion guys Exactly. Of capital city shuffler. I, I think it is absolutely critical to just have these little centers of gravity for different hobbies, you know, around the triangle because yeah, if, if you would've told me 10 years ago, like, oh, Raleigh's gonna have like its own kind of like traveling shuffle team and shuffle meets and stuff like that, I'd be like, who shuffles in Raleigh?

Yeah. Lots of people shuffling Raleigh and now there's like this hub and this group for them al get together and have Yeah. Recognize, hang out. Exactly. Yeah. Like, and it just takes that one or a couple people saying, Hey, let's do this. Yes. Yeah. And that, that's,

Tony Rivera: that's what, that's you know, that's why I always say [00:21:00] there's a lot of room for growth out here.

Absolutely. And for, for, for everyone. I mean, you know, you can get like some people. If you, if you feel like you, you want to take that chance, jump in with both feet because there's room to grow around here. I mean, there's, there's, there's, mm-hmm. Absolutely. I always, right. And I, and I, and I said that to the, to the audience too.

You know, if you have a dream, you have a vision, go for it out here. If you wanna do it, there's gonna be, as I said before, man, and I, I've told people this many, many times, 'cause I've been here in 2009, so many people, I, I don't even think I remember going out when I got here in 2009. Well, probably once in 20 12, 20 14, downtown.

But what I'm saying is that more and more people are moving down here. Mm-hmm. Right? Mm-hmm. And the more people move down here, the more people are gonna be mm-hmm. Liking the stuff that we wanna, you know, provide. You're gonna keep building. Yeah. Keep, you know, build a crowd. And right now is probably the best time to, to get into, you know, into that.

So,

Tim Piner: yeah. Um, it is a good time to be in Raleigh. Yeah.

Tony Rivera: Yeah. I mean, you know, it's, it's, it's slow growth. I mean, I was just speaking to to, um, Patrick, you know Patrick, yes. From Tree City and stuff like that. Shout out to Patrick. And you know, we were talking about, you know, I'm [00:22:00] trying to get them on a show, but we were like, you know, we have Raleigh, you know, we have this whole southeast area, which is like DC you know, Raleigh, Charlotte, Greenville, Atlanta, you know, which we, we kind of have that whole regional thing, right?

Kat: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Tony Rivera: So, so sometimes I feel like, you know, Raleigh's a little out on its own. Yeah. You all kind of misplaced and stuff, you know, we're kind of, but that's changing, man. You know, I think, I think, um, I think the more time goes on,

Kinetic Audio: like, I, I, I'll give a little bit of secret sauce to, I love, you know, viewers watch it.

And like for one, if, if you wanna throw a party. Do not listen to the person who, who says, you need to drop $5,000, throw this rave, or something like this. Mm-hmm. Like shoot a, shoot a direct message to me either through like the, the dead language page, which is kinda like my techno focus page or the kinetic audio page.

Mm-hmm. Like ask a question because a party is a room with a sound system and, and, and the people. [00:23:00]

Tony Rivera: Yeah, sure.

Kinetic Audio: That is, that is all a party is like, yeah. If you have good DJs mm-hmm. A sound system that's good enough, that's just decent that people can hear what's happening. And it's not just noise. Like you've got what it takes to throw a party.

Yeah. You do not need to go into all this crazy high budget stuff because that takes away from the essence of what a party is. Mm-hmm. A party fundamentally is a place where people can go to hear great music. Mm-hmm. Meet other like-minded people and socialize, network, make friends. So like, keep it simple.

It, it's, and, and focus on the fundamentals. And, and here's, here's the one thing I'll say about sound systems. 'cause it seems like people spend the most money on the production side trying to like source a sound system. You do not have to go drop in 1500 bucks for a function, one small rig or a Dan Lyor or an acoustic to rent it for the night.

Mm-hmm. Like, you get a couple of JBLs, you position them, you tune 'em the [00:24:00] right way. Guess what? It's still gonna shake the walls. People are not gonna care. Mm-hmm. Like I, I am, I'm going on a little imaging

Tim Piner: almost Trump's name brand. Exactly right. Like, well thought out room. I'm,

Kinetic Audio: I'm going on a little bit sound stage of like a tangent 'cause like you guys know, I, no, no.

Tim Piner: I wanted you to, 'cause this is where, but briefly I had to brag on one thing I've observed of you since I've known you. Analytical high IQ takes. Eloquently able to spell it out. So I'm hanging on every word if I ever put on a, so please continue. Yeah. Yeah. But like

Kinetic Audio: you guys know, I love my tech and my gear.

Like, like we've got our own sound system. We rig our own lights and everything. Yes. Like, like we, we, we do it all ourselves just 'cause, you know, we love the process. Mm-hmm. But pretty much every reputable or known speaker maker that, that, that's present in the us like it sounds good, you know, some people are probably gonna be like, oh, what's he told?

Like, Alto sounds good, Barringer sounds good. Yes it does. Mm-hmm. Mackey sounds good. Yamaha sounds good [00:25:00] if you use it within the limits of what it's designed to do. True. Mm-hmm. If you've got a couple QSCK twelves, you know, red line clipped to hell, trying to cover a room of 500 people. Yeah. It's gonna sound bad.

Mm-hmm.

Tony Rivera: Right. Yeah, I get it.

Kinetic Audio: But I can like you give me enough, you know, you 18 inch Mackey subs. And probably five or six, little 12 inch point source, two way cabinets. Like I can make it feel like you're in Brooklyn Mirage.

Kat: Nice.

Kinetic Audio: Like it's some design. Yeah. E Exactly. It's all, and, and I am not a sound engineer by any means.

I am self-taught. This is just mm-hmm. Things I've learned over the years. We've actually got some incredible sound engineers in the triangle. Yeah. Like, like, you know, bill of course comes to mind. Mm-hmm. You know, bill of diffuse audio. Just an absolute monster of a system. Pretty looking stuff too mad scientists just, you know, building crazy stuff, but it's.

The, the best way to think about [00:26:00] it, you wanna throw a party, throw a party that you and your friends will have fun at?

Kat: Yes. Right. Like,

Kinetic Audio: we don't throw any party that we wouldn't have fun at. Mm-hmm. The lineups that we book, it's people that we want to see play.

Tony Rivera: Right. Right. It,

Kinetic Audio: it's throw a party that you and your friends at the end of the night are gonna be like, that was a great time.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And, and from there it's, it's just scaling.

Tony Rivera: Yeah.

Kinetic Audio: Yeah. Yeah. Like,

Tony Rivera: yeah. Speaking, speaking of audio, man, I mean, um, I was just speaking to Tim last night. I was like, you know, probably one of the things we wanna speak to Johann about is about his, his audio setup up at his place. Yeah. 'cause I'm sure you put a lot of effort and, um, and so tell, tell us about what you've done there.

Yeah.

Kinetic Audio: So I've got a RCF.

Kat: Keep time. Let's do it. How much time do you have, man, gee out.

Kinetic Audio: I've got an RCF Theater and Touring system and I am a. Lifelong RCF fanboy. Mm. I think they are, for one, they make some of the most reliable sys [00:27:00] speakers. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I've ever handled even their consumer level, you know, you know, composite cabinets built like tanks.

Mm-hmm. Like, and, and, and they're an Italian company. They've got a US footprint of course, like a lot of foreign companies. Um, but, you know, most people aren't familiar with RCF as a brand. Right. You say QSC, you say JBL, you say pv of course, you know, they, you know, people know what you're talking about. But yeah, the incredible cabinets.

And so the, the theater and touring line up until a couple months ago when they released their KX line was their flagship speaker line. And it's a system that I've wanted for years. I, I can't justify, you know, spending $10,000 on a top though. Yeah. Like a single top damn. Like, that's crazy. And so, especially when so many people around the triangle have systems like Sean of Rabbit Hole has a Dan Lee system, right?

He's got the SM 90 sixes, they're, you know, the synergy horn tops. Yes. And like [00:28:00] four of the th one 18 xls, like for the listeners, that's, that's a super powerful folded horn. Or it actually, I forget if it's folded horn or tapped horn, but he's got. A system that can easily cover 600 people. Yes. Mm-hmm.

Bill's got an even bigger system. I don't even know how many Subwoofers Bill has. Like, like Yeah. He's got,

Kat: he. Yeah,

Kinetic Audio: exactly. He, you know, I, I, I think the most that I've seen in one place, or like eight of them, and they're 21 inch base reflex subwoofers. Yeah. Like 21 inch. Yeah. Um, I don't know if Levi of Down Deep still has his system, but I, I forget.

I think it's in a very old turbo sound system. Cool. Shit. If

Tim Piner: I recall that, I haven't talked to him in a minute, but yeah, he

Kinetic Audio: had some, pretty one time he combined his system with bill's for a base show at the Fruit. Oh wow. I've, I'll, I'll, I'll just send it. It was memorable. I, I, I, I still think I have the picture, but I took a picture of this system inside the warehouse.

Big warehouse, inside the main room of the fruit. And I remember, so I [00:29:00] went there to help 'em set up. I went around the corner to get some pizza at pony sauce and I'm walking back and the closer I get, I just hear the building shaking. Oh my God. And I walk in and I stand in front and my shirt's flapping.

That's good. And yeah, like we've got so many systems in the triangle. For years it didn't make sense for us, you know, doing one kind of pop-up party to buy our own system. When we like made the decision, we're gonna set up our own space. Mm-hmm. I saw a guy in South Carolina on Facebook marketplace selling two of these tops.

And so the tops are TTL six A tops. Oh, wow. And it's a, you know, all wood cabinet Baltic birch, inside of each speaker is two 12 inch roofers, four six inch roofers, and a 1.4 inch i, I believe corn loaded compression driver. Oh wow. Sandwich. So it's a monster of holy a point source cabinet. Holy. We got two of those cabinets, two of those I've two of those handling the top.

Like frequency response, like as far as [00:30:00] actual on paper it's down to 20 to 20,000 or something, right? Yeah,

Tim Piner: yeah. Maybe not the high end like that, but yeah.

Kinetic Audio: Yeah. On, on, on, on paper it's a 20 to 20 k realistically, like you'll get some usable like lows down to 50 hertz, but that, that fifty's low real, that's outta the top.

It is 139 decibels at one meter. Like, or, or, or actually 141 decibels at one meter, I believe. Oh shit. Because the sub is RCF 9,007 subwoofer. Yeah, that one's like 139 decibels. Shoes are allowed at one meter. Um, you know, wa wats a kind of misunderstood, you know, measurement in the sound field, but 3,600 watts program RMS 7,500.

Yeah. 7,200 watts peak. Yeah, that's sort crazy

Tim Piner: number

Kinetic Audio: for a 1600 square foot space.

Tony Rivera: So wait a minute, you probably not even turning up maybe like a Oh no. All the way quarter.

Kinetic Audio: Um, so. I'll slowly inch the subs up to zero [00:31:00] db. Mm-hmm. You know, as, as the night goes on, the tops, say at negative six DB all night.

Yeah. Wow. Like we, we, we gain stage the mixer and then I've, I, I controlled the DSP via my laptop. Mm-hmm. But yeah, I've got the tops crossed over at 90 hertz to the subs. And then I've also got a negative nine decibel shelf at 2000 hertz on, on those tops, just to still take off some of that edge. 'cause they're so loud.

Wow. Like, like they're, they're meant to be flown for outdoor events. Yes. Like, that's where you're really gonna get your money's worth. But I got 'em used for a deal that was too good to pass up. Yeah. To, yeah. From a dealer. And, and it was just, it, it was, it was an offer that was too good to pass up. Oh yeah.

I can imagine that. And now I've got, you know, the speaker that I've wanted for the. You know, the better part of a decade that, that is a great

Tony Rivera: story. But that's, that's, and that's, you know, I noticed, I think, I don't know if you had it when you first [00:32:00] started, um, the space that you have it Yeah. That you have set up there.

Okay. Okay. All but, um, and I just noticed the two big cabinets, you know, on each side. I'm like, okay, that's enough right there. And I'm like, oh, yeah, gotta ask. I I'm, I'm have to ask him what, you know, what is, what's in there. But you also did some stuff with lighting. I know you done some stuff with lighting in there.

It's a great space. I mean, the lighting you guys put in just recently and, um, you know, if you haven't been to check out Kinetic audio, check out these guys parties. They're, they're, they're legit.

Kinetic Audio: Yeah. We've got one coming up on the 26th, um, called Crawlspace, and it's our fusion party for, we, when we started in Raleigh this year, essentially New Year's was the first one in Raleigh.

Um, we had a show called Weekend Resolution. Mm-hmm. And it was supposed to kind of be a fusion show of just like, just different music every time. And very diverse. But what we found was that people weren't really understanding what it was supposed to be. 'cause some shows it would be like a techno lineup.

Kat: Yes.

Kinetic Audio: Other shows it would be soulful [00:33:00] house and stuff. And so we decided to make essentially different themed shows. And so a business for techno foundation is for House Tan is for melodic. Yeah. And so we were like, we still want a show where we can have like UKG and maybe some drum and bass or some tech house or something.

And so

Tony Rivera: Crawlspace is that show. It's gonna be like a what A vision thing, right? Yep. Yep. Man, actually they invited me out to do the crawlspace. I was about to say get thrown down. So we've got, I'm excited. Can't wait.

Kinetic Audio: We've got Tramal DJ 11, 12. Shout out. Wonderful human beings love Tramal. What universally special guy.

Yeah, he's out. Um, so myself, actually, I'm playing under my own name rather than dead language. Most people know me as playing techno. 'cause I. Gotta get out, stretch the house legs a little bit, you know, throw it out a little. Let, let's,

Tony Rivera: let's talk about that, switch gears a little bit. 'cause I, you know, people know you as Johann Yarding with Kinetic audio, but now you've switched up and you know, took on a new alias.

So, what, [00:34:00] what's the dead language? Yeah, tell me about it.

Kinetic Audio: So, for pretty much this entire time, from playing under my own name and I, I got, I got my start playing house, tech, house melodic stuff. Progressive. Mm-hmm. Things like that. I, I used to produce like, yes. France and melodic drum and bass. Yes. And, you know, as time went on and I realized like, techno is really like the sound that I wanna focus on it, it just made more sense to create the separate alias.

Because if you look at all the d all the like, headlines of been booked to support, it's all trance. Progressive, yes. Melodic stuff. Yes. A couple of Latin artists, like, like Rafa Barrios mm-hmm. Or Alan Nevis like. And so it, it's, it, it's, it's a bit confusing, especially now if I was still playing as Johann Yard and if I'm ripping 150 BPM industrial techno every month, and then I'm on a lineup to [00:35:00] say, support Ally and Fila.

Right? Like, here, what, what does that mean? You know? It's, yeah, I got it. And so it just made it easier to separate it. Yeah. Because also. My style in techno has significantly changed. Like this last weekend, we just kind of went hard. We went all out. But as time's gone on, I've gotten much more into ambient hypnotic.

Mm-hmm. Very, just deep, oftentimes slower sounds. Yes. I recorded a two hour mix with Luke visual canopy. Mm-hmm. So, yeah, Luke's got this incredible channel called Installation where he Yep. Yep. Shout out to, yeah, shout out to, for coming

Tim Piner: from reading. So on your is is, it's not, is it fully edited and out?

Yep. Yep. That's, that's there.

Kinetic Audio: Okay. That, that one's out on YouTube. Okay. But yeah. Um, so I asked him, I was like, well, could I get a two hour one instead of a one hour? 'cause for like, I really want to tell some different stories, have ambient sections. Yes. You know, I like my perfect stage to play in. Is a small platform in [00:36:00] the middle of an old growth forest.

Mm-hmm. You know, it's dark, it's foggy, it's misty. Mm-hmm. And we're just playing like very deep undulating Yeah. Psychedelic tech. Yeah. Like, like that's really what dead language is. Yeah. That's

Tony Rivera: what's up. Yeah. And I, I, and I can appreciate that man. And I know that, um, you know, as far as musical influences, I know both of you guys have various musical influences.

Kat, you had like, say you played some like instruments before or, you know

Kat: yeah. When I was younger. Yeah. Um, I played drums and clarinet mostly. Mm-hmm. Um, played a little bit of bass. Um, I haven't really played an instrument at least over 10 years. Yeah. I did play a bass a couple years ago with my uncle 'cause he has like a little studio.

Mm-hmm. Everyone in my family has played instruments. Oh, that's awesome. But yeah.

Tony Rivera: But what was like, what was the main type of music that you grew up with that really influenced you?

Kat: Um, probably blues and Rock and roll. Really? [00:37:00] Um, yeah. I be, yeah. My dad, that's all he listened to was blues. Mm-hmm. My mom, she loved, you know, the very, you know, poppy eighties mm-hmm.

Metal hair, you know, all that stuff. But my dad, he liked blues, jazz, rock and roll. Um, something that, a word he said, outlaw country. Um, sometimes he'd listen to like really rough country music, which I really liked. Um,

Tony Rivera: and that, that drove it to techno. Techno is like somehow, what is that? Your, your sound of choice?

Kat: Um, so I get asked a lot, like, you know, what's your sound? And it, it is definitely sometimes hard to figure out what my sound is, per se. 'cause it's kind of still changing. Mm-hmm. Since, you know, I'm still fairly new to the game. Yeah. Um. But I, I just, I just know that it's, it's often very deep and heavy.

Mm-hmm. Um, sometimes when I think that what I'm playing is really pretty, it's not as pretty as [00:38:00] like, as it's being perceived. For those that know, they know other people would play. That would be really pretty. Yes. Ugh. Yeah. So other, but you, that's cool. You

Tony Rivera: did she she had an amazing show. Was it that Black box Charlotte?

Yeah. I was, I was, I mean you in the middle of this whole big crowd around, I was like, yo, she held it down. That is catch

Kinetic Audio: in the middle. Throwing down. Lemme find out. That was a lot of fun. Incredible. Yeah. Opening for cloud. Yeah. Opening. Oh wow. That's right. Opening for cloud. That's

Kat: right. And I, I had to remind myself that it was a 360 set, so I would like turn around and say, Hey, to the people behind me, just like gr in and

Tim Piner: That's awesome.

Kat: It was, it was really fun playing for them. Um, I, I definitely did a. Mixture of, you know, like a basic four by four hard techno, and then some like poly rhythms and like weird experimental stuff. And, and you could, you could tell the change when each track would play or when I blended it and it was, it was probably the second [00:39:00] time I really got to actually like.

Feel the crowd and, and play with them a little bit. And really just like, get those, see what they really like and just blend, you know, the

Tony Rivera: interaction,

Kat: the what we like to play. And then more of like, what I like to play hard and just, it was really fun. Almost like

Tim Piner: you even grew like in a quantum leap in a, in a single show, maybe like it sounds like you, you had that breakthrough kind of feel.

Yeah. It was

Kat: a great experience. Thats awesome.

Tony Rivera: I can imagine. I mean, I, I saw the, the, the clips, the video clips and I'm like, I saw the crowd. They were like really into it. I'm like,

Kat: oh, they were, I had to look twice like insane. They were incredible.

Tony Rivera: Yo, that's, I

Kinetic Audio: love. So I've, I've got a a little clip. I'll send it to you Please.

Um, of, I took a video shot from behind her. Yeah. And when I say the entire crowd out till, so the way black boxes is, it's kind of like a sunken kind dance floor area. Mm-hmm. And then you go upstairs to kind of like this, you know, kind of viewing shelf where most of the, where like the entrances are and whatnot.

And it's [00:40:00] literally a sea of people, a ocean of bodies. And the entire crowd mm-hmm. Is jumping and dancing on beat with her. Yeah. And I'm a shout out to House Vibrations for that one. Shout out to House Vibrations. Crush the Vibrations, Johnny, those guys killing it out there. That's what it's all about. We were just out

Tony Rivera: there, um, like a couple of weeks ago and, um, you know, we went to Panga of course, and we met some of the Rethink guys.

We're gonna have them on the show, the rethink. Shout out to the Rethink guys. We're gonna have you guys on the show soon. Um, but yeah, they have a big scene out there and we love it. We love the Charlotte people and, um, you know, hopefully we get to see some more of what's going on out there. But it must have been fun.

I mean, I saw you guys, matter of fact, send me the, send me the highlight reel. Mm-hmm.

Tim Piner: Yes.

Tony Rivera: I'll definitely put on the show. So you know, we can put on the, you know, highlight reel so we can highlight you guys as well and show you what you're doing. But, um. Man, I love what you guys are doing out there. And shoot.

Um, Charlotte, what else are you planning? I know I've seen you going to, to to Richmond and down to yeah, to Charlotte. We've been

Kat: traveling around, um, making my way around [00:41:00] North Carolina. Yeah. I like to joke and say I am going on my North Carolina tour. Sure. Um, but it's been great meeting a lot of like different people.

The bodega recently or

Tony Rivera: something. Yep.

Kat: Oh yeah, the bodega. Mm-hmm. In Charlotte. That was mm-hmm. That was a lot of fun. Yeah. Super chill. Um,

Tony Rivera: so meeting, meeting people around the, around the state. Yeah.

Kat: Meeting new people, connecting, networking. Mm-hmm. Um, and it's been really fun too, because like places like Greensboro Winston-Salem, um, what's the other one?

Spoon. There are people out there, you know, who want to thrive and, and they're working just as hard as we are to mm-hmm. You know, build up a scene and Yeah. Yes. You know, sometimes some of these shows, you know, I go to, there might not be a turnout, but I don't mind. 'cause you know, we're still in community.

We're still building something, um, pushing forward, bringing awareness, and that's all we can really do until Yeah. It reaches the people it needs to reach.

Tony Rivera: [00:42:00] Yeah. And definitely that's one of the, you know, aims of the Violent Underground podcast. You know, we want to, we wanna bring the whole community together.

You know, if you're from Charlotte or you're from Asheville, Boone, Greensboro, you know, where were you guys are at, you know, we're gonna come to a city near you, you know, we wanna have you guys on the show. We wanna get to expose what's going on in the state and the people who are doing different things so that, you know, everyone can, can, you know, share, share the talent, right?

Yeah. I mean, there's people down in Wilmington who are coming over to Raleigh, apart from Raleigh, going down to Charlotte like you guys, you know, and, um, I think without that. No one's really gonna know. I mean, you know, pe people are not gonna be aware of what's going on if someone's not talking about it.

And, um, and here on the vinyl, on the ground, you know, we're gonna have, you know, shows for you guys to, to explore, you know, if there's parties that you guys wanna, wanna see, definitely hit us up. But point was that, you know, we, we want to expose that. Right? I mean, we want to shout out the, you know, the guys of Charlotte and know that, you know, Connecticut is throwing, throwing a party up here in Raleigh.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Know what I'm trying to say, because to tell you the truth outta necessity, [00:43:00] that's what I want. You know what I'm saying? Right, right. I mean, you know, selfish endeavor as well, you know, which is fine. It's like, you know, it was like, you know, and one of the things that we was, we was talking about, you know, the podcast is like, one of, one of the ideas was like, just outta necessity, just understanding, you know, speaking to, to the DJs and you know, what their, you know what their visions are.

Like, you know, what they're, you know what they're doing as far as. Looking ahead as far as projects and whatnot, and, and you know, what other plans. 'cause you know, if, if it's, if it's up to really the people who are on the ground to build this scene, right? And that's, that's, that's what, you know, that's what.

We're trying to do here, but, um, yeah. You know, um, and there's a lot of people, a lot of players out there, man, but they're not, you know? Mm-hmm. You don't really hear about them, you know, you don't really know who they are. You know, you, you mentioned a um, Adam Pace blur, you know, he's gonna be on here soon and give him a shout.

How might have Bill

Tim Piner: on, I mean, that's a brainstorm right there. I saw that's a different angle, but it brain, it's so important. Well, it's like listening to you as well. I mean, you, you guys who, who, who? [00:44:00] Adam? Well bill. B Bill. Yeah. And, um, he, do they still do this party to the park right now through the summer?

I think they are right. Oh, I, I recently had brings his equipment out there. They,

Kinetic Audio: they recently had one.

Tim Piner: Yeah.

Kinetic Audio: I, I haven't seen anything posted. They might be taking a break because it's, yeah. I mean, right. But that's been

Tim Piner: omnipresent, like as far as just kinda like a, like a sort of an OG ish kind of

Kinetic Audio: thing.

That was where she got to meet Marshall. Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah. Okay.

Tim Piner: That makes sense.

Kinetic Audio: So Marshall Jones dance group.

Tim Piner: Yeah. Yeah. Well, um, but I mean, he'll be next

Kat: month. Nice. You met, you knew each other for, it was a park party. Yes. And Marshall was playing and I wasn't as involved or in, you know, um, in the community, but I saw Marshall play and I was just moving.

I was, I was like, oh my gosh, this is it right here. He enjoys it as much as people listen. I dunno know what I'm listening to, but yeah. This

Tony Rivera: is, this is it. Yeah. Shout out to Marshall. You'll be out here next month. Yeah. Fun to watch, man. Yeah, we enjoy and [00:45:00] definitely doing big things with Dance Groove radio.

Yeah. Um, you know, his, his, um, the floor 9 1 9 with Adam. Yep. Um, and you know, he's been, been around. I mean, he has a lot of shows. He has a lot of shows on, um, on Dance Groove. I know you guys are, so, yeah, definitely, man. And that's one of the, you know, it's one of the things I, I've, you know, actually. I didn't even meet Marshall until I went, I started going to the best parties.

Um, and, um, I met him there. We were kind of in passing though. Mm-hmm. You know, and then, um, you know, I got to like actually meet him not too long ago, like, you know, just informally. So really cool dude. And you know, we like what he's doing. So

Kat: I, I always feel like because you know, Marshall's been around for so long and he's mm-hmm.

He's traveled around and he's learned in a lot of great places like Chicago and he's been a staple of, you know, the Durham scene for a long time. Yes. And I always think of it like you're playing a video game and you're, you know, you're getting maybe be. You're getting to the final boss and he's just like one of those [00:46:00] bosses that you meet when you finally like make it through.

That's well said. That's a perfect analogy. Final boss of house, like you finally made it through finally it, all the levels of music here and you found the underground.

Tony Rivera: Yeah. Yeah. That's quite an imagination. Ka like, and I, even before Raleigh, he

Tim Piner: was yeah, Raleigh had some, a lot of folks ended up in Durham from Raleigh, but it's kind of, we're still one and the same.

I feel like

Kat: most people end up in Durham from Raleigh. They do surrounding, they'll, they, if they've never been to Durham or like never experienced music out there, they will eventually find their way.

Tony Rivera: Yeah. To Durham. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's, shout out to Durham. There's a lot of good stuff you know, happening out there in Durham with my boys over at, at, um, party Illegal.

Yeah. Mm-hmm. You know, shout out to those guys and few other places. I mean, there's the, the, the no Visa people, you know, and, um. I mean, there's, there's, there's had things happening. Mm-hmm. Um, and it's, it's coming more and more, you know, more and more, um, popular. But, [00:47:00] um, um, yeah, der is, derham seems to be the center right.

Of, of what's all the, that kind of like that um, underground new scene that's popping up. Right. I mean, I dunno how you guys, you know, what, what do you think about what, what's going on over there? Yeah,

Kinetic Audio: agreed. I think it's, it's because, I mean, not Raleigh State Capital, it is old money town. Mm-hmm. It's, yeah.

People say Raleigh's stuffy, you know, Raleigh's, finance Raleigh's buttoned up and whatnot. Yeah. And it, it's really the party area in, in Raleigh is Glenwood. Mm-hmm. It's been that way for the longest time. And it, it, it's, you gotta understand, at the end of the day, they're businesses. So they are gonna do, you know, what keeps the lights on?

Mm-hmm. So if that means top 40 or, you know, kind of the more digestible EDM Yeah. And, and, and whatnot. Hip hop of course, always gonna have a push Especi, especially after COVID. Yeah. When all these [00:48:00] business are hurting for money. And so I, I can understand how Raleigh's taken a bit longer to get there.

Mm-hmm. But I mean, now, you know, look at this. I mean, there those to be five groups different. Like, there's us, there's Space Camp, you know, shout out to those guys. Fusions Space Camp. Yeah. Who cares? I, I'm, I'm drawing a blank on who else Is Is is in Raleigh. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, we've got four or five promotions in Raleigh alone.

Yeah. So, I mean, Randall, it just took some time to get there, but I, I think this is my opinion. Durham's two to three years ahead of Raleigh musically. Mm-hmm. And so, you know, in the next, you know, two to three years, which is no time at all, honestly, you know, Raleigh, I mean, we're gonna have a very thriving underground again, in my opinion, because I, I, I think the underground was pretty thriving before COVID.

Mm-hmm. It's, yeah, I agree.

Tim Piner: I agree. Well, we were plugged in, so we kind know it wasn't, it wasn't bad. Yeah. But if you were new to town, you might [00:49:00] not. Yeah, there's anything

Tony Rivera: Yeah, I'm, I'm hoping, I mean, you know, I think, yeah, it is just gonna, it is gonna be an evolution, constant evolution. Mm-hmm. You know, that's gonna be happening here in this town.

Mm-hmm. Especially in Raleigh and, and Durham. I mean, you know, Durham, you know, as soon continue evolving as far as musically, artistically

Kat: mm-hmm. I think

Tony Rivera: artistically is, is, you know, I think they have a slight edge on that side, you know, but, um, I kind of look at it as, like, I always say it like, you know, Raleigh's Manhattan, Durhams Brooklyn, right?

Yeah. They, hundred percent. Hundred percent. Right. I always tell people, because we're, we're from Queens,

Kat: and I always tell people that. Durham is one of those cities that kind of feels like home. Yeah. You know? Exactly. Mm-hmm. Exactly. Raleigh doesn't feel like home quite like Durham.

Kinetic Audio: I don't like it too clean.

Like it's gotta have a little like, like it, it's gotta be scuffed up just a little bit. Raleigh's

Tim Piner: safe. Benign. It's safe. You're probably never gonna get held a gun planter, you know? There's not a lot of trash on the ground, dude. We still gotta watch,

Tony Rivera: watch your watch your [00:50:00] neck, man. Yeah. Because you don't know what turn, what, what, what coin are you gonna turn in Durham and, and to have a, have a problem.

Yeah. It's not, man, the city's changed though.

Kinetic Audio: It is. I remember. I mean, I'm sure you guys remember, so the fruit, that area used to just be wasteland. Yeah. Just industrial. It was barren. There was nothing out there. Now these nice apartments, we, and train tracks and Yeah. I mean, city's growing. It's, it's, it's evolving and.

I, I just, like you said, there's a lot of people moving here because this is a great place, place to live. Mm-hmm. I love it out here. Yeah. You know, especially coming from the city, like mm-hmm. You know, and, and we've both lived all over. I mean, it's a great place to start a family, you know, aside from this couple of months during the summertime, the weather's nice.

For the most part. It is Hollands trying to kill you. And so, and, and so we still have lots of people moving here and I love talking to people who are like, oh, I moved here from Fort Worth. Oh, I moved here from Brooklyn. I moved here and we were looking for the thing. Yeah. It's like, well, you found it. [00:51:00] Yeah.

Like, welcome home.

Tim Piner: We're a little melting pot. Yeah. The triangle collectively. But yeah. Yeah. And don't see about Chapel Hill. I mean, it's, it's a little cute college town, but there's a lot of artists, they're working on it. I mean, they're kind of the epicenter of just good alternative music, you know?

Yeah. And that kind of can cross over in a Yeah. Artist sense, a hip factor that mm-hmm. Has its merits. It's, it's not dur, you know, rally doesn't have the population, but the triangle, we don't wanna leave. We're leaving them out. Yeah. Yeah. And,

Tony Rivera: and yeah. And, um, yeah, there's, there's other cities. I mean, actually we've been discovering, like Greensboro is doing stuff.

Mm-hmm. Greensboro

Kat: is a great spot. I love playing in Greensboro. And the people there are always just ready to dance. Yeah. And so giving, and so just accepting really. Yes. I love playing in

Tony Rivera: green. Really? Yeah. That's, that's something, I mean we, we, you know, I need to kind of delve a little bit. They had some good clubs in like the early

Tim Piner: nineties

Tony Rivera: there.

Tim Piner: It was Wild Man. Like [00:52:00] early, you know, Steve Techno clubs, man, Soka 93 to 97. I don't know how I ended up there several times. I, I don't know, but I mean, I know 'cause I was, I met a club owner in Myrtle Beach of all places. It had a place called Club Zero and then he built one in Greensboro and left Myrtle Beach.

And then I was like, okay, I'm gonna go see him. 'cause I kind of, I just remember some great nights early on. Yeah. Um, you know, different era. But yeah. Greensboro, you know, who would've thought not too bad.

Kinetic Audio: Steve Howerton was telling me that. Oh, how Steve Howerton outta Charlotte. Shout out to Steve. Shout out to Steve Howton.

He was at our last Foundation party. The OG of Old Things, Afro Soul. It was a monster behind the deck. That's big, absolute monster. Hell yeah. He was telling me back in the day, Winston was like the Winston Greensboro area. Winston too, popping off. Like that's where it was back in like the nineties and stuff.

I'm like, yeah. Like Winston's a town of like 15 people right now. Wouldn't that You wouldn't have got shout how many were back in the nineties?

Tim Piner: Like it's tobacco and a few humans. That's what you got. Yeah. [00:53:00] But yeah,

Kinetic Audio: it, it's, it's, it's wild to think like when you like take a step back, you know, that, you know, 20,000 foot view of the whole state for how small we are.

'cause really there's like five big cities in North Carolina. Yeah. You got Raleigh Durham, you know Charlotte, you know, triangle, Charlotte, Winston, Greensboro, Asheville. What's that? Six? I mean, that, that's, that's the cities of North Carolina's. Mm-hmm. And we've got four to five groups in each city, like doing different things.

Yeah. Like, and so it's density wise, we've got a lot of people doing really cool stuff out here. And I'm, I'm about to catch a lot of flack for this and I'll die on this hill, the camera. I'll die on this hill. Yeah. And you've got some of the best DJs I've encountered nationwide here in the triangle. Thank you.

Better than a lot of people I've heard in New York.

Tony Rivera: There you go. You heard it first. You on the ground per capita. We're just saying. I'm, I'm, I'm from Forest

Kinetic Audio: Hills, she's from Astoria. Yeah. We go up to New [00:54:00] York all the time to visit and whatnot. Still a great city. Yeah. You know, I love it up there. We see great acts, but yeah, more often than not, I'm up in New York and I'm, I'm at shows.

I'm like, ah, it's all right.

Tim Piner: Yeah. Yeah. Alright. It's cool, it's great. Piggy back in their, their city. Yeah, I agree. Like,

Kinetic Audio: like. Exactly. It's, it's just a business now. It's a machine. A Yeah, yeah. Here is a little bit more organic. Exactly. It's a little more organic. It's, it's grassroots. Yes. It's, it's raw. People are working a lot harder too.

Yeah. Yeah. I agree. And, and it's still so fresh that no one's trying to sound like, you know, the, the 10 people that came before 'em. Yeah. Like, you know, we still have a lot of experimentation out here. People are trying to

Tony Rivera: find their groove in a lot of, a lot of ways. Yeah. Yeah.

Kinetic Audio: Like, it's, I agree

Tony Rivera: 1%. And I, I agree man.

I, I, I haven't, I've been to parties here that I, I've just loved and enjoy, enjoyed myself. Like either your party or other guys. But then like, I'll go to, you know, New York for one. Um, [00:55:00] went to a few parties out there. I was like, ah, it's all right. Yeah. Um, you know, I've been to other places, you know, outta state.

Not impressed. I mean, it was, it was okay, but. I just, I dunno. I just, like you said, I find here people are just a bit more, you know? Mm-hmm. That's nice to hear you say that. Yeah. Because you've, you've done and seen a lot

Tim Piner: and so that's I mean,

Tony Rivera: you know, I've been, I've been, you know, to, to places, you know, but, but as far as like local, regional, or, or on the East coast and stuff, man, you know, I, this is one of the best spots that I, I feel like I've been to one of the best parties, so shout out to North Carolina Talent.

Mm-hmm. And the DJs out here. Alki. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, man, that's

Tim Piner: really cool to hear you say that. Like, just 'cause, you know, to, to astutely observe that yeah. That's, that's really,

Tony Rivera: yeah, definitely. And, and, you know, for, for yourself and know, I, I don't know, you've been DJing for what, maybe, um, so yeah, a little over seven years.

Seven years, right? Yeah. Um, and when I found Johann, you know, playing techno, I was like. It was like a breakthrough. I was [00:56:00] like, I was like, yo,

Tim Piner: now everyone,

Tony Rivera: was

Tim Piner: everyone saying that too? Yeah. I was like, all right, good. He finally,

Tony Rivera: and when, when, when, when Yo house started doing this with, with his neck, and he starts doing that, I'm like, oh, that's it.

He just,

Tim Piner: I remember standing behind him in a tree house at House of Art. He invited me up. I was VIP and this Yohan just very powerful dude. Shout out to House of Art. House of Art man. So what a setup. Yeah.

Kinetic Audio: Just got, I, I just saw it was maybe an Instagram post or something. Some good news. They're working on a new location.

Oh, good. Like, yeah, I'm telling you,

Tony Rivera: like, that was unfortunate what happened to the House of Art. Shout out to the House of Art. We support you guys. I know. Yeah, I know. And, um, um, yeah, man, that's a, that's an unfortunate situation, but, um. Exactly, man. I mean, know that type of situation, like I said, talking about talent.

Yeah. You know, I saw, I saw Johan playing techno out here and I was like, oh man, I've never seen nobody really just drive it that way. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah. I was like, just taking it like it's been a while. Like when I, when I first saw [00:57:00] him, like it had been a while. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?

Like, it had been like a span of like five years or something like that. Right. The last time I was like, I felt like, you know, where am I?

Kat: Yeah.

Tony Rivera: Yeah. Matter of fact, when I play for you guys next Saturday, I'm gonna impress you guys just, I know you just rip like, like I know you

Kinetic Audio: like one thing I'll say, so on the Instagram, the kinetic audio Instagram page in our link tree mm-hmm.

There's a DJ submission form. If you're interested in playing, submit all your information. What I will say, it helps if you've come to one of our parties before, so you understand how we do things. Mm-hmm. You've seen the way our DJs Yep. Do their thing because it's. I, I, I don't wanna, I, I don't wanna sound like we're gatekeeping, you know, 'cause people have said that about us before.

But what I will say is we are very particular about who we book essentially have like a framework for, for, for booking people. For one, your technical skills need to be immaculate. [00:58:00] Mm-hmm. Your transitions need to be solid. Your knowledge of EQ mixing needs to be solid. Like, you need to be confident and deliberate behind the decks.

And that, and that doesn't mean you don't mess up. You mess up. I wanna hear you fix it.

Kat: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Kinetic Audio: That's skill. Yeah. Instead of just like, panicking, cutting it out. Like, gotta have good technical skills. Right. Music selection wise, I don't want to hear the shit that I could hear on Spotify. Mm-hmm. And that's where a lot of people get, you know, you know, stopped up when they send in mixes and it's like a like.

Where's you in this mix though?

Tony Rivera: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Originality.

Kinetic Audio: Exactly. Like, like, I want you to pour your heart and soul, like, I want, I wanna hear a little bit of vulnerability. I want to hear your personality mm-hmm. Through your music. Yep. Yep. Like, and, and so yeah, if you're interested, sending a mix, but just know, like, make sure those technical skills are good.

Yep. And stop, I, I, I don't, I don't [00:59:00] want to make this sound harsh. Stop sending in mixes of what you think we like. Mm.

Kat: Mm-hmm. I

Kinetic Audio: don't give a shit about what you think we like. Mm-hmm. Send a mix of what you like. What, what moves you, what makes, what gives you goosebumps when you're playing. Mm-hmm. That's what I want to hear.

Don't worry about what I like. Yeah, right. I'll listen to everything from drum and bass to dubstep to, you know, hard trance. Like, don't worry about what I like

Kat: divorce dad rock.

Kinetic Audio: Yeah. Oh. Oh. Don't, don't even get me started on like, the grunge, like, like I'll be,

Tony Rivera: it's funny, my daughter found a cd. A cd and some, some thrift shop called that Dad's Mix.

No shit. Yeah. And I'm like, all right, we're gonna go to this. Yes. But you're right. You're right, man. I mean, I think you know, original island's definitely, you know, a key with, with your music. But

Tim Piner: yeah, that's really, really, I, I love how you said that, man. Yeah. That those are good qualifiers and there's nothing wrong with asking for some of that and not just Ching stuff.

Yeah. 'cause it's, it's, you're directing the, you, you're kind of a [01:00:00] partial director and, but you, you. Yeah, you sat on the vibe. You should have a little vetting going on, I think, to curate what you want. 'cause it's still your, your show. You know?

Kinetic Audio: I remember your vibe. So, John cz, you know, shout out to cz.

I've, I've known John for years. He plays great music. Yes. But one night he was playing at Go J mm-hmm. For between two clouds event and like that was to date. Still my favorite mix that I've ever heard him play live. Wow. Because there was, there, there was some emotion in that mix. Like, like there was, there was, there was some pain, there was some bitter sweetness.

There was some that like, like there, there was some vulnerability in that mix. Mm. And John, if you're listening to this, that is still shout my favorite mix that I ever heard play. That's because like, like that's was, was dead. That's what makes it more than music. That's what makes it an experience. Yes, yes,

Tony Rivera: yes, yes.

I agree. I agree. And you put your, your emotion and your, your, your feeling, I mean, your personality, pretty much what you're going through, you know? And I agree, man. I [01:01:00] mean, sometimes when I'm sitting down and I'm just listening to my mixes or I'm making the mix, I'll just be like, man, I'm just gonna feel what I feel, play what I feel.

Right? I feel like this, I'm gonna play this man. If I feel hard, I feel, you know, a little bit more melodic. But, um, but, but let 'em know. Let the audience know, man, where they can find you on Instagram, on the social so they can contact you guys, they can give you a shout, they can submit the forms and all that.

Kinetic Audio: Absolutely. So we're on Instagram. It's kinetic audio underscore nc. Feel free to reach out to us there. So my, my Instagram profile is dead language, um, techno, I think, or, or something like that. You punch it in, you'll see a moody looking photo. You'll know it's me. You know, Skyler is poetic note. Yeah. Feel free to reach out.

We just got the Facebook page finally set up. No. So say it's kinetic audio events on Facebook. Okay. Nice. You know, we, we monitor that and we, you know, she's been nagging me about getting the, the website finished. That's awesome. Because I've been procrastinating chop cats. [01:02:00] I, I'm, I'm, I'm terrible about it.

You're team. She's, she is, she is my partner in crime. She is is right. My fellow menace to society. Love you to death. Yeah. Like good,

Tony Rivera: good, good. I'm glad you guys are a duo like that to make it happen. Things make things even, you know, but um, um, yeah, definitely. I mean, that's the, you know, Instagram, Facebook, you got the website coming up.

Um. Shoot. You have events like twice a month now through two, three times a month now.

Kinetic Audio: Right. And once the weather becomes survivable, we will start doing day parties and outdoor stuff. Mm-hmm. Oh, great. But you know, real talk, I'm not doing a party when it's 95 degrees, a hundred percent humidity. I hear you.

We're not doing that. I

Kat: can barely move.

Tony Rivera: I respect that. I'm serious. This is, this has been like so terrible. I don't, don't, misty stuff blowing

Tim Piner: in me. One the dew point's still 78 in the fucking humidity's eight. Like, okay, thanks man. I'm already sweating. I'm already wet.

Tony Rivera: Exactly. Um, kaki weather. Yeah, it's just, it's [01:03:00] terrible, man.

I mean, sometimes, I mean, this summer's been really terrible right? So far. Yeah. But, um, um, gosh, so yeah, definitely you guys will be, you know, around town doing your thing. You got, um, poetic note here for the, for the audience and that language or Johann Yarding, you guys are, um, definitely. You know, doing your thing.

We appreciate you guys being on the show. Yeah, thank you. We do. Yeah. Honored to have you

Tim Piner: both, man.

Tony Rivera: Yeah. This has been a fun time and we hope that you guys, you know, on the hope your audience, you know, enjoys the episode with, with our crew here, the, the Kinetic audio team. And anything else you guys wanna mention or no, Kat, anything coming up?

What's your, what's your, what's, what's coming up in the next couple of months?

Kat: Um, I just, I'm gonna be playing with my hardware. Mm-hmm. Um, our friend David gifted me a little groove box. Oh, right, I saw that. And I already have a little chord, [01:04:00] vocal drums, so, um, gonna be messing around with those, some of the hardware stuff.

Yeah.

Tim Piner: Yeah. I saw that for you. Good for you. Heck yeah.

Kat: Um, there are some big events coming up. I'm not gonna spoil it. Okay's fair local. Um, yeah, local, local.

Tony Rivera: Oh yeah. And you have the fake fem fragments. Yeah. Shout out to fake fra fem fragments. Incredible part. The last Saturday. This, yeah. They've, you guys have been throwing down over there movies.

Yeah. Shout out

Kat: to movies. Yeah, it's been really great. When I started, um, just the event, fatal frequencies, I didn't really have any direction. Just me and my friends wanted to play, you know, a group of girls and now it's turning into its own identity and it's a whole thing. Um, putting female female and fem DJs forward and have it focused on them.

You know, here's a lot of guys out there that DJ and That's cool. Yeah. No shade to them, but there's a [01:05:00] lot of females who don't get to play out often and don't get put on lineups and, right. I think it's important to showcase that. You bet. Yeah. In our area. And there are a couple other events that have been doing stuff like that for a while.

But

Tony Rivera: yeah,

Kat: I think we do it just a little bit different.

Tony Rivera: Yeah. Well, yeah, definitely. If you haven't found fem fragments, yes, definitely look them up. These guys, they're throwing some great parties over at Rubies at Five Points in Durham. Shout out to the whole femme fragments DJ Collective. Um, yeah, definitely something new, you know, that, that, you know, that has been introduced into the, into the mix.

So yeah, definitely. Yeah, keep that up, you know. That's awesome. Um. And Johann, what about yourself, Ben? I know they, well, you always have something going on. Yeah. So you, you're busy, you have, you know, you got hundred percent, 24 CEO, anything you wanna mention significantly.

Kinetic Audio: So, you know, on, on, on a personal level, you know, working on some, you know, some gigs in Detroit New York, um, those will get posted to the dead [01:06:00] language page.

Yeah, well, some of them. Kinetic audio page. Yes. Wait. And you're gonna be in

Tony Rivera: Detroit, Chicago.

Kinetic Audio: Yeah, so, so I, I, I, I'll be in Detroit September 27th and working on locking on and New York date for August. Um but yeah. And then of course we've got, you know, the last party of this month crawlspace. Yes.

I won't, you know, I'm not supposed to announce it, but we've got our next foundation, August 2nd, which is our OG classic house party. We've got Moses. Um, I don't know if, if anyone knows Moses, any, any of our listeners. Um, relatively new edition. Okay. But we've got the OG line. If we've got Keith Ward, Jermaine, you know German, Romania, we've got Marshall Jones.

Oh yeah, og. Like, we're, we're, we're cooking that day. Those guys just a fresh man.

Tim Piner: I mean, regardless, og your fish present oil. Yeah. And then, and then

Kinetic Audio: August 16th is the next Aus, where we're bringing in our [01:07:00] friend Leah from Winston, isn't she? Greensboro. Greensboro. Okay. I think, oh no, I don't know. Goes, goes by visitor.

And then our good friend Connor Simons from Charlotte. Okay. Who? Incredible DJ and producer, hard groove. Guys, we, we did a little poll online. You guys said you love your hard groove. We're giving you some hard groove, like we listened to you. Right on. You know, he, he moved back from New York. He was essentially.

You know, one of the right hand man for running and managing Agape up, up, up in New York, which is a massive Yeah. You know, label promotion. You bet. Like so, so he's backed down and he's gonna be cooking.

Tony Rivera: Hell yeah. That's what's up. That's what's up. Well that's nice. Thank you for the mentioning that mentioning those events coming up.

Yep. And again, we want to thank you guys for being on our show. And thanks for having us. For having us, us.

Tim Piner: Anytime, man. It's an honor. Funny.

Tony Rivera: So with that, cheers, we'll wrap it up.

[01:08:00]