Rants and Raves

Whether you live in a massive metropolis or a tiny town- the places to gather and dance might dwindle over time. Or it could be that they're simply be non-existent from the jump. Those DIY prone might be driven to carve out space, and by proxy change culture. But just what does it take to create something from seemingly nothing? I’m joined by Gage Spex , co-collaborator of The Spectrum and Dr...

What is the role of art at parties? Just because music is the resounding reason we gather to dance, doesn’t mean other senses have to go by way of happenchance. Visual art melded with sound in shared spaces has unparalleled potential to impact partygoers' psyches and shift culture. This episode’s guests are Scooter LaForge and Richard Alvarez . Both legendary artists who’ve seen that, done th...

The parties at which we prance are more plentiful than ever. But along with lots of options can come a tendency to take them for granted. The spaces and times we dance have an unparalleled effect on us . So what exactly are the tangible and intangible qualities that make parties so precious? Alinka joins to share perspectives formed over decades dancing and DJing across the globe. Her point of vie...

In appreciation of all the dancers out there who hold it down, lifting their spirit- and other people's too. Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform. Music x Claude...

Dancefloor dilemmas got your mind in a twist? Perhaps paring your pondering down to "needs vs wants" will help. Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform. Music...

The myriad of dance music scenes is a symphony of all sorts of souls united by auditory aptitude. And while our identities can be diametrically different, character can strike chords of harmony when least expected. Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interv...

When the music is doing the talking- no words need to be said. And dancefloors present ideal opportunities for body language to build bridges that could potentially lead to social progress.  Tune in to hear the potential benefits of encounters with strangers, who just might be kind. Of course, so long as they're not creeps. Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Ran...

Dancefloors are where we gather in heightened states of vulnerability. Making them uniquely situated opportunities to collectively impact each other. Whether that's for the positive or negative depends on "Give and Take." Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to list...

Music is an ever-evolving soundscape, so it can be easy to label songs into buckets. But perhaps the copious and countless genre, subgenre and style names subconsciously limit our exposure to audio we might enjoy. Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future intervi...

Misogyny is an unequal offender, but the prejudiced culprit isn’t always a straight man. Sexuality and gender don’t preclude anyone from bias towards women- whether intentional or not. And dance music scenes of all types have their unfair share. Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. An...

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

Connie Girl, Eric De La Cruz and Shawn Dickerson join host Tovah Feinberg for a live panel discussion recorded at Libera in NYC on March 13, 2025. These esteemed and legendary luminaires- each in their own right, shed light through their lenses of experiences and wisdom to guide, inspire- and perhaps help steady worries during these turbulent times. Because though they can seem unprecedented, danc...

Everything and nothing in synchronicity. Because a music centered life doesn't mean one or the other. Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow Rants and Raves on your favorite podcast platform. Music x Claude Young...

From his formative years to those now spent electrifying stages worldwide, Josh Caffé’s life has been one immersed in music. Decadently so. As a rare artist who’s mastered production, singing/songwriting, performing and DJing, Josh is a jack of all trades- who will jack your body to boot. But though his predilection and fascination with music were apparent from the jump, his path to becoming an ar...

Is the ceaseless cycle of catacalysmic current events occupying to much of your mind?! Focusing on the new rather than the news can at once surprise AND delight you. While it’s no easy to task, it’s one anyone can at least try and put their mind to. Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you...

Parties provide access to sonic portals- unparalleled encounters of the personal kind. And these tumultuous times just beg of us to amp up and eek out every inch, centimeter and iota out of our time twirling amidst uncertainty. Moments spent synchronizing mind and body to music can recalibrate and recharge, bettering our ability to cope with the chaotic world off the dancefloor. Tapping into ourse...

Catch yourself twirling and tempted to ask the DJ to drop your favorite tune? Don’t. Because the request lines are closed- at least they are at parties with proper DJs. Save your special song for the karaoke bar, the shower- pretty much anywhere else. Host Tovah Feinberg explains her thoughts on the manner in "I Have One Request." Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscrib...

Door policy ranks highly among the hotly contentious issues in nightlife these days. Lots of folks wanna know- why, oh why can’t everyone and their mother waltz with ease into whatever party they’d like?! Which was my frame of mind for many years. That is, until one of my guests explained why that’s often not the case. I’m joined by two NYC icons from the House of Aviance, Xander C. Gaines and Cli...

Who couldn’t do with more love and care in these tumultuous times?! Our hectic lives paired with the rapidly devolving world demands maximum attention. But amidst it all, are you actually paying attention to those who mean the most to you? There’s no time like the present to reflect on who might need a bit extra- whether they’re aware of it or not.  Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave?...

"Where The Ladies At?" It's a question host Tovah Feinberg has pondered throughout her three decades in nightlife. Guests Lauren Flax and Dee Diggs join this episode to suss out just why that is. And they're not just talking DJs- they're only part of the equation. What about partygoers, sound people, promoters, club staff- etc, etc, etc?! All are equally important as the p...

Is PLUR still relevant today? And just what does “community” mean? We say it so often and given its significance, now is a better time than ever to pause and give it some thought. Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on future interviews with nightlife legends, follow...

“Why's Everyone Obsessed With Dicks?” As a demi-sexual, I’m no expert on that- but like most things, I have thoughts on the matter. Because let’s face it- penises are pervasive whether you have proclivity for them or not. - dick doodles, dick jokes, dick drugs, dick shaped structures. It’s bananas. Exactly why do they snatch up all the attention when puss*is are anything but that?!  Have an i...

Hollywood usually misses the mark when it comes to portraying raves accurately. Which sucks but…can also be pretty funny. “Reads by Rants and Raves” is where I share my takes on films and shows. This piece encapsulates the very first time I spotted raves appearing in pop culture. And it was on no other than on an episode of Beverly Hills 90210. Tune in to hear what kind of kerfuffles ensue when th...

Berlin and NYC. Two cities with reputations of knowing how to get down. And two very different ways of doing things when it comes to bathrooms and baggies. Just why is that? Listen in for my hypothesis. Bathrooms and Baggies Have an insatiable appetite for all things rave? Subscribe to the Rants and Raves newsletter on Substack for columns and audio emailed directly to you. And to listen in on fut...

Numbers can add up, but say very little. So why do we often hear music described solely as BPM these days? A description distilled to tempo alone obscures the intricacies of melodies, harmonies, texture and tonality that moves us. Music reviews certainly don’t start and end with “the track is 142 BPM.” Summing up our feelings as digits does a disservice to the depths of our perception. What BPM Do...