Rants and Raves

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

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

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.

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

Tune in as we take a deep dive as to why Detroit is so sonical...

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

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

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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.

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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 ourselves while deluged by non-stop dooms...

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."

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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 Clinton Davidson- legends for...

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. 

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"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 person behind the decks, yet get far...

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 Rants and Raves on your favorite po...

“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?! 

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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 the pretentious posse forays...

I'm joined by my illustrious guests Lakuti and Tama Sumo to discuss how dancefloor dynamics impact their sets. How the makeup of a crowd makes a party. And why a diverse dancefloor pulsating with music minded people shapes social progress. While it will always be imperative to create and preserve spaces specifically for marginalized groups, what can be gained when mixing things up?

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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 future interviews with nightli...

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 Doesn't Tell You

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“Testing, Testing 1,2,3.” If you haven't gotten the memo yet, it's a necessity. Fentanyl is a real and present danger that requires us to hold each other accountable to new standards of safety and dialogue in addition to learning how to properly use testing strips and Narcan. Includes resources to obtain supplies.

Testing Testing 1,2,3

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