In this episode of Electric Independence, we head out to Fort Greene, Brooklyn, to visit producer and DJ Alex Upton (aka XXXChange) at his home studio.This formidable analog virtuoso retraces his steps from music school to interning at the record label DFA to creating a slew of legendary tracks heard in every raunchy crevice of every seedy club across the globe. He also takes a moment to show us the benefits of working from a home studio with his spiffy vintage vocoder: they rare-as-hens-teeth EMS VCS3 monosynth.But he’s also got secrets to share: Most notably the innovative use of umbrellas as sound-proofing equipment and the magical weapon behind Dr Dre’s super bass heavy productions. XXXChange has produced albums for the likes of Spankrock and The Kills, and done loads of remix work for Thom Yorke, Bjork, Panda Bear, and a whole host of other famous aural celebrities. Most importantly, though, we—and by that we mean you and us, together—get a sneak peek at an as-yet unheard track from his forthcoming psychedelic rock album. Yeah man, that’s what we said: psychedelic rock album.
More From This Show
-
Sound Machines of the Amazon
Technobrega, the Amazon's flashy answer to house music, is part pirates, part space ships.
-
The Thorium Dream
Motherboard's documentary about a forgotten vision for a "safer" nuclear power, and the evangelists trying to bring it back.
-
A Dragon Con Odyssey
VICE travels to Atlanta to attend Dragon Con, a five-day bacchanalian orgy of sci-fi and comic book fans going bananas in the city's hotel rooms. We dive deep into the chaos with hundreds of cos-play…
-
Motherboard Meets Evan Glodell
Evan Glodell is pretty good at turning hunks of metal into roaring, fire-breathing machines.
-
Motherboard Meets Errol Morris
Errol Morris' stranger-than-fiction movies aren't just examinations of fascinating people but the strange ways that the facts circulate around them.
-
The Creature Shop
We traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa to visit the dudes behind the country’s leading horror factory, The Creature Shop.
-
Chris & Cosey
We got the chance to spend some time at the country house of the music making powerhouse – and long time couple – Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti.
-
Electric Independence: John Foxx
We went to visit John Foxx deep in the darkest depths of Shoreditch, East London, at the studio of his latest collaborator, Benge.
-
The Sakawa Boys
Ghana’s enterprising young cybercriminals use traditional Juju magic to supercharge their email scams, and a subculture is born. Now Ghana’s in the grips of Sakawamania!
-
Electric Independence: Ceephax Acid Crew
Onze gappie Andy Jenkinson, aka Ceephax, aka Ceephax Acid Crew, is een onvergelijkbaar persoon. Hij is een van de laatste, echte, doe-het-zelvers binnen de elektronische muziek.


Noisey
Duck Fight Goose
Motherboard
How to Beat SOPA: Build a New Internet in Space
The Creators Project
Casio Turns 2D Photos Into Weird 3D Sculptures
Motherboard
Google Maps Is Twisted
The Creators Project
Jellyfish Film Shot on iPhone at the Aquarium
Noisey
Lucas Abela Plays Broken Glass with His Face
Comments