Listen Now

Get familiar with Borahm Lee, a pianist and key member of Denver’s music community, known mostly as a member of the formerly Brooklyn-based duo, Break Science and multiple live iterations of the Pretty Lights project. He could have been a doctor or a lawyer, but his love for the piano and jazz derailed those plans at an early age and sent him on the course of becoming a masterful musician who has since performed with the likes of Kanye West, The Fugees, reggae/dub pioneer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, members of Lettuce, The Disco Biscuits, Big Gigantic, Manic Focus, and many more. We chat with Borahm about his life long love affair with music and how it has evolved throughout his career including the recent release of his first solo studio album, Echoic Memory.  We reflect on the last decade of electronic music and how some of his collaborative projects have pushed the genre beyond the limitations of one-dimensional performances and where it can be experienced. We also look towards the future in a mutual excitement with the upcoming Soundship Space System Tour where Borahm will take his rightful place in the Swirl Bridge alongside longtime friend and collaborator, Derek Vincent Smith and his band of vibrational architects, including the return of the Pretty Lights project’s original collaborator, Michal Menert.    Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com   Follow Borahm Lee & his associated projects on Social Media:  Instagram: @borahmkeys @breakscience @prettylights @bttrflyquintet Music Featured in this Episode:  Almost Familiar - Pretty Lights Loopa - Borahm Lee  starship ANNOUNCE - Pretty Lights

Get familiar with parkbreezy: producer, instrumentalist and co-founder of Denver’s beloved all:Lo music collective, whose compositions are a soulful and melodic exploration of the future with nostalgic glimpses of his past inspirations. Parker underscores the relationship between sampling and interpretation, its relationship to memory and nostalgia, and how that creates a moment in time that can feel almost familiar. We talk about the growth of the all:Lo label including his blossoming solo project and his collaborative projects Groovsauce and Morning Coffee alongside label mates and best friends, Thought Process and pheel. The all:Lo label is a truly a familiar affair, a community love story set in Denver’s iconic Blackbox where friends lift each other up while continuing to push the musical envelope. Parkbreezy and the label are playing shows across the nation and curating takeovers this summer at the second annual Secret Dreams and Sonic Bloom.This episode is dedicated to the lives and memories of Chuck Morris of Lotus, his son Charley and all those who are no longer with us GoFundMe for the family of Chuck and Charley Morris: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-jenny-thompson-family

Get familiar with highlights of the 2022 festival season and beyond. Wes and Elizabeth share their own highlights and also conducted a community census to get a sense of what stood out between festivals, events, musicians, mixes, albums, and personal milestones. Trending submissions include Submersion Festival, Daily Bread's latest Bread & Breakfast mix and Mishawaka shows, and newly on some radars are Piri and Tommy, Cool Customer, and Eliptek, along with unwavering hope for a Pretty Lights return. We’re so grateful to the community members who participated in our inaugural Almost Familiar Unwrapped, and we hope to see you on the dance floor in 2023.    Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com   Music Featured in this Episode:  Almost Familiar - Pretty Lights  Brokenzzz - Potions Just a Little Loving - Daily Bread Soft Spot - Piri and Tommy Black Rockin' Beats - The Chemical Brothers Next Level Style - Daily Bread & Artifakts  Where I'm Trying to Go - Pretty Lights   2022 Unwrapped Playlists:  Spotify Soundcloud

Get familiar with ZONE Drums aka Aaron Harel, whom you have likely seen on the drums bringing abstract electronic music to life with the 5AM Trio, Thought Process, CloZee, Daily Bread, and more. Aaron has a knack for recognizing potential in both music and materials - from cutting his teeth by promoting dubstep shows in a church to upcycling drum kits to making diffusion panels that “bridge the world of art, music, and fabrication.” Inspired in part by Envision Festival’s infrastructure, Aaron’s passion for sustainability extends far beyond his panels and into a general lifestyle that inspires Wes and Elizabeth to consider pragmatic ways to integrate sustainability into theirs.   Follow ZONE Drums on Social Media:  Instagram: @zonedrums Facebook: ZONE Drums   Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com   Music Featured in this Episode:  Almost Familiar - Pretty Lights  5AM Trio: Orange Sunshine Skrillex - Kyoto

Get Familiar with Wessanders, a Connecticut- based producer and staple member of The Rust, whose music is as eclectic as his life experiences. A traveler and student of the world, Wessanders has immersed himself in many cultures outside of the US and imbeds them into his ever-evolving sound including his recently released EP, El Gringo Hace Cumbia (The white boy makes Cumbia).  Wessanders sharpened his skills at Berklee College of Music allowing him to merge his influences in the creation of a truly distinct, and highly refined brand of bass music. His live shows are energetic, diverse, and guaranteed to get you moving to the global rhythms he commands.   Follow Wessanders on Social Media:  Instagram: @wessanderssays Twitter: @wessanders   Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com   Music Featured in this Episode:  Almost Familiar - Pretty Lights  Hard Times - Griz Jungle Theater - Wessanders ID (First Track) - Black Coffee: 2nd May Mix  Keep Swimming - Wessanders How We Do - Pretty Lights

Get familiar with Cnopes, a producer whose electronic music style is influenced heavily by jazz, blues, hip hop and soul, creating sensational soundscapes that have caught the attention of lineup curators for festivals like Sonic Bloom and Sound Haven. Connor shares how he shifted his approach depending on the time slot and stage to match the vibe and what it means for smaller artists to be able to perform on stages with such high quality production.  While his exposure to music culture and community started with his father’s love of The Grateful Dead, Connor’s gateway drug into electronic music’s neo-hippie subculture was Pretty Lights. We also talk about where artists can draw inspiration from outside of music and why electronic music will continue to be prevalent due to its constantly evolving nature, especially if its lot culture can evolve to be on par with the jam scene.   Music featured in this episode:  Almost Familiar - Pretty Lights Golden Gate - STS9 Cnopes - Seeker Daughter - Medicine (Sound Remedy Remix) How We Do - Pretty Lights Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com

Get familiar with how the pandemic has impacted the experiences and infrastructure of two of the scene’s most beloved and influential festivals: Lightning in a Bottle and Sonic Bloom. After allowing some time for the dust to settle (and there was lots of dust), Wes and Elizabeth reflect on the highs and lows of returning to their favorite long-standing festivals after a two year hiatus.   Music featured in this episode: Almost Familiar - Pretty Lights  Emerge in the Feeling - Yheti  Supersonic (VIP) - Noisia & Skrillex    Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com

Get familiar with pheel., a Denver-based producer and co-founder of the increasingly popular All:Lo record label who specializes in all things low end. Known for his signature Morning Coffee series in collaboration with Parkbreezy, Phil shares how these mixes evolved from beats to drink coffee to as requested by The Black Box’s talent buyer to opening up for Tipper himself at the most recent Tipper and Friends.  Almost Familiar kicks off Gemini and festival season through pheel.’s upcoming lineup of festivals that he’ll be performing at and attending for the first time, along with Elizabeth and Wes’ anticipation of their familiar favorites Lightning in a Bottle and Sonic Bloom.  Interview starts at 16:30 Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com

Get familiar with Jack Hurley, better known as  Anti Alias, whose career as a multimedia designer has taken him from working a corporate job to collaborating with Tipper at his most recent return to Red Rocks in 2021. Jack talks about his experience collaborating with Datagram Visuals for the second night of the run, appropriately titled Bangers Night.   Jack reflects on how the emphasis on VJ culture has evolved since he was first hooked at Basslights, and the challenge of crafting a narrative given the abstract and experimental nature of the music it represents. We explore the future of shows in the VR space, the extent to which Jack’s work is improvisational and how this work fits into the emerging NFT world.   Interview starts at 26:25 Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com

Get familiar with Phyphyr, whose project is as much of a product of Nick’s experiences with the scene as our podcast. After being inspired by the hybrid electronic/instrumental acts he witnessed at Hulaween,  Nick began his journey in creating music which has transplanted him from North Carolina to Denver’s hub of creativity and collaboration. Nick shares how he drew inspiration from artists not only with regards to music, but also building an authentic brand. We reflect on the evolution and success of the intimate “family” fanbases and mission statements of artists like Griz and Daily Bread as Phyphr seeks to cultivate his own with the mission of “doing love for a living.” Phyphr shares our love of getting to know musicians outside of their project to give more context to their sound as a platform of true self expression. We’re looking forward to sharing more of these authentic conversations with artists from the community as our version of doing love for a living. Interview starts at 20:26 Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com

Welcome back to season two of Almost Familiar! Sharing space with harmony, rhythm and eternity, Wes and Elizabeth had the opportunity to record in-person for the first time after attending their first concert together since the last Pretty Lights performance at Red Rocks in 2018. Sound Tribe, San Francisco, and Sex & the City. Need we say more?  Heard in this episode:  This is Us, New Dawn, New Day (Intro Mashup) from 2021.10.09 :: West of the Moon :: Napa, CA by STS9 Presence of Light > Modular from 2021.10.09 :: West of the Moon :: Napa, CA by STS9 Totem from 2021.10.08 :: West of the Moon :: Napa, CA by STS9 Walk to the Light from 2021.10.08 :: West of the Moon :: Napa, CA by STS9 Spending Time from 2021.10.08 :: West of the Moon :: Napa, CA by STS9 Camino de Flores by El Buho

Get familiar with The Rust Music, a collective that curates some of our favorite gatherings on the East Coast. From the events, to the artists they represent, to their blog, the crew at The Rust Music does everything with the intent of authenticity to push the boundaries of how we experience electronic music. We chatted with Talent Buyer/Manager/Event Curator Jezze Boya and Editor of The Rust publication, Pasquale Zinna. We get into the origins of The Rust, how they curated a community defined by collaboration in New York’s capricious nightlife scene, and how their intention and dedication evolved into throwing events at Manhattan’s legendary PlayStation Theater with artists like Jade Cicada, Detox Unit, Mickman, and 5AM. Interview starts at 19:45 Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com

Get familiar with Stacey Forrester’s Sanctuary Radio, a weekly podcast about safer nightlife with a focus on consent and harm reduction. Stacey runs the harm reduction program at British Columbia’s boutique Bass Coast festival, co-founded the Vancouver chapter of Good Night Out, and creates beautiful harm reduction graphics that you may recognize from G Jones and CharlesTheFirst events.  On this swap cast, Stacey challenges Wes and Elizabeth to consider whether it’s possible to separate the art from the artist and how this factors into the larger conversation about sexual violence. We discuss how we can do a better job of supporting and centering survivors when allegations surface and the importance of holding space for people to change their mind and evolve their perspective once they learn new information. Stacey is a wonderful resource, and we highly recommend that you engage with her content to make our scene safer. Everybody deserves to feel safe at shows.  Interview starts at 23:20 Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com

Get familiar with DB Montana, who used social media to create a safe space for the victims and survivors of Bassnectar’s disturbing and pathological abuse to anonymously share their stories that shattered his public image built on meticulous manipulation. Montana tells this story from the beginning, taking us back to the controversial reputation he developed for his criticism of Bassnectar as an admin of the irreverent Weird Drunken Uncle Facebook group. We reflect on the dangers of idolatry, toxic positivity, and unhealthy relationships with the scene. Montana’s  relentless pursuit of the truth is a labor of love for a community that we hope can use this unfortunate circumstance as an opportunity for transformation and to actively define standards of behavior and accountability.   Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com   Heard on this episode:  Almost Familiar by Pretty Lights 1993 by Emancipator How We Do by Pretty Lights

Get Familiar with Father Figure, an East Coast-based producer and fellow Mudson Project survivor with whom we exchange horror stories from the trial-by-fire that was Camp Bisco. From a profound Amon Tobin ISAM set, to playing the renegade stage, Matt’s seasoned perspective allows him to reflect on why some of the staples of today’s scene such as the Philos crew and CloZee feel more intimate than its pioneers. Matt shares the complex familial origins behind his stage name and how his infectious Prodigal Son LP symbolizes coming full circle with those relationships. Follow Father Figure:  SoundCloud Instagram: @fatherfiguretunes Facebook: Father Figure Listen to the set that hooked us: River Beats Set (1.29.21) Follow Almost Familiar:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com Heard in this episode:  Almost Familiar by Pretty Lights The Love by Father Figure Dancing in the Dark by Father Figure (unreleased) Unreleased Pheel x Father Figure collab

Get Familiar with Midicinal (Scott Rhatigan), an Arizona-born producer currently residing in Denver whose music is imbued with themes of travel- pulling from his own experiences of moving frequently. As his name suggests, Scott fully understands music’s healing properties and shares his experiences of both performing and internalizing “midicinal” music. Scott shares the epic story behind his memorable Sonic Bloom set where he brought out the dancing lobsters, resulting in an unforgettable synchronicity the following weekend at Electric Forest. Follow Midicinal on Social Media:  Instagram: @midicinalmusic SoundCloud: MIDIcinal Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Email Us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com   Heard in this Episode:  Almost Familiar by Pretty Lights Tumbleweed by Midicinal Total Fascination by Pretty Lights

Get familiar with Jesska Cvijanovic whose pins, photography (214), and merch are foundational to the Pretty Lights Family that she helped create. Jesska shares how her photography passion changed her experience and perspective of shows, the history of the Illuminator and Vibe Adjuster programs, and the significance of some of the early Pretty Lights Family gatherings at festivals. She tells an unforgettable birthday story where her longtime friend Michal Menert gave her the ultimate VIP treatment at Electric Forest 2013. Jesska unapologetically advocates for Michal Menert’s underrepresented place in the scene, and shares her take on the controversial history of Taking Up Your Precious Time.  The PLF Series is a collection of casual conversations that Wes and Elizabeth have with members of the Pretty Lights Family in an effort to understand our collective experiences despite our different backgrounds. We hear how people got turned on, what Pretty Lights means to them, and how these experiences have shaped their lives on our version of this long strange trip. Check out Jesska's Art:  Photography PLF 214 Merch   Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com   Heard on this episode:  Almost Familiar by Pretty Lights Lost Pieces (Deluge + If You Knew) How We Do by Pretty Lights

Get Familiar with 5AM, an innovative electronic music producer who is pushing the boundaries on what improvisation can look like in the abstract corner of electronica. 5AM went from asking “What’s a Tipper?” when first encountering his name on a festival lineup  to kicking off Uptempo night for his “Tippsgiving” event at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn, cementing himself as a staple in a scene whose influence we compare to the French Impressionists and Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label. We chat about the 5AM Trio’s approach and the process of establishing a cohesive vision with his band mates, Tygris & Zone Drums. 5AM also shares his perspective on how religion, spirituality, and heady philosophy intersect with festival culture and contribute to the cleansing nature of our collective experiences.  Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email Us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com   Heard in this Episode:  Almost Familiar by Pretty Lights How We Do by Pretty Lights

Get familiar with Sam Ackels, whose first show was Pretty Lights’ last - the second night of Red Rocks 2018. Wes and Elizabeth learn that context was not required to experience the profundity of that singular show. Sam shares the moments that hooked him and how it influenced his journey and taste through electronic music. We discuss the slippery slope of the Pretty Lights merch game, Goose’s magnetic appeal amid their meteoric rise, and where we draw the line at too much wookery. Sam’s excitement around Pretty Lights is almost familiar to when we were first turned on & proves to us that a hiatus will not stop this movement. In fact, it corroborates its strength.  The PLF Series is a collection of casual conversations that Wes and Elizabeth have with members of the Pretty Lights Family in an effort to understand our collective experiences despite our different backgrounds. We hear how people got turned on, what Pretty Lights means to them, and how these experiences have shaped their lives on our version of this long strange trip. Follow Almost Familiar on Social Media:  Instagram: @almostfamiliarpod Facebook: Almost Familiar Email Us: almostfamiliarpodcast@gmail.com Heard in this Episode:  Almost Familiar by Pretty Lights (covered by Sam Ackels) Look Both Ways by Pretty Lights Archived tracks from Red Rocks 8.11.2018 via PrettyLightsLive.com Is There Any Love performed by Pretty Lights Live New Track? (prod. Borahm) performed by Pretty Lights Live "Jam" performed by Pretty Lights Live

Get familiar with Shuj Roswell, a Denver born-and-bred producer who specializes in what he calls “Funktronadelic.”  Mark A. Cooley (Shuj Roswell) takes us on a journey of his distinct travels through sound and the paths of rhythm: from seeing Pretty Lights at Boulder’s Trilogy Wine Bar, to watching him outgrow Cervantes, to linking up with Michal Menert and Super Best Records, to collaborating with former STS9 bassist David Murphy. We chat about his newest EP, Shuttlecock, which is his first project that features 100% original music, creating a beautiful blend of Lo-fi hip-hop that your ears are sure to love. As someone who has been there from this scene’s beginning, Mark offers an informed perspective on the different iterations of Pretty Lights, how we might mark the different eras, and the difference between labeling a song as a remix, a cover, a flip, or “vs.” This episode also contains a truly hilarious story of Mark’s first and only interaction with the one and only Derek Vincent Smith, whose surgical strategies might just be one of our favorite Derek stories we have heard yet on Almost Familiar.   Listen to Shuj Roswell: Shuttlecock EP SoundCloud Spotify Follow Shuj Roswell:  Instagram  Facebook Follow Almost Familiar:  Instagram Facebook Heard in this Episode:  Almost Familiar by Pretty Lights Ric Flair All Night by Shuj Roswell So Wonderful by Shuj Roswell The Teachers Lounge by Shuj Roswell Unreleased: Kool & The Gang vs. Prince. vs. Pretty Lights Flying High Above the World (feat. David Murphy) by Shuj Roswell Bob Marley - Exodus (Pretty Lights Remix) More Important than Michael Jordan (Flip) by Pretty Lights (from Red Rocks 2016) Run on For a Long Time by Shuj Roswell  Rocket Man (Shuj Roswell remix) Unreleased: R. Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra (Shuj Roswell Remix)