Hot Takes

In an effort to properly close the chapter on the talk show aspect of the "Hot Takes" experience, the team came together for an extra special five-hour conclusion to the show, featuring any previous guest and server member that wanted to join the live conversation on video. We haven't had a truly public community episode since the ending of season 3, and we quickly learned that there is a limit to how many people can be in a Discord videochat session on video at any given time! Numerous previous guests joined us to chat, some of them sticking around for the entire four-hour portion of open dialogue with the community, who also came out in droves, we might add. There was a number of engaging and terrific conversations that got everybody riled, like how to properly define and delineate signalwave from other vaporwave genres, how to better give and take constructive criticism within the scene, and the profitability or lack thereof of IRL vaporwave shows! Despite the chaos, the imperfections with audio levels, some miscommunications, misunderstandings, and a few guests talking a little bit too much compared to others, the finale of the five-year strong "Hot Takes" podcast and talk show was lively, poignant, and memorable. Five hours is a lot to ask of our viewers and listeners, but if you couldn't be there on Twitch or in Discord videochat, we encourage you to take in the entire experience!   "Hot Takes" is a safe space for all opinions! Join the conversation at https://linktr.ee/hottakesvapor

Vaporwave zero pioneer Simple Syrup got the special treatment during this penultimate episode from "Hot Takes" season five! In a very special departure from the typical fare, Josh was hosted by Luxury Noise and Roge Corp, dropping YUNG SHIRO 白 from the lineup; and the dynamic was flawless all evening. Getting his name out with a series of very well received breaks tracks on George Clanton's Big Stream during the pandemic lockdown era, Simple Syrup has released a handful of well respected vapor-adjacent albums since then and has played a number of live shows in the Midwest and on the east Coast in the years since as well. In addition to his vaporwave zero project, Simple Syrup is also a member of Columbus, Ohio powerviolence band Forest Fucker and is a prolific film photographer with published work in print as well. Tap in to hear about Josh's love of Pen and Pixel artwork, after which he named two of his cats! Watch him discuss his favorite hidden Youtube channels, like his interest in a specific New York City new jack swing DJ's channel! Hear the story behind his project name! Simple Syrup and two of the team's hosts made this episode a breathtakingly memorable experience, despite stepping out of their comfort zones a little bit. If you couldn't be there live to watch it all go down, now you can rewatch it as many times as you like!   "Hot Takes" is a safe space for all opinions! Join the conversation at https://linktr.ee/hottakesvapor

"Hot Takes" episode 102 featured ambient downtempo artist Casha Mour! In an effort to branch out into other realms of independent net-based electronic music, we made an effort to reach across the pond and engage with Dan, and it was extremely worthwhile. Despite the lateness of the hour for the poor fellow, Casha Mour went the distance, and we got to talk about all kinds of cool things like bleak reworks of well loved songs and the finality of the ElectroniCON festivals. Some talk may or may not have transpired about nu metal acts like Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, and P.O.D. It is possible that the topic of excessive self-promo on social media may have come up at one point during the broadcast. Talk about being the musical concierge in the friend group came up, and some chatting occurred around the topic of utilizing guitar in electronic music. We're so glad that this one hundred and first episode occurred, so be sure to run it back if you want to hear about such topics like the story behind "cash amour", MS-DOS edutainment games, metal bands with goblin-esque vocalists, and more!   "Hot Takes" is a safe space for all opinions! Join the conversation at https://linktr.ee/hottakesvapor  

We chose to spend our 101st episode celebrating and platforming Sage Hardware! It's not often we get to chat with people who blend diverse genres like metalcore, cybergrind, and vaporwave; and Shortstuf888 pulled someone that made perfect sense to fill the role. We started a few minutes late due to some technical difficulties, but we made sure to make time to cover a series of interesting and important topics, like breakcore, digital hardcore, and what it was like touring with a post-rock-influenced screamo band. Alex regaled us with the story behind BasshouseHTML's mantra "steal from big business", he got to share a geekout moment with Shiro about Justin Pearson's many projects, and Sage also mentioned a pivotal moment getting into producing electronic music thanks to his love of Lil Ugly Mane. During several moments, the trio expressed their love of Angel Marcloid's various projects. Alex mentioned that his father plays bassoon in a quartet that covers video game music; and the squad talked about what he learned about Japanese culture while touring in Japan. We had a lot of fun during our 101st episode, so tap in if you want to hear the skinny on Venetian masks, Maryland, West Virginia, and the subjectivity of art and music! You heard it on "Hot Takes"!   "Hot Takes" is a safe space for all opinions! Join the conversation at https://linktr.ee/hottakesvapor

Multidisciplinary musician and video game composer Floor Baba was the focus of "Hot Takes" episode 100! After a prolonged period of not having Quiz on the show as co-host, we finally got him back and with a terrific pull too! Known for their work on the soundtracks for Pac Man: Snack Break and Egg Squeeze, their affiliation with the Pluswav Cooperative, and their wonky, futuristic take on vapor-adjacent experimental electronic music; two hours was seemingly only enough to scratch the surface of Jesse's experience, as we heard their history and fielded questions from the live chat as well. We conversed about 90's and 2000's Christian music and what it's like to compose soundtracks for video games. A lot of talk about how much cratedigging transpires daily and how Floor Baba likes to listen to music took place. Other topics that came up in conversation include the stories behind some of Jesse's album artwork, the psychological horror of playing Egg Squeeze,  their favorite composers, starting a label, and their favorite N64 OST's. The memorable moments we got to spend with Floor Baba that night cannot be quantified, so what are you waiting for? Hit play!   "Hot Takes" is a safe space for all opinions! Join the conversation at https://linktr.ee/hottakesvapor