In this NSW x Poducer episode, we sit down with Denver-based dubstep producer CØNTRA, whose path spans Suzuki violin, metal guitar, and 16+ years of bass music exploration. From growing up in the California redwoods to relocating to Denver, CØNTRA shares how nature, travel, and rave culture shaped his sound and artistic identity.
The conversation gets real as he opens up about OCD, anxiety, sobriety, gym routines, cold plunges, and how mental health shapes his creativity.
We dive into the Denver scene, Submission’s role in his career, and what it actually feels like to go from fan in the crowd to artist on the agency roster. We also explore his philosophy on creativity (inspired in part by Rick Rubin’s “antenna” concept), the myth of originality, why vocals are almost always part of his tunes, and how he’s still figuring out what a “signature sound” means in modern bass music.
The Podcast for Producers
📲 Follow CØNTRA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contra.slaps
https://soundcloud.com/contraslaps
Follow Poducer:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poducerpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoducerPodcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@poducerpodcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28RT0Mv5mMFr2ozrO2dav
Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/poducer/id1327594929
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
02:28 – California Roots & Nature Influence
04:08 – California to Denver: Finding Bass Culture
07:40 – Denver’s Influence & Musical Training
10:15 – Rave Culture, Early DJing
13:42 – DAWs, Workflow & Life Philosophy
16:00 – Creativity Philosophy (Rick Rubin, Originality & Influence)
22:03 – World Bass, Sampling & Collaboration
24:11 – Travel & Identity
27:45 – Playing “64” (Unreleased)
32:29 – Inspiration & Range: The Widdler Effect
36:06 – Touring Life & Joining Submission
39:44 – OCD, Anxiety & Mental Health Journey
53:18 – The Widdler Remix
56:50 – Songwriting, Instruments & Live Violin
1:00:04 – Artist Shoutouts
1:05:12 – Shoutouts
1:06:44 – Where to Find CØNTRA + Outro
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In this NSW x Poducer episode, we sit down with Denver-based dubstep producer CØNTRA, whose path spans Suzuki violin, metal guitar, and 16+ years of bass music exploration. From growing up in the California redwoods to relocating to Denver, CØNTRA shares how nature, travel, and rave culture shaped his sound and artistic identity.
The conversation gets real as he opens up about OCD, anxiety, sobriety, gym routines, cold plunges, and how mental health shapes his creativity.
We dive into the Denver scene, Submission’s role in his career, and what it actually feels like to go from fan in the crowd to artist on the agency roster. We also explore his philosophy on creativity (inspired in part by Rick Rubin’s “antenna” concept), the myth of originality, why vocals are almost always part of his tunes, and how he’s still figuring out what a “signature sound” means in modern bass music.
The Podcast for Producers
📲 Follow CØNTRA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contra.slaps
https://soundcloud.com/contraslaps
Follow Poducer:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poducerpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoducerPodcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@poducerpodcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28RT0Mv5mMFr2ozrO2dav
Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/poducer/id1327594929
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
02:28 – California Roots & Nature Influence
04:08 – California to Denver: Finding Bass Culture
07:40 – Denver’s Influence & Musical Training
10:15 – Rave Culture, Early DJing
13:42 – DAWs, Workflow & Life Philosophy
16:00 – Creativity Philosophy (Rick Rubin, Originality & Influence)
22:03 – World Bass, Sampling & Collaboration
24:11 – Travel & Identity
27:45 – Playing “64” (Unreleased)
32:29 – Inspiration & Range: The Widdler Effect
36:06 – Touring Life & Joining Submission
39:44 – OCD, Anxiety & Mental Health Journey
53:18 – The Widdler Remix
56:50 – Songwriting, Instruments & Live Violin
1:00:04 – Artist Shoutouts
1:05:12 – Shoutouts
1:06:44 – Where to Find CØNTRA + Outro
Channel — Inside Chicago’s Most Artist-Friendly Studio (w/ Zino B & Jimmy Bonks)
Poducer
1 hour 8 minutes 51 seconds
3 months ago
Channel — Inside Chicago’s Most Artist-Friendly Studio (w/ Zino B & Jimmy Bonks)
In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Vincenzo Zino B and Jimmy Box — producers, engineers, and co-founders of Channel Recording Company, a brand-new Chicago studio designed to feel like a living room while sounding world-class.
They share the story of transforming a raw warehouse into a fully treated space in Fort Knox Studios, complete with cedar diffusion walls, a 25×25 ft live room, and a glass-walled ISO booth big enough for a grand piano. We dive into their philosophy of hospitality-driven engineering, why “good sound should be the default,” and how creating a comfortable environment frees artists to focus on making their best music.
Beyond the technical build, Zino B and Jimmy reflect on their paths through the Chicago scene — from Joyride sessions with legends like Buddy Guy to Grammy-nominated projects, to building a community hub where artistry, collaboration, and care come first. They also tackle big topics like AI in music, the importance of “first listeners” in mastering, and how true fans sustain independent art.
📲 Follow Channel Recording Company: https://www.instagram.com/channelingcompany/
🎚️ Learn more & book sessions: https://channelrecordingcompany.com/
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast
00:00 Intro — Channel opens to the public
03:15 From Joyride to Channel: credits, craft, and workflow
05:45 Designing for comfort: glass wall, open doors, quiet rooms
14:35 Building a studio (cedar, diffusion, floors)
23:50 What makes Channel different (hospitality + musicianship)
33:05 Chicago scene: world/jazz, Americana, blues lineage
45:20 AI & the “first listener” argument for human mastering
52:30 True fans, community, and sustainable careers
57:40 What’s next: projects, outreach, and how to book
Poducer
In this NSW x Poducer episode, we sit down with Denver-based dubstep producer CØNTRA, whose path spans Suzuki violin, metal guitar, and 16+ years of bass music exploration. From growing up in the California redwoods to relocating to Denver, CØNTRA shares how nature, travel, and rave culture shaped his sound and artistic identity.
The conversation gets real as he opens up about OCD, anxiety, sobriety, gym routines, cold plunges, and how mental health shapes his creativity.
We dive into the Denver scene, Submission’s role in his career, and what it actually feels like to go from fan in the crowd to artist on the agency roster. We also explore his philosophy on creativity (inspired in part by Rick Rubin’s “antenna” concept), the myth of originality, why vocals are almost always part of his tunes, and how he’s still figuring out what a “signature sound” means in modern bass music.
The Podcast for Producers
📲 Follow CØNTRA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contra.slaps
https://soundcloud.com/contraslaps
Follow Poducer:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poducerpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoducerPodcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@poducerpodcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28RT0Mv5mMFr2ozrO2dav
Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/poducer/id1327594929
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
02:28 – California Roots & Nature Influence
04:08 – California to Denver: Finding Bass Culture
07:40 – Denver’s Influence & Musical Training
10:15 – Rave Culture, Early DJing
13:42 – DAWs, Workflow & Life Philosophy
16:00 – Creativity Philosophy (Rick Rubin, Originality & Influence)
22:03 – World Bass, Sampling & Collaboration
24:11 – Travel & Identity
27:45 – Playing “64” (Unreleased)
32:29 – Inspiration & Range: The Widdler Effect
36:06 – Touring Life & Joining Submission
39:44 – OCD, Anxiety & Mental Health Journey
53:18 – The Widdler Remix
56:50 – Songwriting, Instruments & Live Violin
1:00:04 – Artist Shoutouts
1:05:12 – Shoutouts
1:06:44 – Where to Find CØNTRA + Outro
