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
Charlie Heldman: Building Community, Creating R&B Vibes & Finding Balance
Poducer
1 hour 48 minutes 3 seconds
4 months ago
Charlie Heldman: Building Community, Creating R&B Vibes & Finding Balance
In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Charlie Heldman — Chicago-based artist, producer, and founder of Windy City Wavs, a grassroots music production collective dedicated to building community, fostering creativity, and supporting independent artists.
Charlie opens up about his journey from his early teenage band days to developing his own R&B-inspired sound — blending sweet lyrics with soulful, sexy beats. We explore his approach to growth as an artist, the role of collaboration in shaping his music, and how consistency and community feedback have fueled his development.
Beyond music, Charlie shares his perspective as a studying therapist, reflecting on mental health, empathy, and the importance of creating safe spaces for expression. He talks candidly about navigating self-doubt, learning to shift negative self-talk, and balancing passion with purpose.
📲 Follow Charlie Heldman: https://www.instagram.com/cbbeatsofficial/
🌊 Learn more about Windy City Waves: https://www.instagram.com/windycitywaves/
🎙️ Follow Poducer: https://linktr.ee/poducerpodcast
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
