The XLNT Show

AHEE joins Danny and Parker on The XLNT Show for a conversation about bass music, creativity, community—and a few things we definitely didn’t expect.
He opens up about surviving a car accident that took two of his closest friends, the meaning behind his signature spirit danglies, and how their memory continues to inspire him. We discuss the debate around gatekeeping production techniques, what producers can learn from recreating their favorite tracks, and how to turn those influences into a sound of their own.
AHEE also shares how transformational festivals and West Coast bass culture shaped his approach to music and connecting with fans. From Shambhala to life outside the city, we explore why community and time in nature matter to his creative process.
Then things get cosmic. AHEE recounts his psychedelic experiences and a UFO sighting, shares a theory about spacecraft through the lens of sound design, and explains why he considers the speaker cone an electronic musician’s real instrument.

Welcome to a new episode of The XLNT Show with trap/bass heavyweight Viperactive. Danny and Parker dig into his come‑up from Arizona to LA, the records that changed everything (“Rumble” remix, “Angel’s Crest”), and how he’s navigating festivals, collabs, and the Snake Pit era of his sound.
They discuss:
Leaving Arizona for LA – long drives, North Hollywood, real producer community
Early grind – broke, blacked‑out bedroom studio, escaping with a cheap MacBook
Online come‑up – Discord producer circle, friends eventually moving to LA
Festival run – EDC, Forbidden Kingdom, North Coast, Global Dance
Breakout records – “Rumble” remix, “Angel’s Crest” and big DJ support
Remixes vs originals – strategy, attention, and building your own lane
Out My Way / Bad Royale ID – reviving an old ID the right way
Trap vs four‑on‑the‑floor – UKG influence and refusing to be boxed in
Presets, copying, remakes – using them to learn and level up
Hate & bad advice – almost getting discouraged at 15, turning it into fuel
Saying no – offers, expectations, and protecting your future
Collabs – sessions with Virtual Riot & Marshmello
Snake Pit EP – 9‑track “EP,” where the sound is heading next

KSHMR returns to The XLNT Show for a deep conversation about creativity, burnout, reinvention, and what it takes to keep making meaningful music after years in the industry.
He breaks down the three-year process behind Sounds of KSHMR Vol. 5, from recording live musicians and building custom sample-organizing software to managing thousands of sounds without sacrificing quality. KSHMR also opens up about losing his connection with music, feeling like an imitation of his former self, and how exploring new interests—including stand-up comedy and coding his own creative tools—helped bring that inspiration back to life.
They discuss:
The making of Sounds of KSHMR Vol. 5
Building custom tools with Claude for Ableton, Dropbox, and sample organization
Burnout, identity, and losing confidence in your creative instincts
Why chasing virality can disconnect artists from the magic of music
His journey from Bay Area rap and The Cataracs to global EDM success
The unexpected creation of “Like a G6” and why simple ideas can become timeless
Learning to provide value before asking successful artists for opportunities
Why honesty, accountability, and following through matter in music and life
His upcoming ethnic deep-house project and live orchestral show
This episode is an honest look at what happens after success—when the habits that built your career stop feeling fulfilling, and you have to rediscover what made you love creating in the first place.

Will Runzel finally joins The XLNT Show, and this episode goes DEEP into the *real* mechanics of building a career in dance music. From throwing college raves in Indiana and getting fired from clubs, to booking Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, Zedd, and helping launch projects like **NGHTMRE, Slander, Joyryde, Audien** and more, Will breaks down the parts of the industry most producers and DJs never get honest access to.We get into his full come-up, the wins and brutal losses, and then turn it into actionable game for artists who actually want to make this a career.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Will’s origin story- From college parties to full-on touring
- Joining Steve Aoki & building Dim Mak Tuesdays 
- Talent buying, fees, and how the money *actually* works 
- Negotiation & offers (for DJs and producers) 
- From talent buyer to manager & founding Prodigy Artists 
- Stories behind Slander, Nightmare, Joyryde & Good Vibrations
- What a manager actually does (and doesn’t do)
- When you’re really ready for a manager
- Branding and storytelling for artists 
- Multi-genre vs. picking a lane- Step-by-step blueprint for new artists (2026 reality check)
- EDM right now: is it still growing? 
- How to actually pitch yourself to people like Will
Whether you’re a producer trying to break out, a DJ who wants to understand the business behind offers and fees, or an artist trying to build a real brand in a crowded EDM scene, this episode is packed with gems.

Longstoryshort finally joins The XLNT Show, and this episode goes DEEP. From going viral with his DJ transitions to building a career that's equal parts DJ, producer, and content creator, he breaks down the real strategies behind making it in dance music today.

We talk about:
• How a random tour moment became his entire social media strategy
• Why he believes DJing and producing are two completely different skills
• Collaborating with Wax Motif and Dillon Francis
• The truth about labels vs. independent releases
• His 15-minute songwriting process for finishing more music
• What it was really like beta testing Serum 2 with Steve Duda before release
• Why objectivity might be the most important skill a producer can develop

Whether you're a producer trying to finish more tracks, a DJ looking to stand out, or just a fan of dance music, this episode is packed with gems. Huge shoutout to Long Story Short for pulling back the curtain and sharing so much of his process with us.