The Arsonist & The Architect

A concept podcast series in ten parts

Current Episode

Manifesto

This is simultaneously a challenge to myself and a means for a rediscovery of my passion for this music.

As one chapter of our lives was reduced to nothing, it’s ample opportunity for us to all rebuild something superior.

The last year was unquestionably hard on the music community. Between the unforeseeable future and the seemingly impossible return to normality (whatever that may mean), a cascade of emotions trod over me for the entirety of 2020, primarily as no natural end to this proverbial shit-storm seemed to be on the horizon.

One of my most vital talents has been that of a DJ, and I could barely even find the motivation to set up my decks and play at home, yet I was still procuring more and more vinyl from cheap sellers on Discogs all throughout. My foray into the “Shoppin’ the Shelves” series had been fun for my followers and me, and I genuinely enjoyed rediscovering my own collection and sharing some overlooked or misunderstood gems for people. But the one thing I always felt I could rely on - playing music for people - seemed to be becoming as dismissed as my record collection has been.

Sometime last fall, between a motivating surprise birthday with some friends that probably broke the law here in Berlin and the new year, I decided that, besides the obvious fact I’ll probably never have this much free time ever again, I should continue sifting through literally every single record on my shelves and reinvigorating my passion for techno, house and beyond. A text file I had written some 15 years ago that roughly outlined “The Arsonist & The Architect” was found on an old external drive, and I began to understand the possibility of turning this vast task into a reality. This concept series has been a passion project I finally feel is ready for construction and consumption - a gift presented with catharsis.

Consisting of ten themed mixes done entirely with vinyl and recorded all in one take, I’m going to bare 20hrs of my admiration for this scene, its clubs, its audiences, its producers, its labels, and its music - just a sliver of my collection - for you all to enjoy. They’ll come with a quick summary of what sonic foundation I’ve found in these shelves - little breakdowns of the things I’ve unearthed from my collection that I may have forgotten or simply ignored for a while and why I wanted to construct an entire podcast in that style. One week after the mix is out, the tracklist will be revealed. No secrets this time around.

This will definitely be a way for me to shake the malaise that I’ve been feeling for the last 16 months. But it is also a way to signify that the end is near for this cataclysm that nearly decimated club life as we know it. This is to be a musical journey as much as an inspiration for us all to return to the dancefloor - together.

-Eric Cloutier