ARE WE ON AIR ?

CHRONIXX and ARMAN sit down in Paddington to discuss SOUND WARS IN THE SONIC WORLD, Bob Marley’s poetry which is only intended to be heard with a discerning ear, as well as the spontaneous combustion of innovation that is DANCEHALL MUSIC. In his own words, Chronixx sets it straight: “MUSIC IS NOT LIKE ANY OTHER ART. WITH MUSIC, WE’RE MANIPULATING THE INVISIBLE.” Growing up listening to gospel, 1980’s dancehall, reggae, and even Céline Dion, CHRONIXX is refreshingly unconcerned with following the zeitgeist of anything, and more focused on distilling the sounds that arise from culture as it operates at its highest level. At this level of mixing, it’s all about cultures coming together to influence and educate each other - not taking or emulating patterns, but pushing them further. WE’LL ALL GO FAR TOGETHER - and Chronixx leads the way. Enjoy! www.areweonair.com/chronixx www.instagram.com/areweonair/ www.instagram.com/armannafeei/

Chris Black, a cultural commentator known for his insights on music, fashion, and contemporary culture, joins Jason Stewart, a former DJ with a flair for nightlife, for a lively discussion. They explore the evolution of music distribution and its impact on fandom, arguing how today's accessibility reshapes identity. Both reflect on nostalgic moments tied to iconic songs and humorously contrast LA and NYC nightlife. From the charm of 70s fashion to the changing landscape of digital interactions, their eclectic conversation highlights music's enduring role in emotional connection and identity.

THE BLESSED MADONNA invites Arman to Hackney to dive into her fantastic repertoire. Referencing APHEX TWIN’S WINDOWLICKER, she describes her idea of the POWER OF CONVENTION: “Using convention shows people what world we’re in. Breaking convention shows people where the possibilities are.” INSIGHT comes naturally to THE BLESSED MADONNA; this duality of perspective she takes by not frowning upon, but instead BREAKING THROUGH convention applies beautifully to both the way she creates and the music which inspires her. A JOY to be in her presence, THE MADONNA makes Arman nearly fall out of his chair as she describes THE GREATEST NIGHT OF HER LIFE. It’s at Berghain where she’s been playing for so long that her JEANS RIP clean through the back. WE LOVE THE BLESSED MADONNA for her contagious sense of humour, shared love of ‘FOLLOW ME’ and Amanda Lear, as well as every other detail that makes her, HER. With a farewell, Arman finally catches his breath and we immediately add all of her songs to our playlist to study up. www.areweonair.com/the-blessed-madonna www.instagram.com/areweonair/ www.instagram.com/armannafeei/

Arman's Voice Notes is Are We On Air's latest audio supplement, taking you on an audio voyage through Arman's latest travels and cultural findings. www.areweonair.com www.instagram.com/areweonair/ www.instagram.com/armannafeei/

Nearly 4 years since they last saw each other in LA, PAUL KALKBRENNER meets Arman in his emerald green 1961 Maserati Ghibli for a chat in BERLIN. Bonding over a love of Mozart, KALKBRENNER mentions he was a terrible instrumentalist as a child, having learned and suffered on the TRUMPET. The KEY to this experience, however, was that he never let it deter him from pursuing music. He may be one of technos biggest superstars, but the biggest thing that defines his career? TENACITY. In his own words, KALKBRENNER describes this force of self-determination that built his launch pad: “there were many hard years, but I STUCK WITH IT.” Referencing a few of his earliest musical memories, he shares love at first listen was ISAO TOMITA’s Picture at the Exhibition: II. Admiring the LAYERS of sound woven into the song he heard blaring from his parents double cassette tape, KALKBRENNER realised that - the art of layering - was exactly what he wanted to master. Swerving between German and English, Arman and K could chat for hours. East Germany, during his childhood, looked exactly like the pictures - grey. KALKBRENNER describes the sound of footsteps from the border guards as the only noise from the street at night. These nights had an impact on his craft, as KALKBRENNER believes silence is as important to sound. His warning to the music industry? Do not change because of the times. Instead, use time as a resource to distill your own authentic sound. Slipping into his DRIVING GLOVES to get back on the road, the lyrics “right here, right now” play over the layers of his own track, leaving us with a message. We have the power to make dreams reality if we are tenacious enough. https://areweonair.com/paul-kalkbrenner https://www.instagram.com/areweonair/ https://www.instagram.com/armannafeei/

Arman's Voice Notes is Are We On Air's latest audio supplement, taking you on an audio voyage through Arman's latest travels and cultural findings. www.areweonair.com https://www.instagram.com/areweonair/ https://www.instagram.com/armannafeei/

YANN TIERSEN calls Arman from his studio for a conversation set amidst a blinkering of blue and orange lights from the sound dials, hard drives and synthesisers behind him. While he’s a known legend of cinematic scoring, Tiersen insists that the best soundtrack is not necessarily a composed soundtrack - but using music. Referencing this proper “usage” of music in film, Tiersen points to the master Kubrick himself. Living close to nature is an important part of his life and his music. TIERSEN is the kind of artist who treasures the simple, sacred things, like life without the sound of constant motor engines, or owning a record or book he loves in its physical form because for him, it’s “a piece of me.” Though Tiersen exudes a sense of peace in his speech and thought processes, he shares that there is a world of chaos at the core of his creative process. When he gets into the studio, he’s inspired by PLAY and ‘MAKING TONS OF NOISE.’ Reminding us that life really should be all about making noise and having fun, TIERSEN’s humbling answer to Arman’s final question brings even more importance to that message. Shortly after Arman asks: “if your life is a movie, what will play in the end credits?” To that TIERSEN responds: “Nothing. A sine wave.” Waving goodbye, we thank YANN for sharing a glimpse into his twinkling mind. https://areweonair.com/yann-tiersen https://www.instagram.com/areweonair/ https://www.instagram.com/armannafeei/

THIS IS IT. Staying true to her Turkish roots, NILÜFER YANYA is inspired by INSTINCT, foremost, and MELODY second.  Calling from London, NILÜFER and Arman bond over a shared love as she references the Strokes This Is It as an album that’s stood the test of time, and only gets better. For NILÜFER, inspiration is everywhere - but writing, instinctively, “comes from nowhere.” Bringing us into her creative process, she shares that the beginning of a new song unfolds itself musically first, while language comes in second. Other times, it’s simply hearing the cadence of words in a phrase that will send her into a writers frenzy. This lovely, SPIRIT OF THE MOMENT, YANYA shares with us - making this episode a listeners pleasure. https://www.areweonair.com/nilfer-yanya https://www.instagram.com/areweonair/ https://www.instagram.com/armannafeei/

Amidst 2021's Berlin Gallery Weekend infamous Are We On Air pop-up in Berlin, Arman meets art impresario JOHANN KÖNIG at Unter Den Linden. With a music selection that ranges from 90's euro-trash to today's latest Tik Tok viral song, JOHANN dwells on the ever changing city that is Berlin (and how he has no patience for the nostalgia infused talk of the 'good ol'days') and how being a gallerist in the age of NFT's is exciting as it ever was. Talking about how the late Virgil Abloh paved the way for a no-thrills approach to culture, JOHANN wants art to be appreciated as one appreciates music: "People consume art as they consume music. You listen to a song, you like it or not, it creates reaction with you or not. That's it!". We say BRAVO! https://areweonair.com/johann-konig https://www.instagram.com/areweonair/ https://www.instagram.com/armannafeei/

In the courtyard of the Chateau Marmont, you’ll find the sunshine where CL is singing Arman a traditional Korean song her grandmother sang to her while growing up. While she might be one of the worlds biggest POPSTARS, CL glows with the same warmth and joy on stage in front of millions as she does in a one on one encounter with a new friend — “I feel what I feel in the moment to the fullest, so I don’t have anything left behind that I need to solve later.” If we can all take a page from CL’s book, its to not take life too seriously, and weather the wind of our emotions with a self-loving self awareness. She is bold, pragmatic, and exuberant but she is soft. On the topic of heartbreak, the K-pop sensation describes the delicate balance of keeping her personal life private without ‘hiding’ it from her art. CL strikes a balance between forging a powerful career as a solo artist, and finding inspiration in any way shape or form that beauty finds her in life. CL shares that when she’s out with friends, she always passes the aux to discover new songs — new songs are her surefire way to inspire new memories. Flipping through fashion archives as one source of her inspiration, Arman and CL bond over a shared love of Raf Simons. Gracefully, after 15 years of being at the pinnacle of the public eye, CL evolves into an even stronger and more beautiful butterfly every corner she turns. Get some fresh AIR and sunshine: It’s CL’s dawn, her day, and we’re feeling good . . . https://areweonair.com/-cl https://www.instagram.com/areweonair/ https://www.instagram.com/armannafeei/