Ryan Clover: The Ransom Note Mix

At times its euphoric and emotional, at others it’s heady and dark.

This mix showcases his versatile, driven approach to the dancefloor and holds no punches with a hard hitting energy straight from the off.

Listen and read the interview below:

Who are you, where are you, and what are you?

Hey! I’m Ryan Clover, I’m based in Brooklyn, and I’m a music producer and DJ.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us?

I produce across so many different genres that it’s really hard to pinpoint exactly what my music sounds like. I think all of my tracks have a sort of complimentary heaviness and lightness and big room sensibility, and often include some type of vocal (chops, glitches, full verses, spoken word, sinister laughs, etc.). I like to imagine that I make music in a personal universe and that every track makes sense in that world, even if the genres vary. Bruce Tantum wisely said, “Ryan takes a bit of a kitchen-sink approach to house,” and I couldn’t agree more.

Where was the mix recorded?

This mix was recorded in my home studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Wherever the fuck you want. My mixes are generally an assortment of vibes so there’d naturally be many settings that make sense. I’m just getting back from Berlin (shoutout to ASA 808 and the TOYS crew who invited me to close their night at About Blank), so this one is a bit darker (with a happy ending of course 😊)

What should we be wearing?

Buffalo Bills Zubaz overalls and a Josh Allen jersey. Go Bills.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

Inside of a Machiya in Kyoto with a rippin’ home system on a couple of CDJs and maybe a pair of Technics SL-1200MK2 if I’m feelin’ cheeky.

Or at Berghain or Panorama Bar. I’m ready to play both 🔨

Or at Circoloco at DC-10 🙂 Yo, Antonio. If you see this, I’d love to open a night!

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Ryan Clover – My Light, My World

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Impossible question to answer but I’ve been loving Rick West’s FlavoredBeats mixes lately. RIP Florida’s finest, Rick West!

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

This answer changes by the week but right now The Hacker (with Miss Kittin on vocals of course), Paranoid London, and Eris Drew (I’d need to really clean up on vinyl before that happened).

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

I learned to DJ on a Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR with a laptop running Serato (shout out my guy Fabian for the introduction to DJing). Now I’ve got a pair of Pioneer XDJ-1000MK2, a pair of black Technics SL-1210MK2, and a Pioneer DJM-250MK2 mixer.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Tough one. I think it really depends on the mix. Sometimes, the whole vibe is set from the intro, or the first track. Other times, the mix builds to a final track that makes the whole thing make sense. I don’t approach my mixes (recorded at home or live at a club) with specific intentions. I obsessively collect music and every set is always fully improvised from a stick with hundreds of gigabytes of music across various genres, organized by energy level.

What were the first and last records you bought?

I have no idea what record I bought first. The last record I bought was Cartwheel by Hotline TNT, a NYC-based shoegaze and power-pop band. They’re fucking awesome and the record is incredible. I’m glad there’s finally another fuzzed-out rock band rising in the city.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

A sour patch kid. First they’re sour, then they’re sweet.

If it was an animal what would it be?

A Centipede.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

I don’t fuckin’ know I have so many records that I barely touch because I’m rarely spinning vinyl. I can do it, I’m just such a perfectionist that I haven’t taken them to gigs because I don’t want to make a single mistake. It’s a really dumb thing my brain does and I’m trying to fix that. I’m going to start playing them out so that I can perfect the skill (obviously so I can b2b with Eris).

Upcoming in the world of Ryan Clover?

I’ve got an EP ready 2 go on my label, HOMAGE. It’s a 3-tracker with a remix from Elisa Bee (one of the best doing it…shout out Elisa!). I’ve also got a track coming out on Black Cadmium presents Black Compilation 002 via GLXY Records. Shoutout to the Black Cadmium boys they’re awesome. I’ve pretty much written my next EP, maybe 2 EPs, and I’ll be hunkering down to mix them before trying to find a label home. Long story long, I’ve got a bunch in the works.

Anything else we need to discuss?

How often do you think about the Roman Empire?