In this episode of Making Noise, Ashley sits down with Future Joy — the genre-fluid, sax-infused electronic duo made up of newlyweds Emily Cooper and Zach Simms. Known for their high-energy performances, uplifting sound, and joyful presence, Future Joy is redefining what modern dance music can look and feel like.

From their early days throwing renegade RV sets in Florida to performing 25 festivals in a single year, Emily and Zach share the real story behind their rise — the grind, the creativity, the business, and the bond that powers it all.

They open up about:

• How they met and became musical partners
• Their creative process (writing in vans, testing unreleased tracks live)
• Touring for seven months straight — sober, healthy, and fully committed
• Building a true fan community through social media, Patreon, texts & merch
• Their debut full-length album NOW and the story behind it
• Why representation matters in festival lineups
• Launching their own festival JOYFUL, returning January 31, 2026
• How AI is changing music (and how they’re using it without losing authenticity)
• The financial reality of life on the road — and why/how they keep going

Whether you’re an artist, a fan, or someone curious about the real world behind touring musicians, this episode is packed with energy, honesty, and inspiration.

🎧 Everything Future Joy: https://futurejoymusic.com

🎫 JOYFUL Festival (Jan 31, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FL):
Use code SAX for 10% off — https://ezregister.com/events/42091/

🔗 Find Future Joy on:

YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | Apple | Soundcloud

Mentioned in the show…

• https://beatport.com
• https://instagram.com/bookmorewomen

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What happens when an artist decides not to play the Spotify game?

Pop Americana artist Josh Raines — an Addiction Medicine doctor by day and musician by night — joins Ashley to talk about creating music that bops, building a community of ethical and equitable creatives, and releasing his new single everywhere except Spotify.

They dive into artist payouts, platform transparency, AI and rights concerns, and practical alternatives like Bandcamp, Subvert, Tidal, and Qobuz. Josh shares his story of returning to music, his three creative rules, why he refuses to tour, how his medical career shaped his boundaries, and the surprising results of his no-Spotify release day.

You’ll learn: what fans can do today to help, how to move playlists to other services, and why “one-degree changes” add up to real reform.

Guest links:
Website: joshrainesmusic.com • IG: @josh.rains.music • Petition: “Ethical & Equitable Changes to How Music is Created, Shared, Consumed, and Transacted”

More Show Notes: Coming soon (asap — check back!)

Making Noise is where artists share the real stories behind the music — no fluff, just signal.

Listen next: Josh’s new single “Hummingbird” (find it via his site/IG/Bandcamp).

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In our debut episode of Making Noise, Matt McDonald of Perpetual Groove talks origins, the jam-band ethos, touring realities, fan community, tech experiments, and what’s ahead as PGroove celebrates 25 years.

If you’re an artist — or simply a fan of live music — this one’s for you.

🔔 Subscribe for more artist stories!
🎸 Perpetual Groove: https://pgroove.net
🔥 Follow on IG: https://instagram.com/perpetualgroove

Making Noise is a Community Musician production, sharing the stories behind the songs — the grit behind the glory and the heart behind the hustle.

00:00 Intro — why “Making Noise” exists
00:24 Guest intro: Matt McDonald (Perpetual Groove)
00:47 Quick hello + setup
01:05 Origins: Naples → Army musician → Savannah open mic
02:18 First record & early momentum (2001–2003)
03:13 Napster era & changing industry
03:52 Streaming vs. CDs (what artists lost/gained)
05:00 The jam-band ethos: risk, improv, live community
06:04 Early spark: piano, feeling > notes
07:26 “Can I make this life sustainable?”
08:11 Home studios arrive; GarageBand moment
08:53 Inside the U.S. military music program
10:32 Deployments, discipline, and perspective
12:22 Early hustle: manager, design, momentum
13:34 Road life: 200+ shows, van → bus
15:16 Independence over major labels
16:32 Hiatuses, limits, coming back wiser
18:33 Touring now: costs, logistics, post-pandemic reality
19:19 From flyers to feeds: social media shift
20:13 DIY tactics: live show CDs, GPS hunts, Kickstarter
23:18 (Still) experimenting: QR/NFC ideas
25:15 Recording today: live tracking + home overdubs
26:43 Why community is the foundation
27:40 Fans naming the vibe: “trance arena rock,” “PGroove”
28:28 Intentional fan connection (then vs. now)
29:25 Onstage emotion & gratitude
30:16 Longevity lesson: make space for real feelings
32:07 Life now: balanced schedule, family, wellness
32:53 New fans, new generations, family shows
33:38 Streaming discovery vs. touring livelihood
34:57 What “professional musician” means
36:37 Money talk: monetization without losing the why
38:19 Advice to newer artists (sync, multiple hustles)
40:00 What’s next: 25 years of PGroove plans
41:21 Athens “Storytellers” concept + meet-ups
42:01 Where to follow Perpetual Groove
42:52 Catalog size, live recordings, merch experiments
43:21 Shoutout: Collectible Music Cards + posters
44:22 Wrap-up & thanks

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