This episode centers on Ayanna Lovelady — the creative force behind NOLA EDM, a grassroots platform dedicated to documenting and uplifting New Orleans dance music culture. What began as a dormant community page evolved under Ayanna's direction into a growing media hub focused on artist interviews, event coverage, cultural preservation, and community connection across the Gulf South.

This conversation moves through the deeper realities of building a scene in New Orleans — the fragmentation between collectives, the disappearance of venues and festivals, and the importance of preserving the history of local rave culture before it's lost. Ayanna reflects on navigating nightlife spaces as a Black woman, balancing burnout and ambition, and learning how to build something intentionally rather than chasing visibility for its own sake.

We also dive into the changing landscape of dance music in the city, the role platforms like NOLA EDM can play in connecting isolated pockets of the community, and why archiving stories, spaces, and sounds matters just as much as promoting the next event. Along the way, Ayanna shares her perspective on collaboration, sustainability, representation, and the future she hopes to help shape for New Orleans nightlife.

This episode also features a recording from Arthur Yves during a performance earlier this year in Vancouver for Hospital Records.

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nolaedm/

Website: https://neworleansedm.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/NOLA-EDM/61561040707684/

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