In this episode of The Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Owen Williams, a developer to the MIXXX Open Source DJ project. Owen tells me about how he went from being a DJ enthusiast to actively contributing to the software he uses to perform. We also talk about the origins of MIXXX and how it has evolved since it began in 2002.

Owen explains how they maintain the open-source DJ platform, including the importance of community contributions and the continuous improvements being made to the software. We discuss digital DJing, the transition from traditional turntables to digital controllers, and the unique features MIXXX offers, such as support for various audio plugins and streaming services.

To learn more about MIXXX at https://mixxx.org

Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Carles Barrobes, a software engineer from Barcelona, who is part of a collective building a platform for musicians called Fairplayer, a project aimed at helping artists outside of mainstream streaming platforms with a more direct connection with their listeners.

Carles tells me about how Fairplayer is designed to promote decentralized music, the challenges of building a cooperative model, and how Fairplayer serves as a bridge between musicians and their own platforms.

We discuss how Fairplayer works, including its verification process for artists and integrating with other platforms like Mirlo, Faircamp, and more to enhance discoverability and funding for musicians.

To learn more about Fairplayer and how to get involved, visit https://fairplayer.band

Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Johannes Ernst, who is involved with the Unconference FediForum. Johannes is deeply involved in the Fediverse. We delve into the concept of unconferences and how they foster open discussions about technology, and I want to learn how something like this could be created for music.

Johannes talks to me about his history in classical music and his involvement with community management, and how he founded the FediForum, a platform for people passionate about decentralized social media to connect and collaborate.

We explore the unique structure of unconferences, emphasizing their interactive nature, where participants create the agenda based on their interests. Johannes explains the challenges and opportunities of organizing these events online, especially in a global community. We discuss ways of creating a supportive environment like this for musicians to connect and share ideas in a non-traditional setting.

To learn more about the FediForum and upcoming events, visit https://fediforum.org

Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com