From Vinyl to Visionary - John Acquaviva is Modern Techno’s Architect

2025-11-04

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He calls himself an iconoclast, and he’s earned it. In this episode, John Acquaviva (co-founder of +8, Definitive Records, Beatport, and an early force behind Final Scratch/Traktor) sits down with Seth and Bill to talk about building scenes, mentoring the next generation, being an artist in the age of peak spectacle, and how to survive the business side of DJ life without selling your soul.Acquaviva takes us from disco-era marathons in Toronto and Detroit to the tech shifts that changed DJing forever, plus candid thoughts on

He calls himself an iconoclast, and he’s earned it. In this episode, John Acquaviva (co-founder of +8, Definitive Records, Beatport, and an early force behind Final Scratch/Traktor) sits down with Seth and Bill to talk about building scenes, mentoring the next generation, being an artist in the age of peak spectacle, and how to survive the business side of DJ life without selling your soul.

Acquaviva takes us from disco-era marathons in Toronto and Detroit to the tech shifts that changed DJing forever, plus candid thoughts on community, humility, and why “samples sampling samples” can drain the soul out of music. Expect stories about Richie Hawtin, Motor Detroit, Record Time, Jeff Mills, Chile’s early scene, and why kindness (and good math) still matter.

In this episode you’ll find:

The rise: Toronto/Detroit roots, all-night sets, +8 & Definitive
Innovation: from Final Scratch to Traktor, and co-founding Beatport
Art vs. entertainment: surviving “peak spectacle” culture
Mentorship & community: why your crew is everything
Money talks: pragmatic advice for young DJs & creatives
Reinvention: staying relevant without chasing clout

Looking for more ways to support your boys?
Buy Seth & Bill's book "In Between" here:
UK: https://inbetweenbook.net/
WORLDWIDE: https://www.ideanow.online/store/In-Between-p757175126

Hosts: Seth Troxler and Bill Patrick

Executive Producers: Nikita Stanley, Jesse Rogg, Craig Pettigrew and Seth Troxler

Co-executive Producer: Lee Adams

Live Production Director and VFX & Motion Graphics Supervisor: Aaron Kulik

Director of Photography: Lukas Strebel

Set Designer: Veronica Gessa (aka Moki)

Editor: Tyler Christie

Sound Design and Original Composition by Jasper Van Dijk

Music Supervisors: Seth Troxler, Bill Patrick

Music Consultants: Jenna Wilson for Radish and James Cartwright for Bad Sneakers

Music Courtesy of: APM

Camera operator: Joseph Holton