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Future Optimist

Ep. 161 – Charlie May: The Man Behind ‘Xpander’ — A Song That Changed My Life Forever

Broadcast on:
26 May 2023

Today’s guest changed the trajectory of my life forever. When I was just 11 years old, I heard the song Xpander by Sasha for the first time. That EP opened me up to the world of electronic dance music which would change my career and my life for the next sixteen years and beyond. From that moment forward nobody ever saw me without wearing a pair of headphones, without my trusty little Sony Walkman, listening to all of these albums – Global Underground, Airdrawndagger—all of this deep house music from around the world. I didn’t know it at the time but the creator of this and many other world-changing electronic records was Charlie May, ghost producer extraordinaire. Over the years he’s made pivotal tracks with Sasha, Spooky, Junkie XL, and a who’s-who of top underground artists for the last several decades. You might not know his name but that’s exactly the point. You should. His works have shaped the current electronic scene, taking us from a time when DJs were uncelebrated and underpaid weirdos in the corner of a room to this massive celebrity industry that we see today.

This week all the music in this episode is an original creation of Charlie May—I would strongly encourage you to check out Charlie's Bandcamp for more of his work.

➡️ https://charliemay.bandcamp.com/

➡️ Highlights: https://rosspalmer.com/charlie-may