Elevated Frequencies

Hosted by Olivia Mancuso

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Episodes

155

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Entrepreneur and Chicago Music Nexus co-founder Olivia Mancuso cues up insider tips and real-world stories to help aspiring house and techno artists turn their passion into profit. After scaling her business from zero to six figures in six months, Olivia is ready to help with everything from setting up an LLC to building your personal brand. Each week, she’ll share personal insights alongside interviews with artists, promoters, label owners, and agents - all with the aim of elevating your house and techno journey. For more content on growing your career, brand, and business, check out Olivia’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/oliviamancuso__

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 11, 2026Episode 15538 min

Still Playing Bars When His First Hit Dropped (ft. Bontan) | EF EP 155

At 38, Bontan still looks 23. He quit school at 17 to DJ pubs five nights a week, took a 6-month pay cut to chase the Bontan project from his parents' house, and just launched his own label North Drum at Fabrik London. He's signed to Hot Creations, releases on No Art, and his latest track just went viral overnight after a major pop star used it on a reel.In this episode, Olivia sits down with Bontan to talk about what it actually takes to build a sustainable career in dance music, from surviving 6 months without income to defending a tour schedule that runs on 3 hours of sleep.Chicago Music Nexus is back for 2026, and this year, we are doing it across two full days. November 20 is Field Day at Concord Music Hall, where you will get hands-on time with the tools, people, and sessions that actually move careers. November 21 is Conference Day at The Joinery, panels and workshops with the agents, A&Rs, and artists actively shaping the industry.Presale opens June 25th. Sign up for texts to get access one day early: https://laylo.com/oliviamancuso/wxgwS3Two-day passes are extremely limited. Do not sleep on this.👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

June 4, 2026Episode 15447 min

How Francis Mercier went from Frat Parties to Selling Out Clubs Worldwide | EF EP 154

From a perfect SAT math score to a residency at Hï Ibiza, Francis Mercier built his career on networking, not luck. Olivia Mancuso sits down with Francis Mercier, the Haitian DJ, producer, and Deep Root Records founder.He breaks down spinning $300 frat parties at Brown and throwing his own New York parties when no club would book him yet. Francis also shares the seven-year grind to earn a major artist's recognition, and why connecting with people beats raw studio talent.For any DJ or producer, it is a real blueprint on networking, resilience, and timing your move to a music city.👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth 👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

May 28, 2026Episode 15332 min

The Rejected Track That Built Life And Death, ft. DJ Tennis | EF EP 153

What does it really take to get signed to a respected electronic label? Hint: it has nothing to do with your follower count. Olivia Mancuso sits down with DJ Tennis, founder of Life and Death, who didn't earn his first real DJ recognition until he was 40.He traces his path from Italy's punk and DIY scene into Italo disco, house, and techno, and explains why wedding DJ work is underrated training. He also shares the rejected record that went Beatport number one for a year, and what he actually signs artists for: character, hard work, and vision.For any producer chasing a sustainable career, it's proof the slow burn wins.👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

May 21, 2026Episode 15217 min

Delete These 4 Things From Your Career Strategy Before It's Too Late | EF EP 152

Most of what you call career work isn't actually moving your career forward. In this one, I'm breaking down the four habits quietly stalling most DJ careers right now.I get personal about why I'm giving up my studio over a $1,100 rent hike, and why "knowing your worth" can be a costume for ego. I cover Instagram hack culture, the prerequisites you invent for yourself, and the feedback habit that quietly kills creative vision.These habits feel responsible. They feel like progress. But in actuality, they're ceilings that inhibit growth.--------------------------------------------------------👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth: 👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

May 14, 2026Episode 15145 min

How to Stay in the Game When the Game Keeps Changing ft. Laidback Luke | EF EP 151

What happens when one hate comment almost ends a 30-year career? Olivia Mancuso sits down with Laidback Luke, the Dutch DJ behind Mixmash Records and mentor to a generation of EDM giants. He opens up about losing the underground scene after his first hit, and the silent year that followed his MTV breakthrough. But he's still here. Still hungry. Still winning.This conversation goes deep on what it actually takes to survive — and thrive — in dance music for three decades. Luke opens up about building MixMash Records from a website guestbook, mentoring a generation of artists that changed the game, and why his Kung Fu practice gave him the mental framework to handle the chaos of touring life.---------------------------------------------👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth: 👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

May 7, 2026Episode 15054 min

Why Hate Comments Means Your DJ Content is Working with Tres Mortimer | EF EP 150

Going viral takes the same time as making the song. That's the mindset shift Tres Mortimer credits for breaking out of the Chicago local DJ scene. Olivia Mancuso sits down with Tres Mortimer, the producer behind Optics Records and the new party brand Slavic House Society.They unpack the local to touring jump, why content has to be funded like studio time, and how hate comments means your content is working. They cover why remixes are losing grip, and his fresh Planet X signing with Ben Sterling. For any producer trying to grow past their home city, this one is a roadmap.👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth:👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

April 30, 2026Episode 14926 min

How He Got Signed by The Martinez Brothers (feat. AJ Christou) | EF EP 149

AJ Christou went from hanging out at Sankys with a fake ID to becoming a resident at the same club, signing with The Martinez Brothers, and playing his first official Miami Music Week set at Wynwood Studios. In this episode, Olivia Mancuso sits down with AJ to break down how a Manchester teenager who hated electronic music the first time he heard it built a career in the global house and tech house circuit.AJ shares the random chain of events that started his DJ journey: buying CDJs that sat untouched for 6 months, learning to mix for his sister's 30th birthday, and getting his first Sankys slot off a SoundCloud mix. He gets honest about why the "gatekeeping" complaint is mostly entitlement, why he moved to New York to study at Dubspot, and the real difference between Miami Music Week and ADE for emerging producers.For any new producer trying to figure out where to invest first (music, networking, education, or production lessons), AJ lays out the exact order that worked for him and explains why showing up to the shows of DJs who play your music changes everything.👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth: 👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

April 23, 2026Episode 14829 min

Why 1M Followers Can't Sell 100 Tickets (feat. Laylo) | EF EP 148

Laylo is the drop platform and CRM used by artists and promoters like Fisher, Chris Lake, James Hype, Mochakk, Whethan, and TekSupport to create hype around big moments and build a direct line to fans. With Laylo, you can capture phone numbers from social media and message your biggest supporters when tickets or merch go live, plus reward them with exclusives. It works across SMS, email, WhatsApp, and Instagram DMs, with integrations like Shopify and Spotify, voicemail hotlines, and a complete tour suite when you’re ready to hit the road. Laylo makes it easy and affordable for DJs to drop in your style and build a fandom that lasts. Get 15,000 free messaging credits here with code Olivia15---------------------------------------------Some DJs have a million followers but can't fill a 100-cap room. So what actually builds a career?Olivia Mancuso sits down with Thatch Sammet, Director of Partnerships at Laylo, to break down the infrastructure behind real fan loyalty in electronic music.They unpack the 1,000 true fans framework, the fan flywheel, and why owning your fan list beats chasing streams, followers, and the algorithm.Real case studies: Griz's early access merch drops, Austin Millz' backstage giveaway system, the Dean Turley "Acting Tough" missed moment, and the night Skrillex crashed Dropbox with a Gmail link.For DJs, producers, and electronic artists who are tired of chasing virality and want to build a career that actually sells tickets and merch.---------------------------------------------👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

April 16, 2026Episode 14727 min

Jonas Blue Sold Everything and Started Over | EF EP 147

What happens when billions of streams stop meaning anything? In this episode of Elevated Frequencies, Olivia Mancuso sits down with multi-platinum artist Jonas Blue to talk about the moment commercial success stopped being enough.Jonas opens up about the summer of 2024, when years of touring and making EDM left him feeling creatively empty and personally unhappy in London. Instead of staying comfortable, he made a drastic decision: sell everything, leave the major label system, and move to Miami to rebuild from scratch.This conversation goes deep into what it actually looks like to rebrand after a decade at the top. Jonas talks about returning to his house music roots, DJing on vinyl again for the first time in years, and writing songs the way he always did: starting at the piano, not with drums and bass.They also dig into why originality matters more than ever in the AI era, what Jonas learned by standing on the dance floor as a fan instead of behind the booth, and why the younger generation's relationship with phones is changing club culture for better and worse.Whether you're an artist thinking about making a creative pivot or just curious about what happens when someone at the top decides to start over, this episode is a masterclass in trusting your gut.👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

April 9, 2026Episode 14659 min

500 Tracks. 2 Brothers. 1 That Changed Everything. | EF EP 146

Ever wonder what happens when two brothers make 500 tracks before one finally breaks through? In this episode, Olivia Mancuso sits down with Murphy's Law, the UK brother duo taking the US dance music scene by storm.From growing up in a studio at the end of their garden (their dad played with Stevie Wonder) to making rap music as teenagers, Sonny and his brother Finn built their careers through relentless grassroots hustle. They share the full story behind their breakout remix of Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man," including the 13 month clearance nightmare and the McDonald's car park moment they got the news.The conversation gets real about why being sober behind the decks makes you a sharper, more honest DJ. They break down the industry's ripping culture, why most DJ duos implode, and how they strategically built relationships with artists like Joseph Capriati and Jamie Jones.Murphy's Law also reveal the trap of chasing a viral hit after your first big record, and why going back to making whatever feels cool is always the answer.Whether you're an up and coming DJ or deep in the scene, this one's packed with real talk about resilience, patience, and playing the long game in dance music.👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx