A luminary of sound design, Virtual Riot‘s name has always been synonymous with his virtuosic dedication to the craft of electronic music production. But in a recent podcast conversation, he showed a different side of himself, one that’s just as inspiring as his otherworldly tracks.
Speaking with SlamCast, Virtual Riot opened up about the transformative impact of sobriety on his life and career, sharing his journey from living in Los Angeles to teaching advanced music production and embracing a cleaner lifestyle.
Living in LA for eight years, Virtual Riot admits he had every excuse to party to excess. But everything changed after a stint in rehab, which was the turning point, he says, that led him to sobriety. His first performance after this life-altering decision was at the 2023 Electric Forest festival, where he stepped onstage with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity.
Since then, he has embraced a sober lifestyle, something he says has not dampened his creativity in the slightest. In fact, Virtual Riot notes that staying sober has strengthened his sense of discipline and helped him connect more deeply with his craft. He likens going sober as a DJ to exposure therapy because you can’t control what others are doing at your shows, but it provides a situational mechanism for building your own sense of discipline.
“I’d say that sometimes,
Virtual Riot says he’s also found support in a familiar cohort of high-profile DJs who have embraced sobriety, like Ghastly, Barely Alive and Steve Aoki, providing him with a professional network that understands his journey. He emphasized the importance of self-awareness and personal choice when it comes to sobriety.
“Everyone has enough conscience—enough of a moral compass to know if what you’re doing is good for you or not,” he said. “It’s just about listening to that.”
Listen to the full interview on SlamCast below.
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