Syntherapy Live at The Rabbit Hole: Sound as Release, Community as Medicine

NOLA EDM:  For people discovering Syntherapy through this Trippin Sax show — what is Syntherapy, and what kind of experience are you aiming to create when you step into a space like The Rabbit Hole?

Syntherapy: Back in 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, a weekly open-table event called DJ Café was created in Houma at The Brick House Tavern as a space for DJs to continue to play.  Over the years, that night became one of the most important platforms for local electronic music in the area, helping a lot of artists get their first real stage time.

Eventually, DJ Café was passed down to me, and I carried that responsibility forward for years. The Brick house ended up shutting down and I moved DJ Café to Intracoastal Club. It was no longer a weekly due to the venue having so many other platforms of expression, Anything from metal/rock shows, hip hip. karaoke, drag shows, art & game nights, etc. Since DJ Café was no longer at the same venue, nor a weekly, or even ran by the same people, I felt it was time for change and to evolve. 

That’s when Syntherapy was born.

Syntherapy is the evolution of that original idea. Still rooted in access, community, and shared experience, but with a new intention. The name itself comes from music (synths) and therapy: the building blocks of electronic music and what music becomes when it’s shared honestly. It’s about creating spaces where sound helps people release, connect, and feel present together.

NOLA EDM: GZZRD is joining the lineup for this night alongside Trippin Sax. How did this collaboration come together, and what made this show feel like the right moment to bring Syntherapy into the mix?

Syntherapy: So this collaboration came from Duck n Moose! Since we met we’ve curated quite a few events together and decided to tag team this event. Ducky and I were talking one day and mentioned having GZZRD perform at Syntherapy Live with Spida on the mic resulting in their first debut as Deer Guts. It felt right due this show having a lot of firsts Syntherapy being curated in New Orleans, Trippingsax first out of state show, and Deer Guts having their first debut, were just a few reasons why this felt like the right moment. 

NOLA EDM: Syntherapy lives at the intersection of bass music, live elements, and experimental sound. How does that approach translate into this specific Rabbit Hole set?

Syntherapy: Syntherapy Live is another step in our evolution as a brand which incorporates the live aspect to electronic music. My friends that own the bar where I usually host Syntherapy called me up one day and asked about a date I had reserved. He had a band from Philly coming through that their tour date got canceled and wanted to collaborate on that date. I’ve never hosted a band before for Syntherapy, but they have synths and a hint of electronic sounds in their music, So I was willing to try out something new and decided to call it Syntherapy Live. This event at The Rabbit Hole is the 2nd iteration of Syntherapy Live and I hope to occasionally be able to continue featuring a full live lineup.

NOLA EDM: The Rabbit Hole has become a home for forward-thinking and left-field sounds in New Orleans. How does that venue influence the way you curate or perform a set?

Syntherapy: The vibe and setting The Rabbit Hole presents couldn’t have been a better option to feature our show honestly. The venue is one of the only venues in NOLA with a residential Void sound system that definitely pushes the choice of where we would like to share the experience of Syntherapy Live with everyone.  With this also being my birthday event, we decided to go all out. Not only with the venue choice, but lineup and production as well. I have my very good friends over at Future Astronaut Productions from Pensacola coming through to set up an amazing visual experience for everyone as well to add to the accents The Rabbit Hole has to offer.

NOLA EDM: For people pulling up expecting something different, what should they be listening for during GZZRD’s set under the Syntherapy umbrella?

Syntherapy: To be honest, there hasn’t been a set by GZZRD I haven’t been disappointed with. As far as what GZZRD and Spida are cookin up for this specific show, it’s a mystery to me as much as it is for anyone! But I will say that for this being the first debut of Deer Guts with Spida on the mic, it’s going to be something raw and unfiltered. With Gzzrd taking inspiration from the early days of artists like Tape B, it’s something that should be rather anticipated.

NOLA EDM: Community and collaboration play a big role in what Syntherapy represents. How do nights like this help strengthen those connections within the scene?

Syntherapy: By bringing together DJs, live performers, visual artists, vendors, and new faces all in one space, Syntherapy encourages cross-pollination within the scene. People discover new sounds, build trust, and support each other’s growth. Over time, those moments stack up and turn into something bigger, a network, a culture, and a sense of belonging that keeps the scene moving forward together.

NOLA EDM: What do you hope people walk away feeling after this night;  physically, emotionally, or sonically?

Syntherapy: I hope people walk away feeling lighter physically, emotionally, AND sonically.

Physically, I want them to feel like they moved, danced, and let the music pass through them instead of holding it in. That kind of release stays with you long after the night ends.

Syntherapy is about creating moments where you don’t feel like an outsider, more of a place  where you feel seen, welcomed, and part of something shared. So as far as emotionally, I hope they feel connected. Not just to the music, but to the people around them. 

Sonically, I want the sound to linger. Not in a loud, overwhelming way, but in the sense that certain moments or melodies stick with you. The kind of night that makes you replay it in your head and think, yeah… that was real.

If people leave feeling grounded, inspired, and a little closer to themselves and each other, then the night did what it was meant to do.

NOLA EDM: What’s next for Syntherapy following this show? Any upcoming releases, projects, or collaborations on the horizon?

Syntherapy: Lets just say there are a few collaborations on the table…but nothing fully planned out yet that’s ready to be announced. We also just had our Nightmare Before Christmas party in December featuring A.E.Y.E. from Denver and fully launched our new stage design at that show with three dimensional projection mapping, so be on the lookout for our future events showcasing that. We’ve already started to plan our next Syntherapy Live session and I’m hoping we continue to push the boundaries of bringing more live performances to the area for a community that deserves it.