Ted Riederer on art, grinds, and Never Records

Ted Riederer is a fixture in the NYC art and music scenes who has spent decades making work for the sheer joy of it.

We sat down to talk about Never Records, an open-source public art project I’ve marveled at for 15 years. It’s a simple idea on paper (well, on music nerd paper). Ted sets up shop in an unfamiliar city, invites in musicians and everyday locals, and cuts them a custom vinyl record on the spot completely free.

The real goal is radical listening and community building. Which is gorgeous, but does nothing to maximize profits in Q1.

In this conversation, we get into Dischord-era punk ethos, resisting the corporate sellout, the sacred physics of cutting vinyl, and what it looks like to raise creative kids without burning out.

It’s a conversation about art, legacy, and what happens when you actually show up for people.