Every time you change employers—and trust me, I did that a lot—you end up taking some people with you as friends. I even met my wife at that job , and I am truly grateful for that. Then there’s Jan, who worked as a graphic designer and art director. When I get to know people, I like to talk about music. I want to know what kind of music other people are listening to. Sometimes I discover artists and styles I’ve never heard of before. And sometimes, we share the same taste, which gives us even more to talk about. I spent hours talking about music with Jan, and still today, I really enjoy those conversations with him.

Jan Madera has one of the finest tastes in electronic music, and I’m always happy when he releases a new mix. It can be House, Techno, Drum & Bass, Ambient, or Electronica. His mix series, “Alternative Elevator Music,” has grown to an impressive 20 mixes over the last few years, and I’ve been a fan since the first one. To me, it’s the perfect music to listen to while I need to work with concentration and focus. I’m always surprised by how quickly an hour can fly by.

Jan has such a good sense for the mood of a track and the transitions it needs to create a tense and dynamic mix. Like Bob Ross, he seems to create happy little accidents that result in timeless masterpieces. I like most of the mixes Jan makes, but this series undoubtedly captivates me the most. And besides his understanding and knowledge of music, Jan is truly a good guy.