Neil Rushton has enjoyed a lifetime of activity in dance music, from his discovery of northern soul to becoming a DJ and promoter. He's owned a bunch of record labels over the years, including Network, the label that turned Altern-8 into pop stars. He was also instrumental in the naming of a genre: techno. He explains how the seminal compilation, 1988's Techno! The New Dance Sound Of Detroit came about.
Artwork – aka Arthur Smith – was there at the birth of dubstep, guiding it into the limelight via the quasi pop stars Magnetic Man and out of the other side. There are few producers or DJs as versatile as this dance music polymath. We map his adventures with the likes of Skream, Benga and Danny Harrison from Big Apple in Croydon to the actual Big Apple, New York.
Singer, songwriter, producer, DJ, world itinerant, Megatronic wears a number of hats, which is handy cos in this weather she might need one. We chatted to her about living in Dubai, growing up in London, her love for PJ Harvey and how she pivoted from musician to DJ after the tragic death of a band member in her group Black Cherry.
After a couple of mini disasters, for this month's podcast, we dipped into the archives and exhumed an interview we did during the pandemic with Norman Cook, which has never been seen or heard before. Norman talks about playing the stooge on Tik Tok, his fascination with Suzi Quatro's all-in-one leather outfit, being played on the Rovers Return jukebox, pole dancing dancing with Sheryl Crow and having a dildo named after him. Oh and how to make a hit record.
Abigail Ward caused a stir two years ago with her brilliant debut single, I Miss Your Love. Her uncompromising approach to music-making and DJing is expressed brilliantly in this discussion which covers her path to creativity, working in a record store, and her current disillusionment with the torpor of today's dancefloors.
Sean Johnston's name may not necessarily be one that trips off the tongue so readily, but as one half of A Love From Outer space, he's most definitely in the frame. Sadly we lost his partner Andrew Weatherall almost exactly five years ago, but we talk to Sean about his early life in the farmlands of Yorkshire, early forays to the fleshpots of Driffield and Hull, before seeking fame, fortune and Balearic rarities in London. He also has a long overdue compilation out now, which you can buy here.
This month’s podcast guest is the indomitable CC:Disco! CC opens our discussion with extremely detailed instructions for her funeral, before we go on to discuss women, Lisbon, radio v club and the importance of Kevin & Perry Go Large.
Richard Sen's entry into youth culture was as the first person to be imprisoned for his graffitti work (under the name Coma). He was ‘saved’ when he turned his attention to acid house, becoming firstly a DJ and, in short order, a producer/remixer. We discuss his trajectory towards jail, his career as a DJ and producer and his accidental work as a criminologist.
This month's pod is the multi-faceted Scuba, who broke through 20 years go as part of London's burgeoning dubstep scene but has since wandered all over the place, genre-wise and geographically. We chat about dubstep, Guns 'N' Roses, what makes a good DJ and Simple Minds. It's a goodie, this one.
DJ Kerry is the woman who built a nightclub in her suburban basement in Los Angeles, where she throws monthly parties to a select audience. It may well be the best party in the United States right now. In conversation, Kerry explains how she did it – and why.
Eric Kupper's entry in the dance music world came via a session with Justin Strauss in 1986. Since then he's worked on thousands of sessions (often uncredited) as well as writing 'The Whistle Song' for Frankie Knuckles. In this wide-ranging interview we cover everything from the early days of house in New York to the effect Ronald Reagan had on culture.
This month’s podcast guest is a legend of our field, Marshall Jefferson, responsible for many of the early Chicago house classics. We talk about sampling, getting his masters back and why Ce Ce Rogers’ Someday was banned in South Africa.
Kaidi Tatham was one of the driving forces in the explosive London scene of broken beat. Subsequent to that, he’s guested on keys for numerous people as well as regularly releasing his own, soulful gear. Listen to him reflecting on his life and also winning a Grammy with Jazzy Jeff.
A DJ’s DJ, Jane Fitz has been in and around the London underground scene for around three decades now, making her name originally with Peg Party, followed by Night Moves and a residency at Pickle Factory. We discuss the art of building and sustaining a party and plenty of chat about Italy and its many obscure record labels and parties.
French-Canadian Fred Everything first made his name outside his native homeland with a brilliant bootleg mix of N’Dea Davenport’s ‘Bring It On’. He has subsequently released five albums under his name, plus a recent ambient release under the moniker All Is Well. We talked deep Canadian history, the creative process and where to find good house music (clue: gay clubs).
Kate Hutchinson is our guest in March. Kate began her career on the nightlife desk at Time Out, being tutored by TO legend Dave Swindells. She wound up as Clubs Editor there, before going on to build a successful career as a DJ, presenter, freelance writer and woman-about-town. Also check her podcast series, The Last Bohemians, it’s ace!
Yet another encounter with one of the dons of drum and bass, Fabio, who talks liquid D&B (new Generation Liquid comp out now), spending a grand a week on dubplates and the hilarious consequences of taking E before DJing in Italy.
In this month’s podcast, we return to Manchester with prodigal daughter DJ Paulette, who tells us about her forthcoming book, Welcome To The Club, and why Ibiza wasn’t all that.
DjHistory Podcast - Session Victim (DJH013)