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40. #40 Slipmatt: the rave revolution, hardcore vs jungle, and making an all-time classic
01:17:05||Season 2, Ep. 40Slipmatt is one of the most important DJs in the history of dance music. From his first major gig at Raindance in 1989, he came to be known as the Godfather Of Hardcore, becoming synonymous with the genre that typified the UK rave sound in the early 90s. His 'SL2' project, with DJ Lime, yield two top-ten hits including the genre-defining 'On A Ragga Tip' that reached number 2 in the UK singes chart in May 1992.He was also instrumental in emergence Jungle from the Hardcore scene, and produced classics including 'Hear Me' which typify the linearity between the two genres.We discuss the pre-acid house period, the game-changing nature of the rave explosion both in music and society, and we get into his personal journey from bedroom producer to Top Of The Pops.This is a great conversation with a true legend of UK dance music, get involved!--If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else.You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support.Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels.Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlistSlipmatt is one of the most important DJs in the history of dance music. From his first major gig at Raindance in 1989, he came to be known as the Godfather Of Hardcore, becoming synonymous with the genre that typified the UK rave sound in the early 90s. His SL2 project, with DJ Lime, yield two top-ten hits including the genre-defining 'On A Ragga Tip' that reached number 2 in the UK singes chart in May 1992. He was also instrumental in emergence Jungle from the hardcore scene, and produced classics including 'Hear Me' which typify the linearity between the two genres. We discuss the pre-acid house period, the game-changing nature of the rave explosion both in music and society, and we get into his personal journey from bedroom producer to Top Of The Pops. This is a great conversation with a true legend of UK dance music, get involved! 00:00 Intro02:00 Episode start04:55 What “Old School” really means06:25 The split between Hardcore & Jungle11:30 Bridging the divide13:10 Bedroom producer beginnings17:20 The lost art of studio mentorship18:40 DJ Culture & skill obsession24:15 First raves & Acid House reality26:15 Birth of Raindance27:40 Illegal → Legal Raves29:10 Becoming a National DJ30:40 Independence and management32:10 The end of Illegal raving33:10 Rave culture as a social & political movement35:30 Media & moral panic37:30 Policing, laws & the Criminal Justice Act Era41:30 Legacy of early Rave culture43:30 Personal reflections & looking back47:00 Clearing samples 50:24 Top of the Pops and meeting Kylie56:27 The Prodigy59:31 Rage club and Jungle
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39. #39 Recondite: the art and culture of dance music, and can AI produce groundbreaking music?
01:21:07||Season 2, Ep. 39Recondite is one of our favourite guests and here we welcome him for his third appearance on the podcast.We discuss his recent performances at arguably the world's hottest music venue - the Sphere in Las Vegas, and also the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. And we get the inside story on what's going on in melodic techno, an area of dance music that has attracted some of the biggest audiences while being largely ignored by the press.The issue of dance music and popular culture as art is also discussed in detail, as well as the continuing developments in AI in music - both in ethical terms and in the practice of making music.This is a great conversation, get involved!--If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else.You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support.Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels.Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist
38. #38 Are musicians cheating with AI? And is the DJ/Producer model broken?
20:22||Season 2, Ep. 38Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingFollowing on from the 'End Of Recorded Music?' episode, this week we take a look at some of the surrounding issues. This is the first time I've done a solo episode speaking to camera and there are some inconsistencies which show up in the audio... check out the video version of this episode on YouTube (or if you're on Spotify then it'll be available here too). --If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else.You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support.Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels.Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist
37. #037 Sister Bliss: Faithless after Maxi, raving in the 90s, and the power of a global hit
01:12:44||Season 2, Ep. 37Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingSister Bliss is the musical driving force behind one of the biggest dance acts of all time - Faithless.We discuss her early period as a DJ, linking up with Rollo and launching Cheeky Records from home, meeting the late, great Maxi Jazz and forming Faithless. And of course we get into the hits and the differing process of music making over the years.This is a great conversation with a true legend of UK music!00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation03:00 Sister Bliss05:10 Releasing music now vs then07:05 Champion sound & the double-album idea09:15 Invisible gatekeepers10:35 Forever Free, Maxi & the meaning of freedom12:10 Vinyl culture & record-shop life23:30 Early musical influences29:45 The cassette demo that changed everything31:10 Camden studios, sushi & late nights33:00 Meeting Maxi36:40 DJing, dropping out & taking the leap41:10 Cheeky Records48:00 Making the first album55:30 Making music now: tools, plugins & overload01:00:40 The future of creativity01:02:45 Memory, archives & coming full circle--If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else.You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support.Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels.Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlistChapters:00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 03:00 Sister Bliss05:10 Releasing music now vs then07:05 Champion sound & the double-album idea09:15 Invisible gatekeepers10:35 Forever Free, Maxi & the meaning of freedom12:10 Vinyl culture & record-shop life23:30 Early musical influences29:45 The cassette demo that changed everything31:10 Camden studios, sushi & late nights33:00 Meeting Maxi36:40 DJing, dropping out & taking the leap41:10 Cheeky Records 48:00 Making the first album55:30 Making music now: tools, plugins & overload01:00:40 The future of creativity01:02:45 Memory, archives & coming full circle
36. #036 Johnno Burgess: Bugged Out founder on how to run a rave brand for 30 years
01:18:51||Season 2, Ep. 36Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingBugged Out is one of the UK's best-loved and most enduring club brands. From humble beginnings in Manchester, through Sankeys, Cream in Liverpool, fabric and The End in London, right the way through to their enormous 30th birthday at the 15k capacity Drumsheds in London, this is a promotion that has consistently done things right in terms of the music and the vibe. Johnno Burgess is one of the co-founders, and also the former editor of the legendary Jockey Slut magazine which originally launched the night that became Bugged Out. We discuss the history of the event with its many successes and occasional failures, the changing landscape over the last 30 years, how they booked Daft Punk for free, and we also get into the golden era of the dance press and how it looks in the current era.This is a great conversation with a relatively unsung hero of UK dance culture. Get involved! Grab the new Bugged Out book here--If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else.You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support.Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels.Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlistChapters:00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation02:13 Episode start02:50 Bugged Out at 3004:54 Changing fashion on the floor07:28 The golden age of dance music journalism12:45 Influencers are the new fanzines18:08 The birth of Jockey Slut24:00 From magazine to club night27:30 The Manchester club scene30:49 Closure of clubs and pop-up spaces36:10 Trust and curation44:12 Nation, Cream and Liverpool47:20 First Bugged Out Weekender52:30 Festival curation55:00 Moving away from Liverpool59:05 The End - 8 defining years01:02:00 When clubs started disappearing01:03:30 Drumsheds, Printworks and mega-rooms01:05:50 The role of private equity 01:13:00 Highs and lows
35. #035 Jagz Kooner: Weatherall, Sabres Of Paradise, and quitting while you're ahead
01:23:27||Season 2, Ep. 35Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingThe Sabres Of Paradise were formed in 1992 by Andrew Weatherall, Gary Burns, and our guest on today's episode Jagz Kooner. They burned brightly but briefly, initially disbanding in 1995, but have now reformed (without the late Weatherall) for what Jagz says will be a limited time. We discuss the story of the Sabres, but also Jagz' wider career which covers a lot of ground as a remixer and producer. And we also get into his thoughts on today's scene, and the changes in music making he's witnessed in four decades making tunes. This is a good one! --If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else.You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support.Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels.Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlistChapters:00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation02:13 Episode start02:44 Sabres reunion08:45 Playing Sydney Opera House11:38 From seated silence to dancing chaos13:05 This song changed lives15:58 Post-Sabres life17:06 Early DJ roots21:36 Machines over bands25:45 A very Jagz birthday29:24 This machine will change the world36:02 The bootleg that changed everything37:30 Andrew Weatherall45:00 Touring and burnout47:30 After the split50:00 Producing for others59:30 Legacy and influence01:03:00 The meaning of the reunion01:07:00 Honouring Andrew Weatherall01:11:00 Looking forward01:15:00 Advice for young producers
The unfolding AI debate: the End Of Recorded Music?
52:17||Season 2Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingThis is a re-up of a podcast we released in mid-2023 which sought to set the table for what was then the coming debate on AI in music and the wider socio-economic world. It's worth returning to because it covers the big issues that I anticipate will be covered on the podcast this coming year, and takes a look at some of the initial intuitions coming into this highly weird period of human history. This stuff isn't going anywhere, and it poses serious questions for what the music industry is for. What are musicians doing making music in this environment? What's the purpose of music in of itself? These are questions I have been asking myself over the last few weeks, and there are no easy answers...--If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else.You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support.Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels.Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlistChapters:00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation02:30 AI in music and art12:20 Possible developments17:13 Ethics in art22:21 Music's cultural decline27:06 The capitalist bogeyman29:35 Identity vs music43:21 Is all this just moaning?