Music Not Diving with Scuba

Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!And for artists and labels... use the code Scuba6 for six months free use of the platform!!--Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingIs the club scene dead? Have festivals killed it? Or are festivals themselves in terminal decline? Or is everything actually doing great in live music, humming along nicely with a rosy future?These are questions inexpertly pondered in the usual morass of music discussion, but on this week’s episode we are graced with real expertise on the subject.Steve Hogan is a partner and senior agent at one of the world’s biggest talent agencies - WME - who looks after acts including Pete Tong, Eric Prydz, and Groove Armada.He's a twenty-year veteran at the company who has seen it all in the live sector and particularly the electronic side of it.We address the aforementioned questions, as well as discussing the role of the agent in an artist’s career, ticketing and the role of Ticketmaster, and we also get into the topical question of politics in music and the specific example of Kneecap.Strap in for some expert opinion!--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 Intro and how you can support the show 04:30 Big hitters08:40 State of the club scene12:22 Super clubs changing the landscape16:05 Relationship between fans and artists20:44 Growing organically21:55 Keeping one foot in clubland22:46 Clubs are the lifeblood of what we do27:17 We’re all still clubbers at heart29:27 Techno at 195bpm30:16 On Keinemusik31:27 Martin Garrix and fireworks32:10 On UKG resurgence34:46 London is the leader35:51 The pros and cons of festivals40:48 Cost of living crisis45:30 Balancing the needs of the artist46:26 Artist integrity48:30 Politics and music52:40 Ticket prices and hidden costs01:02:36 Live bands vs. DJing1:06:45 Fish56Octagon1:08:48 TikTok in the industry1:12:05 Nightmare scenarios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!And for artists and labels... use the code Scuba6 for six months free use of the platform!!--Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingWhat does the short-lived Lo-FI House trend of the late 2010s have in common with the subprime mortgage crisis of the previous decade?On this episode with one of the biggest names to emerge from the aforementioned scene we find out.Lo-Fi was very much a 21st Century style of breakout, via Facebook groups and tunes posted to YouTube months before getting signed. But the wiser participants in the scene, including DJ Seinfeld and Ross From Friends, got out early and almost without exception carved out successful careers for themselves.Baltra, a Philly native who got into music after a move to NYC, epitomised that trend. His 2019 album Ted - a tribute to to his late father - was a step outside of the parameters of the scene that had got him noticed, and since then he's established himself as a fixture on the global DJ circuit and one of house music's most interesting producers.We discuss all of that, plus his previous, slightly inauspicious career on Wall Street and his experience working in the sector during the biggest crisis in the industry since the 1929 crash.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 playlistChapters:00:00 Intro and how you can support the show05:42 NYC scene13:35 On Lo-Fi House16:18 Bad publicity22:04 Developing scenes27:50 Breaking out of Lo-FI34:09 DJing in New York35:48 Making 'Ted'44:35 Slowed down TikTok tunes46:28 Musical journey 52:36 Studying Finance at NYU01:00:10 Working on Wall Street in 0801:05:30 Getting fired01:11:26 Manipulation and skullduggery on the floor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!And for artists and labels... use the code Scuba6 for six months free use of the platform!!--Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingWhat's the link between repetitive beats, wellness, neuroscience, and phones in nightclubs?We discover on this week's episode with someone who has written a very interesting book, 'Music Is Medicine', covering these topics and a lot more besides. Emma Marshall's career in the industry was initially in roles at giants such as CAA & Sony, but the wider story told in the book led her to found Movement is Medicine, a groundbreaking education and research platform that explores how rhythm, BPM, and tempo influence the body and mind.As well as discussing her personal journey, we cover topics including the reimagining of nightclubs, the significance of repetitive rhythms in societies throughout history, music therapy, as well as the cost of those cameras intruding into the rave. This is a really interesting one... 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 playlistChapters:00:00 Intro and how you can support the show05:21 Drum n Bass as first love 12:21 Mystery illness 19:51 Alternative treatments 23:51 PTSD and trauma 24:39 Working with functional medicine 27:12 Hyperthermia 30:36 Frogs as medicine 33:16 Fake shamans 41:14 Finding God 42:55 Music as healing 46:05 On Plague raves 49:21 Observing tribes 51:36 Trance dance 54:43 Vision questing 58:16 Raving is not content 1:00:06 The effect of rhythm on the body 1:02:12 Rhythm as a spectrum 1:05:01 Phones and dancefloors 1:09:06 MDMA the love molecule 1:14:36 Music and sobriety 1:16:48 Changes in consumption habits 1:21:06 Movement is medicine 1:28:06 Parties going underground again 1:33:36 Music as therapy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingDeath In Vegas broke through in the late 90s with a run of albums beginning with 'Dead Elvis', a classic of the era that brought together many of the sonic trends of the not-quite-dancefloor, back to mine side of the dance scene. The new album, Death Mask, is out soon.As a DJ, Richard Fearless has remained a crucial figure throughout. A resident at the Heavenly Social in that late 90s era, he has more recently been running the 'Goo' parties with Daniel Avery in London and across the world. In this conversation we cover Richard's leadup to the point of breaking through with debut single 'Opium Shuffle', growing up in apartheid-era Africa, as well as the classic period of hedonism at clubs like Turnmills and across the world. And we also get the positive case for dance music in 2025. Richard is a highly engaging guy with some great stories... you're going to love this 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 Intro04:50 Self-releasing music09:40 The first album12:30 Growing up in Africa15:20 Working at Reckless records17:30 Changing habits of digging23:00 Techno the sound of Detroit26:40 Back to mine ideology28:05 Andrew Weatherall34:32 Acid House43:54 Fame, success and getting dropped49:38 Oasis, back to school and New York58:05 Studio gear and the creative process01:05:30 Supporting Nine Inch Nails01:10:15 London as an engine01:14:34 Starting a night with Daniel Avery01:20:55 Running a label01:25:24 Reasons to be optimistic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingEveryone loves a bit of nostalgia, but can you be too retro? And what do you need to do to take a classic piece of art and update it into something new?These questions are addressed on this week's episode, in which we welcome arguably the most important producer in the new wave of Jungle that has caught the imagination of so many people over the past few years.We also discuss the broader Jungle/DnB scene today, and how the various parts of it fit together, as well as Tim's personal pathway from first hearing an Andy C cd at school in the mid 2000s to his current position.And we also discuss his label, Future Retro, and the changing tactics and strategies required to be successful in today's landscape.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 playlistChapters:00:00 Intro and how you can support the show05:00 Can you be too retro?06:18 Being the new torchbearer for Jungle12:30 Jungle in the wider world of DnB17:30 The role of Internet Forums27:26 Learning to use FL Studio39:00 Getting into DJing 43:45 Digital vs vinyl52:25 Functional music55:00 Future Retro the label01:06:00 The modern Jungle audience01:12:30 Storytelling in Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingTrain Wrecks is a podcast hosted by this week's guest that has been going since 2016. Even taking into account a few breaks along the way, that makes it (by our calculations) the longest running piece of alternative media in the electronic music space. So it's great to welcome Dustin Zahn to Music Not Diving for an episode that will be going up on both feeds.Dustin has a wealth of experience in techno, having released extensively as well as running his Enemy Records label. But his interest in music goes beyond that, and we discuss a wide range of issues concerning the scene today and the historic context of rave in the US.We also discuss whether counterculture is back in fashion, the political nature of rave, the cyclical nature of the music, and the current golden age of standup comedy.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 playlist Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingElijah is one of the deepest thinkers in underground culture. Having first come to prominence in the second wave of Grime along with Skilliam and their label Butterz, and as an artist manager to UK DJ Flava D amongst others, he has reinvented himself in recent years with the Yellow Squares project which seeks to encourage debate around the changing nature of the UK music scene.His appearance on episode 41 of the audio-only predecessor of this show (link below) was one of the most popular and best episodes, so it's great to welcome him back for a full video episode.The Yellow Squares project is now a book which you can get hold of here: https://velocitypress.uk/product/elijah-close-the-app-make-the-ting/We discuss the changing landscape of the UK music scene, from the decline of music's audibility generally in London itself to the obligation (or not) of successful acts to support smaller venues. We also discuss the push for diversity in recent years and associated trap of tokenism, as well as the changing role of artist management over time and the obsession of Xtra radio programmers with a particular 20 year-old Joe Budden track.And we also touch on the cultural influence of professional wrestling and the need for more heels in music...--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 Intro and how you can support the show07:30 Yellow Squares project phase 211:53 Not enough UK festival headliners13:47 'We're a small nation of old people'18:50 The need to do things differently21:30 DJ AG is the most important DJ in the UK25:55 Keep London loud32:10 Should big DJs play in small clubs?34:16 Black British music on vinyl31:30 Corporate sell outs46:10 Diversity of the money54:00 Public speaking gigs59:20 The changing role of artist managers01:09:50 The problem with 1Xtra radio programming01:17:25 The role of the BBC in music01:19:40 Peak authenticity: kayfabe and UK music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingWhat happens when you sign on to a label roster that contains The Arctic Monkeys, Jon Hopkins, and Hot Chip... and the drummer quits your band on the release day of the first single?This and other pertinent questions are answer on this week's episode. Lawrence Hart is still signed to Domino Records, but now as a solo artist whose debut album, Come In Out Of The Rain, will be released imminently. We also discuss his background as a jazz musician, travelling all over America with various bands in his formative years, and get into one of our favourite recurring questions on the show - the one about music theory in dance music. This is a good one! Check it out. --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 Intro and how you can support the show03:40 What's in a name?06:00 Working with George FitzGerald11:40 Early experiences in music15:30 Studying Jazz in New York City18:21 Music theory and dance music20:45 NYC Jazz clubs22:45 Discovering electronic music25:30 Touring in America28:30 Signing to Domino with Little Cub35:20 Going solo as Lawrence Hart40:00 The decline of bands46:53 Playing electronic music live53:30 The perils of sample clearance 59:30 Burial influence01:06:00 Key changes in modern pop01:11:00 More on the new LH album01:12:40 Key synths on the album Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingIs Jane Fitz a DJ's DJ? Even though we hate the term, it probably applies here... A DJ of more than 25 years and a crucial figure in underground house and techno, Jane is also a promoter of some of the best parties in the UK over a similar time period. We discuss her roots in London, experiences living in Hong Kong during the 90s, and her route into DJing via magazine journalism and record collecting. And of course we cover her seminal parties, Peg, and Night Moves which is still running sporadically when suitable venues can be found. This is a great conversation with someone who does things the right way... 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 playlistChapters:00:00 Intro and how you can support the show05:30 Current raves in South America07:30 What is 'underground'?18:20 Music is no longer the most important thing23:13 Anxiety in the younger audience25:45 Rock shows vs Clubs28:30 Early experiences with music32:50 A lifetime of collecting vinyl38:20 DJing with vinyl or USB43:32 First DJ gigs46:30 Discovering Jeff Mills48:35 Living in Hong Kong01:01:40 Moving back to the UK01:04:30 Promoting parties in London - PEG01:10:30 Promoting Night Moves01:14:54 Smoking ban and noise complaints affect UK clubs01:20:30 Should big DJs play small clubs?01:26:00 Problems with the dance press01:35:50 Italian deep house recommendations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing!--Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDivingWe had our first bit of negative feedback last week... 'too much deconstruction of the club scene' they said! Or something along those lines anyway. Unfortunately this episode was already in the can when we read that, so that person is going to have to soldier on for another week...:(Spencer Parker is a Brit, but also something of an underground legend of Berlin having lived there for 15 years and been part of the clubbing furniture for about the same length of time. He's the long-time a&r of Work Them records, a producer with a catalogue going back to the the mid 2000s (although he always plays this down massively), and a serious DJ who's been on the circuit for that long too. This is a phone conversation that covers many of the familiar topics of scene development, challenges, personal experiences, and music curiosity. But we also discuss HorsegiirL and PC Music. --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 Intro and how you can support the show04:00 The enduring appeal of Berlin09:20 Heartbreak and leaving London15:45 easyJet Techno23:00 Subculture to mainstream28:30 "If the DJ wants to be on the stage, don't book them"31:30 Getting into club music36:50 The decline of the anthem42:00 An infinite amount of music45:00 Fake it til you make it culture47:30 DJ HorsegirrL59:40 Working in a record shop01:07:00 Becoming a DJ01:15:00 Progressing into production01:19:50 Perseverance and DJing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.